Here is the second part of my interview with our vet Tamara van Doorn of St James Vet Group . We talked last time about how we can work as a team and get the best from our vets,. In this episode we talk herd health plans and where to point your vet if they need some more technical support. NADIS - National Animal Disease Information Service British Veterinary Camelid Society Claire Whitehead and her ukalpacavet website This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - http...
Jan 12, 2022•21 min•Ep. 158
Learning to work as part of a team with your vet will make your life with alpacas easier and better for all concerned. Listen as I talk alpacas with my vet Tamara van Doorn of St James Veterinary Group . So much good stuff we had to split it into two episodes. Tamara's training focussed on healthy animals first - knowing normal and healthy makes it easier to notice sick and unhealthy animals. As part of that training, there was the opportunity to look after animals, including alpacas. I think sh...
Jan 05, 2022•22 min•Ep. 157
Reflecting on the year we have had I came up with some things that stood out with the alpacas here in our little valley in South Wales. The geese and having breakfast with the girls was memorable and a delight our first cria arrival - Lena, daughter of Betsi cria watch the missing baby Millie the matriarch being a stick-in-the-mud I hope that the new year brings new opportunities for you - may you know peace, joy and good health in the coming year. And if you can, go spend some time with an alpa...
Dec 29, 2021•24 min•Ep. 156
Just wanted to give you a quick update and wish you all happy holidays and much joy! Next episode we have a short review of the year and in January we have a 2-part interview with our vet Tamara van Doorn, Can't wait to share it with you! Steve This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Dec 22, 2021•5 min•Ep. 155
Philip Roberts - known as Flip to his alpacas, friends and readers - discovered the delight of alpacas some ten years ago. Amazed at their intelligence and how they have eyes that "go into the universe" he found he just needed to write a book about his two companions Geno and Vinnie. The book is a rhyming book for children and the start of a series called the Freedom Book Series https://freedombookseries.com/ which tells a story of how Geno and Vinnie came to America. Listen in for Flip's story ...
Dec 15, 2021•24 min•Ep. 154
Wild wet weather continues with two named storms in as many weeks. We have not had as much damage as some with wet ground being our biggest challenge. Walking slow and taking small steps helps keep you upright - maybe that is a metaphor for our lives with alpacas! Thanks to those who have been in touch and please do let me know if there are any questions or areas of interest you want me to cover. steve @ alpacatribe.com or via speakpipe This podcast uses the following third-party services for an...
Dec 08, 2021•17 min•Ep. 153
Alpacas quite enjoy the wind but storms get a bit tricky and they like to go find a quieter part of the valley to shelter in until it goes back to normal. I guess we can all relate to that. In this episode, we have a valley report and some musings on an annual plan - simple style. If you can, go spend some time with an alpaca. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Dec 01, 2021•22 min•Ep. 152
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our listeners in the US. We appreciate you and hope you have an outstanding few days. May your hay store be filled to the brim, your buckets overflow with goodness and sufficiency. May your little ones grow tall and strong and your mothers stay attentive and good milkers. Be well, stay safe and hope to see you again soon. Happy thanksgiving. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Nov 24, 2021•8 min•Ep. 151
We do fewer things than we decide to do. Knowing what we are waiting for will help get us going. Our alpacas deserve it. The life of an alpaca is fairly straightforward and determined by what seems best to them at the moment. Better grass, more comfort, moving away from an owner intent on looking at them. We are a bit more complicated - better decisions leading to action come from the correct mix of beliefs and desires - the motivation to act. If you believe you need more knowledge, or more time...
Nov 17, 2021•17 min•Ep. 150
Standing before alpacas the first thing you notice is their eyes. There is more behind the eyes than a lot of animals and you find they are watching you watching them. The second thing for me is the nose - watching the nostrils almost like they are leaning forward without moving, trying to gather more intelligence on you. The overriding impression you get from alpacas is curiosity. If you can go spend some time with an alpaca and see what you can see. This podcast uses the following third-party ...
