Around the Peak Alpacas, L.L.C.

Shearing is done!

2009-06-19T09:40:00.002-06:00

Wow! This year it only took us 4 days! I say us, but I let the guys handle it all this year. Don't feel too bad for them as they as resting now. Now my job starts in the mill. We have nearly 200lbs of fiber to process. Also, some new dyes to try out. I can't wait. So far this has been a good year. We are grateful for all the wonderful weather. Our new web site is still under construction as I have not been able to upload all the pictures yet. We did discontinue our Alpacanation subscription as we have not sold any animals from that marketing, and wanted to put that money into other things. However the new site is just as nice and I can't wait to get it finished. A few more clicks and it will be going. Hopefully by the end of the month.

"Mountain Lion Sale"

2008-10-07T12:25:00.002-06:00

Well, 2008 has been a troublesome year thus far. Bad winters, hot summers, predators, and the economy! Sadly, we are reporting that all of our hard work to the perimeter of our 40-acre ranch, and the interior fences has failed us. For years, just the two of us have spent countless hours building high perimeter fences, building for housing, and making multiple trips for hay. In addition, we recently hired a man to help with all the daunting workload. All in an effort to provide the best triple “A” service to our herd of over 40 alpacas, horses, goats, chickens, and numerous other creature who call Around the Peak Alpaca home.

While we feel we are not running a wild life buffet, a recent intrusion by a mountain lion seems to validate that we are! While we do not blame the lion for doing what lions do, we feel that it was not a justifiable attack on our life stock. There is other more readily available choice for food. A 6 ft. high perimeter fence that is more than a ¼ mile away from our herd, and then an addition 5 ft. fence, is not exactly normal. Never mind the enclosed chicken area. The lion reached through and pulled the little chicks out and played with them until death. Not even eating the little things.

Wireless cameras, 6 ft, perimeter fences ¼ mile away from all livestock, numerous outbuilding for shelter, 5ft and 10 ft. interior fences, motion sensor lights, and many other deterrents did not protect one innocent, beautiful alpaca girl from a horrible predator. And I mad? No, just very sad for the loss of a wonderful life we so deeply cherished.

When you have livestock, you have dead stock too. However, this is a bit un-expected. When you put so much effort and hard work into going above and beyond the norm to care for your herd this kind of loss is harder to except.

Our initial goal when we began switch over to alpacas as our livestock choice we wanted to making yarn. No show them, or sell them. Making yarn has always been a passion of mine. We selected the very best stock and genetics and began our breeding program with the sole purpose of making the very best, high quality yarn we can. In addition the alpacas, we purchase our own fully equipped processing mill. With over 20 piece of equipment we can make all kinds of fiber products, and have. Each year we have sold out of products quickly. In fact, we also are able to process small lots of products for other farms.

After more than 20 year without a vacation we finally could take one. Having a farm manager you can trust is not easy. We have done all the work ourselves over the years, so handing over the reins was not easy. Then came the phone call. “Something got into the chicken pen, and scared the alpacas! The Buter, the guard llama, had jumped a 5 foot fence and is pacing back and forth!” Everyone else is in the barn and won’t come out into their pasture.” My heart sank. I thought, oh no a bear found his was in. How can that be? We just finished the perimeter improvements!” The phone conversation continued until he said, “I have to go…they are alerting!” Many heart pounding moments passed. Then the phone rang, “It’s a mountain lion! He nearly jumped on me!” “Are you okay?” “Yes, just very scared! We’ve never had a lion!” “Go around and re-count. Someone is missing.” “I counted and counted already!” “Just for me, please!” The phone rang back,” I covered up in pine needles and leave at the edge of the fence in the pasture pen. I’m so sorry!” My heart fell. I already knew, as I have been farming and ranching this country for many years. However, in all the years, perimeter fence or not, we have NEVER had intrusion from a mountain lion. There was always the possibility, but not in more than 20 years had we ever seen one. Even so we had been prepared, or so we thought. It is our belief that the lion followed the fawn deer in. How we still are not sure. Time will tell. There are some many twin fawns this year, more construction of houses depleting the habitat, and hunters that there are many explanations. For now all we can do is protect what we have, until we can find a proper solution that is better than our current one.

Does this stop us? No! We have decided to GREATLY reduce our prices to help eliminate the losses. As we make changes to our interior fencing, and structures we need to reduce our herd size. This means that I will not have a much yarn for sale next season, but I would rather see my kids happy and healthy in a safe place than to become food for a predator.

I’m sure there are many questions and suggestions. Trust me…we know what we are doing. This is not new to us. I worked on a ranch as a hunting guide as a youngster, and Terry as well. We have years of farming and ranching experience, but things happen. Right now we are happy to accept any inquiries on the purchase of our alpacas. However, it is just too upsetting to discuss the “lion” incident. No other alpacas were harm, save the one, thankfully. All are healthy and capable of proper sale.

