Beck Brow On The Money

  Posted on 21/11/2015  by Barbara  6 comments

It was only yesterday that I was thinking that I needed to get working on our Christmas Cards, but I really couldnt muster up any enthusiasm whilst I was squelching through the mud, then this morning we have woken up to snow…

Bozedown Campari (sire: Bozedown Bourbon) and Beck Brow On The Money (sire: Timbertop CT Goldmine of Beck Brow)

So much has happened since my last blog, lots to be excited about, but nothing could outweigh the concern I have had about Beck Brow On The Money (OTM). You may recall in an earlier blog that I had noticed that he wasn’t walking correctly. When this hadn’t cleared up after a few days we had the vet out to examine him, and it was confirmed he had sustained an injury affecting his lower spine. Now I am not going to pretend that the fact he has the most stunning fleece and we had really high hopes for him wasn’t part of the worry, but what was more upsetting was that he gone from being a little mischief (probably how he got injured) to sticking to his mum’s side like glue. The advice from the vet was to wait and see how it improved, and it did a little, but it was a long way from being right.

Having discussed my concerns with a number of breeders, the advice was taken to have a McTimoney Chiropractor check him out. I have to admit this is a practice I had not heard about, but with the help of Google I found Richard Arthur who practices near Newcastle. When I called him I was expecting the usual…”alpaca…what’s an alpaca”…but no, not only was he fully aware of what they were, he had treated a number of herds in the area. Admittedly we have never had need before, but all the same I cannot believe that I had not heard about the amazing results that can be made. The improvement was almost immediate. He no longer drags his back legs (which he used do in longer grass) and he is gradually getting back to his playful self. Should we have the need again I wouldn’t hesitate in having Richard provide treatment…I just wish I had had OTM seen sooner.

Beck Brow On The Money yesterday before the snow

On the good things front, we had a very exciting trip down to Alpaca Showtime in Cambridge…actually that is not true we had a dreadful trip which took us seven hours, but we did have a very good show when we got there…we came home with three trophies, 5 x first, 2 x2nd and 3 x3rd places from our team of 10. I have written in more detail on our news page: Showtime results but the star of out team was Beck Brow Trendsetter (sire: Beck Brow Explorer) who took BEST FEMALE HUACAYA IN SHOW

Beck Brow Trendsetter (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

Then if that were not exciting enough we heard that Gilt Edge Samurai (our fawn boy in New Zealand who will be coming in to the UK in May) had been awarded Intermediate Male Champion in an age championship (making him the only coloured alpaca in the Championship line up)

Gilt Edge Samurai (sire: Futura Humdinger)

After what seems like weeks of rain, we had a dry day yesterday, before the snow today. Hence there was much fleece rummaging in an attempt to choose who will make the BAS National Show Team for 2016. I know March is a long way off but entries open in less than two weeks, and although we are only entering a number rather than a specific team at this stage, we really don’t have a big enough herd to have lots to swap about. My latest list has 20 names on it…now to work out how they might fit into the van and trailers…oh and of course – I have to master reversing if I am to go solo with 12 precious little juniors.

Some photos of some of those on the list…(I know some of you fellow nerds like pedigrees so I have gone on a bit!)

Beck Brow The Strategist (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

I am going to be bold and proclaim that Beck Brow The Strategist is, at this stage, the best male alpaca born on the farm since the birth of his father (Beck Brow Explorer). Has he surpassed the man himself?…time will tell. It is very early days and fleeces change month by month but I am really pleased with this young boy. His dam EP Cambridge Stargazer is sired by the famous Windsong Valley Firedragaon and she herself performed well at the Australian National Show before her export. She was purchased as an ideal match for Explorer and our homework does appear to have paid off. Strat (as we call him) has the most uniform fleece both within the staple and across the whole fleece and with organisation throughout even across his chest…do I hear barn blind:))

Beck Brow Chocks Away (sired by Timbertop Goldmine of Beck Brow) has also made the list. We are going to have a mixture of cria sheared and full fleece depending on when they were born. It is interesting to watch both fleeces develop. Undoubtedly the cria shorn alpacas will have a much cleaner fleece for processing…as for showing; I think I prefer the look of the full fleeces.

Beck Brow Chocks Away (sire: Timbertop Goldmine)

I know it shouldn’t be admitted, but we all have favourites, and mine this year might just be Beck Brow Wasabi. I just find him so amusing, he has looked like a macho since the day he was born and struts his stuff, then comes in for a nuzzle. He has the brightest (beige) fleece with incredible density and length (he has folds of skin ready to grow into). Wasabi (I knew he was going to be hot!) is sired by Explorer. His dam is EP Cambridge Courtesse (sire; Jolimont Commisario). The head shot at the top of the blog also belongs to Wasabi

Beck Brow Wasabi (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

Below is Beck Brow Bedazzle (sire: Beck Brow Explorer) who is full sibling to Supreme Champions; Beck Brow First Edition and Beck Brow Bottom’s Up. Honaria has done it again with another carbon copy (or could Bedazzle be even brighter…hence the name)

Morden Hall Honaria with Beck Brow Bedazzle (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

In the foreground is Beck Brow Applause (sire: Goldmine) who weighed in at 45 kilos this week and not yet six months. Her dam is the ultra fine Silverstream Galaxy (still 19 microns at 8 years)who is the dam of the gorgeous Beck Brow Crafter. Some of you may recall the dilemma we have as twice Galaxy has aborted when we have weaned her cria.

Beck Brow Applause (sire: Timbertop CT Goldmine of Beck Brow)

Below is Beck Brow Fashionista who is full sister to our multi-championship winning Trendsetter. Dam: Bozedown Celestrial (sire: Bozedown Comet 11) Sire: Beck Brow Explorer.

Beck brow Fashionista (sire: Beck Brow Explorer)

Beck brow game On has also made the list. His dam is EP Cambridge Summer Solstice (sire; Windsong Valley Firedragon) who has added great density and organisation to his fleece, but just one look and there is no mistaking that his sire is Waradene St Patrick…he gives his progeny such presence.

Beck Brow Game On (sire: Waradene St Patrick)

We have only had two black cria this year (I think Goldmine got more than his share of girls!) both of these are female. Beck Brow Fairplay (pictured below) is full sister to Beck Brow Jimmy Choos. Her dam is Beck Brow Snooty Boots who is fawn (sired by Waradene St Patrick who is also fawn but has produced blacks) and her sire is Viracocha Black Sabbath.

Beck Brow Cria

Finally if you are not an alpaca nerd you will have probably stopped reading by now…but if not here is one of granddaughter Hettie feeding the alpacas…just after this she took the jug to the water trough, filled it and tipped it over her head!!!!

Hettie feeding the alpacas at Beck Brow