Nov 10, 2021•16 min•Ep. 149
Find a rhythm that suits you and your alpacas. There are the occasional sprints such as shearing, birthing or shows, but mostly it is long-distance pace. I was going to say marathon but it sounds too much like hard work. For most of us, most of the time, we have a steady pace, a rhythm where we can maintain that regular pace. Alpacas like it too. Though they also enjoy the occasional surprise - just look at their eyes, their body language, and their jumping and dodging and weaving like alpacas d...
Nov 03, 2021•13 min•Ep. 148
Our aim is happy and healthy alpacas but also happy and healthy owners. What can you do to keep in good shape? Well, you would expect me to say "go spend some time with an alpaca" of course. The calming effect of being around these special creatures is well known and certainly has been my experience. Eat well (as in good food rather than high volume!), sleep well and an appropriate amount of exercise. We have our own 'green gym' being outside a lot and carrying food, water and mucking out etc. M...
Oct 27, 2021•20 min•Ep. 147
Our aim is confident and fulfilled owners of happy and healthy alpacas. We want happy and healthy owners too but that's for another day. Let's think about confidence again and in particular, where you get yours from. Knowledge and practice are key - know enough and do it often enough and you will feel confident. This could be moving alpacas, removing brambles from their fleece, trimming toenails, or body scoring your herd. The principle is the same - know enough to get started, learn as you go (...
Oct 20, 2021•17 min•Ep. 146
Each day with alpacas is a new opportunity to learn something - either about your alpacas or yourself! While we look for problems - and rightly so, we should also be on the lookout for positives and things that are going well. Listen in to breakfast with the girls for an update on the alpacas and the valley. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Oct 13, 2021•22 min•Ep. 145
Into Autumn in the UK you start to ask yourself, why are we keeping alpacas? I can think of lots of reasons - here are five. You have 'the alpaca gene' and can't not keep alpacas. Not a real gene - it just feels like it. Stock sales - breeding stock or pets. The grand plan - lifestyle choice and making a living. Challenging and hard work but in normal times possible. Fleece - the delight of the premier alpaca product. It is what alpacas are for. Sharing them with others - through farm visits and...
Oct 06, 2021•18 min•Ep. 144
Autumn is a special time of year - the light, the colours, the wind the rain! We have been having some Welsh rain and the lake is now full. It also means the alpacas are wet and the little ones a bit cold. And I had to wear a hat! We all wear hats, metaphorical and physical - they all need to be practical. My strategy remains the same in the colder wet weather - protect those who need a little extra help and make sure everyone gets their share. The tactics to achieve this goal may vary but the b...
Sep 29, 2021•19 min•Ep. 143
In the previous episode, I mentioned I was giving up on the last three potentially pregnant alpacas. Just to prove me wrong, Olwyn gave birth the following day! A month late and late afternoon. Wenna, a beautiful brown female is now happily running around in the field. It was a late afternoon birth - never a good start and we are still having some feeding issues to work through with her and her mum. A coat overnight and top-up bottles are keeping me busy, together with lots of watching with a me...
Sep 22, 2021•17 min•Ep. 142
It is not possible to always know the answer and the right thing to do. But this podcast can help you to lean in the right direction. To learn as we go, making the best decisions we can. I guess we will always be a work in progress. Listen in for a catch up on life in the valley with the alpacas. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Sep 15, 2021•12 min•Ep. 141
Catch up on the valley happenings and musings. Cria behaviour - nature or nurture? A little bit of sad news and the change of season seems to be here - Autumn for us in the UK and Spring in Australia. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Sep 08, 2021•19 min•Ep. 140
Cria, like most babies, seem to turn up when they are ready. More waiting means more sitting around with the alpacas - which is quite a treat actually. We name the cria by taking the next letter in the alphabet and since we have the herd name of Welsh Valley Alpacas, we have a book of Welsh baby names to help us. Some letters are limited (or don't exist) and some are plentiful for male/female but not the other way around. So far we have: Lena Meurig Nidian Olwena Perl Rebeca Steffan Tabitha Stil...
Sep 01, 2021•21 min•Ep. 139
Millie had an adventure - as did we all. And this one needed the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service - to whom I am immensely grateful. It could have been very different, but we are all well thanks to the knowledge, experience and equipment of the Fire and Rescue Service from Morriston and Swansea Central . Thank you. There are some pictures on the website at https://alpacatribe.com/podcast138 Meanwhile, this week on the cria front, we welcomed Perl, daughter of Iona. She is a beautiful li...
