 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
- Females
|
Having researched in the U.K. and Australia, Mike and Kate decided that it would be an exciting venture to invest a sensible sum in buying some breeding female alpacas, and in 1997 we selected a total of seven females, one of which had a female cria at foot, from the small number of sources then available. A year later, Mike flew to Arequipa, Peru, to see the 3rd International Festival of the South American camelid. As Mike says “I took up the offer of a crash course in judging from Dr. Julio Sumar, probably Peru’s leading expert in this field, and quickly realised that in order to make a success of our alpaca investment, I would have to spend a rather larger amount and acquire several top quality Peruvian alpacas. At that time none were available in England.” Thus it was that in 1999 after 12 months quarantine in Canada, our carefully chosen import of 17 Peruvian alpacas arrived at Blenheim Cottage, having come by air from Toronto to Heathrow. Today our herd numbers about 100, and we are breeding chiefly from alpacas descended from our own two imports combined with two smaller batches of fine Chilean females we were able to select from importations made by larger British herds. The advantages of the genetic pool which we had already assembled are now evident throughout our herd. We are happy to show visitors (by appointment) the entire herd and to give them as much advice and help as they may need in order to explore the possibility of entering the world of the alpaca: or they may just be interested in looking at specific alpacas to add to an existing herd. But we emphasise that there is no obligation other than to enjoy the visit and see some of the finest alpacas outside South America. |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