We are putting all funds to additional updates to the farm. Seems like we will never get it right. As far as any more vacations…I’m sure we will eventually feel comfortable to get away. As a mentor farm we tend to experience more than most. Obviously, one of the reasons we can mentor so confidently to others. We been there, experienced it, learned from it, and are making lemonade!

Our bloodlines are vast and very genetically sound. We have faith in our breeding program, and we are confident in our animals. Should you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact us. We don’t believe in pressure and never have.

Thank you for taking the time to read all the way through my cathartic ramblings. We always hope that our loss is someone’s gain. If these have to happen we prefer there to be a legitimate reason.

Take care all and happy spinning!

Sincerely,
Annie

Shearing season is in full swing!

2008-05-22T16:57:00.003-06:00

Well, here it is....that dreaded shearing season again. If your like us you have begun the task of dragging out all the equipment to find that the rush from last season finds you un-tangling a mess of cables, cutting yourself on loose cutter, and so on. However, if you are about your business then you know that this is just part of the many task on the farm.

We have begun shearing and are part way there. I am excited to have new fiber for processing in our mill. I always get so excited as if there is some kind of prize at the bottom of the bag. Sometimes there are...yikes...spinder can get in weird place! Eeeekkkk!

Anyway, if you find yourself at a loss this time of year and need a little encouragement have faith! Many of us are struggling with the same backaches and fluff up the nose and are here if you need a shoulder.

Happy Shearing!

Annie

Alpaca research at its best

2006-02-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

I recently attended one of the best informational camelid conference in the country. Steve R. Purdy DVM of the University Of Massachusetts Amherst Camelid study program Hosted the UMass Amherst 2006 Camelid Conference for Owners, Students, and Veterinarians on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29.

The conference was held at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Campus Center Conference Center which holds approx. 600 seats. Conference Registration started at 7:30- 8:15 AM, Saturday morning and the conference Program began at 8:30 AM. The cost of the program was: $250 per person, $125 for veterinary students they provided a light breakfast and full lunch both days.

Seminar proceedings notebooks were provided to all registrants, and became a wealth of valuable camelid information . There were also many Sponsors from surrounding Alpaca farms. All proceeds from this conference are going to support the education and research efforts of the UMass Amherst Camelid Studies Program.

The Conference started with Dr. Steve R. Purdy DVM speaking on: , Alpacas 101- social interaction, handling, and housing,
• Intestinal Parasite Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention- Stephanie Schaaf, Susan Stehman, DVM, Susan Wade (Cornell University),
• Nutritional Requirements and feeding strategies- Robert Van Saun, DVM, PhD (Penn State University),
• Nutritional Supplementation for Alpacas- Van Saun,
• Hepatic Lipidosis in Camelids- Van Saun,
• BVD in alpacas- Edward Dubovie, DVM, PhD (Cornell University),
• Lessons Learned in the Alpaca Business- Jennifer Lutz (Cas-Cad-Nac Farm),
• Environmental Effects of Deworming Medications- Penny LoVerme (UMass),
• Neonatal Immunoglobulins-Rob Williamson (UMass),
• Meningeal Worm Disease- Jennifer Dawson (UMass),
• Cria Disease- Daniela Bedenice, DVM (Tufts University),
• Pulmonary Disease and Function in Camelids- Bedenice,
• Cryptosporidium Infection- Bedenice and Purdy,
• Alpaca Reproduction and Behavior Testing- Purdy,
• Alpaca Cria Growth Study- Vanessa Emerson (UMass),
• EEE in Alpacas- Amy Bright, DVM (Epping, NH).
As you can see just a few speakers.

I was very impressed with the amount of information UMass put together. If this becomes a yearly Conference, I recommend that all Serious Alpaca Owners, Breeders, And Veterinarians plan ahead for next years conference. Its not only a great conference, but it’s a great way for alpaca owners, and breeder and Veterinarians to come together on the most recent studies and research on camelids.

After all the Alpaca is most beautiful animals in the world as far as I'm concerned, and we owe it to the Alpacas to care for them the very best we can. We seem to forget sometimes, that the Alpaca doesn't have a choice when and where it will go from day to day. So I hope we all will continue to supresearche camelid reserch that is being done across this country. I truly support the hard work and efforts of the UMass Amherst 2006 Camelid Conference for Ownerveterinarians and Veterinarans and wish them the bestresearchir future reserch.

Terry Cummins

Are your alpacas choking?