Aug 25, 2021•19 min•Ep. 138
I spent some time with the girls after mucking out and topping up the water. There seemed to be a fair bit of talking, even though they were pretty laid back. After all the talk and lots of watching - nothing to show. But the next day was a different story... Born too near the edge we temporarily lost the newborn cria off the edge of the path but thankfully we saw enough and heard enough to know there was a drama unfolding. Safely resolved, Nidian has had a good first day with lots of feeds - al...
Aug 18, 2021•19 min•Ep. 137
Well there were a few to choose from but Betsi was the first. A lovely black alpaca with a beautiful dark fawn cria. 8.5 kg is a good size and Lena, our lastest arrival has made a strong entry to the valley and the world. Born near the lake - too near to be left there - I moved her up to a broader path with less danger while she found her feet and the milk-bar. Both baby and mum are doing well and she has been visited by all of the aunties to welcome her to the herd. Prydwen was next to give bir...
Aug 11, 2021•17 min•Ep. 136
This is such an important time, all around the world, to be taking notice of ourselves and our mental wellbeing. Alpacas help. In this episode, I encourage you to take note of what you are saying to yourself about the need for time, space for yourself and stopping for a bit. What better way than to be around some alpacas. And being around the alpacas, you will find that they speak to you too - learn to hear them and what they tell you about the herd. And remember to watch out for those on the ed...
Aug 04, 2021•19 min•Ep. 135
Physics is around us every day and can make our lives keeping alpacas easier or more difficult. Take note of how you do things and adjust as necessary. Listen in for some practical tips on lifting on carrying loads like alpaca feed bags and mucking out. Down on the farm - update on the geese and the alpacas. Stay safe and if you can, go spend some time with an alpaca. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Jul 28, 2021•18 min•Ep. 134
Build your confidence and care for your alpacas like you want to. In this episode, we explore three simple things you can do to be a more confident owner. Take the long view and keep trying. Know who is boss - hint, it is supposed to be you but work with the herd leader too. Stay safe - of course, this means don't put yourself at risk but also help your alpacas view you as safe to be around. It keeps the temperature down and makes life easier for everyone. Small repetitions make for progress ove...
Jul 21, 2021•15 min•Ep. 133
Confidence comes from a combination of sufficient knowledge and practice over time. In the last episode , I asserted that gaining more confidence with caring for your alpacas was possible, not just in principle but specifically for you. David Dunning and Justin Kruger of the Dunning-Kruger effect fame, suggest we can delude ourselves about how good we are. Their work starting back in 1999 suggests with a little bit of knowledge we can overestimate our capabilities, with a lot of knowledge undere...
Jul 14, 2021•16 min•Ep. 132
Build your confidence and care for your alpacas like you want to. In this episode, we explore three simple things you can do to be a more confident owner. Take the long view and keep trying. Know who is boss - hint, it is supposed to be you but work with the herd leader too. Stay safe - of course, this means don't put yourself at risk but also help your alpacas view you as safe to be around. It keeps the temperature down and makes life easier for everyone. Small repetitions make for progress ove...
Jul 07, 2021•21 min•Ep. 131
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day - it is certainly my favourite. I love having breakfast with my best friend, my wife Sue. But I also love having breakfast with 'my girls', down at the stable. You get to see a lot and if you take it slow (weather and diary permitting), it is a great start to the day. Join me and the girls for breakfast in this episode which is something of an alpaca audio diary entry. I hope you enjoy starting the day with us. Community is so important - ...
Jun 30, 2021•25 min•Ep. 130
I love talking alpacas with alpaca people from around the world - it is so good to learn from each other. Listen in for more discussions with Rita Soares of Campo Verde Alpacas near Melbourne, Australia, on showing and shearing. In another video, Rita managed to catch kangaroos and alpacas co-grazing. I hope the alpacas were not watching too closely as the kangaroo made hopping over the fence look so easy. Campo Verde Alpacas This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3...
Jun 23, 2021•20 min•Ep. 129