2006-01-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Alpacas have a unique way of eating. They reach down to take a bite of grass and then raise up to chew. This works so seemlessly they we rarely notice the process. The problem of choke occurs when the try to swallow while their head is down. The end result is a horrible choking, coughing, spitting green froth. If you have never seen this before it can be quite frightening. This often occurs while eating grain sources. This is not to say the problem is a result of the grain, but rather the way they rush to swallow the grain quickly. Alpacas can be very competitive about grain and the result is a hurry to eat and swallow while their head is in the grain bucket. We realized this issue with ours and took measures much as we have done in the past with other livestock.
Since the alpaca should take a bite and raise their head to swallow when decided to raise their grain feeders in such a way that they had no choice but to lift their head up to swallow. Such as the following...
In this picture Diesel can reach into the feeder to get a nibble of grain, but then he has to lift his head out to chew and swallow. The position of the feeder makes chewing and swallowing while his head is in the bucket too dificult. This keeps him from choking. This is a bit of trial and error for height placment. As our alpacas grow their height changes and so adjustment are often necessary.
In this picture the feeder is approximately 28 inches off the ground. This is not set in stone. We arrived at this measurement by placing a pan of grain on the ground and then raising it up until we found the height that forced our alpacas to lift their heads out of the pan to chew. We noted the height with a tape measure. This does take at least two people to accomplish. Then we mounted the feeders at that height from the ground since the ground is not level. Another measurement we took into account was the distance apart. This helps keep the alpacas from arguing and thus gorging.
Here we have placed the feeders approximately 24 inches apart. Each animal needs to have at least 21 inches between them at the feeder. Sometimes this is an issue is space is limited. Fortunately, we have large pens and so space is not an issue here.The more you can reduce their stress during eating the better. In part 2 we will discuss more on the solutions to this problem. If you have any questions and would like to speak with us we are always available and happy to assist in any way. Feel free to email us at info@aroundthepeakalpacas.com You can also find more contact info on our contact page https://www.aroundthepeakalpacas.com/contact-us.htm This topic will also be covered in our next Farm and Ranch Series © DVD-Farm Maintenace. This first DVD is available in our store now. https://secure.llamaproducts.com/ Enjoy!
Annie :)

Alpacas-Farm Store or Not?

2006-01-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

As I spent the last 6 months developing and designing our online store I realized that I was actually doing the one thing I said I was not going to do anymore. I decided to raise alpacas because I was living a stressful life. Spending far too much time on the computer. Spending far too much time in the house, and my health was suffering. Ok, I admit it...I am a workaholic. While I love my alpacas I also love an overly scheduled life too! Shame on me! I suffer, my alpacas suffer, and my family suffers from this kind of selfish behavior. Yes, I enjoy creating but never to the extent of exhustion. Now that our store is "finally" live the question becomes, "How do I get people to notice it?" Well, now I am harnessed to the computer once again in search of a great advertising campaign. "Where are my dollars best spent? Where should I place my ads? Should even bother? Where does this maddness end?"
I have decided to let things happens as they may. I want to be outside enjoying the day, and enjoying my babies. So I say, "A farm store...if want it create it; if you don't then don't." Either way be sure to remember why you started the venture in the first place. Farm stores are a good thing to make you products available. Finding alpaca products can be difficult at times as a consumer. At least I have been told that. In fact, the lack of availability is the one reason I became interested in breeding them myself. So, enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy!

Annie :)
www.aroundthepeakalpacas.com

Alpacas, learn all you can for their sake.

2006-01-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

On January 11, I received an e-mail from the university of Masschusetts inviting me to the 2006 Camelid Conference. As I read the invitation I saw many of the nations best camelid veterinarians were going to be speaking at this conference on various subjects concerning the alpacas, and llamas welfare. One of the subject is going to address the newest concern in the alpaca community, (BVDV).

The cost of this 2 day conference was only $250. I felt the cost of learning all I can about Alpacas and their well being, from the best in the business was well worth the $250 dollar plus the cost of traveling from Colorado to Masschusetts.

Alpacas are our life and our joy, Our philosophy is if your going to do something you need to live , eat , sleep, and breath what you do. Alpacas are what we do. The alpaca doesn't have a choice on where it going to reside, and who will be taking care of it.

As a new creature in our homeland we owe it to the Alpacas to learn all we can about the health of these beautiful animals. After all think of the great joy you feel when you see these animals pronging through the fields of your farm, and the smile each one of their new cria's put on your face.

I hope to learn all I can at this conference, so I can mentor others caring farms and ranches in there venture with Alpacas, and insure the safety and healthy life of these God given creatures.

I look forward to posting the results of my trip to the 2006 Camelid Conference.

Terry.
www.aroundthepeakalpacas.com

Negative BVD alpacas

2006-01-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so what is so special about having an "all" negative BVDV alpaca herd? For me I am happy not to have the worry this spring of the new crias being born P.I. (persistently Infected). I also know none of my females have been exposed. Yes, this does mean we most likely will not participate in shows now. I will miss that aspect, but I am not willing to take a chance of unknown risks to my animals for a ribbon. I will miss the socialization, but that's life for now. I love my animals far too much to take risks I don't need to.
Since working with cattle most of my life I saw the devastion of BVDV in herds. I am hoping that my friends will find their animals to be negative as well. At least, no P.I.'s in their herd. Don't get me wrong...positive antibodies is not bad, but I would rather not have had "any" exposure at all. We have continued our biosecurity with some added features. This is just a fact of the ag. business. Take care!
Annie:)

Alpaca BVDV-Our Fears resolved!

2006-01-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Our hopes and fears regarding BVDV have been resolved!

At 9:48 this morning my heart sank as the phone rang. I looked at the caller id to see who was calling. The vet's office number was displayed. I called to Terry and he answered the phone. Then...I heard heavy footsteps coming into the room. I closed my eyes and silently prayed. As I opened my eyes I was relieved to see Terry standing before me with a big smile. He said,” Good News! Our herd is completely negative. We do not have BVDV or P.I. in our herd whatsoever! CSU has given us the all clear. Doc said congrats we have been spared!" With that I shed a tear of happiness. Bittersweet news though. What about those who have not been spared. While I am quietly thankful that I have been spared that awfulness of euthanasia; others are not so fortunate.
Why was I scared in the first place? Why did we feel the need to test our animals? Why such a comprehensive test when we have been a closed herd? Because...we been in the farming and ranching business long enough to know what a devastating sickness can do to an industry if not properly contained. Much like many alpaca breeders we had no idea that BVDV could impact alpacas. Sure cross-species contamination is possible, but we do not farm cattle or other animals with our herd. Is this to say that the BVDV is spread through cross-species contamination? I have no idea. I did even know it was an issue until the beginning of January 2006 when another breeder mentioned it to us. I was horrified when I searched the internet and found articles of the sadness which had befallen others owners. At that moment I began to grieve. Why? Not because I had given in to loss. On no! I do not subscribe to negative thinking, but the reality facing us at that moment was unsure. We didn’t know what tests there were, how much it would cost, who needed to be tested and so on.
Terry sat down and diligently began making phone calls and researching every thing related to BVDV. He also called our vet immediately to schedule blood draws on every animal. Just in case. He decided we were better off to start somewhere rather than nowhere. By that evening Terry had compiled a large folder full of information regarding the virus, the spread, farms stories, etc. He sat in bed at read and read. I, on the other hand, began to feel very sad. The more he read to me the more I cried. I looked out the bedroom window at the babies, my kids, and cried. “Terry”, I said, “I can’t bear the thought of having to euthanize them. I just can’t. You know I have always been good about dealing with animal losses, but this different. There is just something different about these alpacas. I have never been so attached to a farm animal as I have my alpacas. I’m sorry, but they are NOT CATTLE! They are my kids!” Wow, that’s revealing! I might as well admit now. I am not as tough as everyone believes I am. I not the cop I use to be. I actually never was. I have always been and still am a very caring person. Do I feel pain for others? YES, I do! Why? Because we should be in this to help each other. Mentor one another. Not fight or compete against each other in the one industry we believe in.
The one thing we all have in common is our love for these wonderful and exciting creatures. How often in life can we actually say we have anything in common with each other? A common bond is vital to proper human socialization.
The following day our veterinarian came out and drew blood on our complete herd of 22 alpacas and one guard llama. We made the choice to test every animal comprehensively. Ouch! That was expensive. Then again, what is expensive in the realm of love we feel for our animals. They un-doubly give me much more pleasure in life than “something as common as money”. So for us…done! Was it worth it? To have a definitive answer and to finally get a good nights rest? Yes, without a moment’s hesitation, I can say it was.
So…where do things stand now? Well, things have changed drastically for us. While we are thankful that people forgot about us, we are also wondering how we can socialize with our animals now. Having an “all” negative herd is very good for sales, but now so comforting when considering outside breeding and showing. This is going to take some time and consultation from experts in the field for us to move forward. For now…we can be a source of comfort and information to others alpaca breeders. Our main goal and focus has always been mentorship.
Terry will be posting more on this subject later. I too will update this issue as I find out more. For those of you who desire any help navigating these waters please know we are available to you. Please feel free to call us anytime if you would like to discuss this. I will be posting more later on today after I have had an opportunity to fully process my thoughts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all concerned. Thank you for taking the time to read our article.
Annie