Looking for alpacas

At sunday late in the afternoon we (Marieke and I) left to visit some farms in England. We decided to take a new route (new for us). Go by Belgium and France and take the ferry to the UK.

First night we slept in Maidstone at the Black horse Inn. Really a nice little hotel. But the Full English Breakfast was very bad. And the bed was to small (or I was to tall / big to fit in).

Next day we left to visit some farms and see what we have bought (alpacaseller) and how the ones were doing which were still overthere for mating... We did see super beautifull animals, with super fleeces but for much higher prices we were used to pay in the Netherlands. Learned a lot..., maybe laughed to much but really did have a great time with the people who invited us to stay overnight at their farm. Very interesting life-stories were been told. I really like the British....

At 03.00 uur Tuesday/Wednesday we get back in Haaften. It was a very exhausting trip. But it was certainly worth it...!

Wednesdaymorning: slowly getting my normal pattern back...!

Thanks,

Many greetings, Leo

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BEW Alpaca

Blue eyed white (BEW) alpacas remain one of the most controversial subjects in the alpaca industry. Those who don't own any, rarely understand the facts about them. Those who own them, generally, don't have a problem and often refer to them as their favorite alpacas or a favorite of farm visitors.
BEW's come from the breeding of two animals that each carry the white spot gene and the BEW allele variant of that gene. White-spot genes are found in white faced, tuxedo, white legs, pinto or virtually any alpaca with as little as a few white hairs as well as grey alpacas. That is a whole lot of animals!
The pairing of two alpacas with white or grey markings bring a one in four (1-4) chance of a BEW birth. However, the mating of one of these animals with a solid colored animal, should not get a BEW cria. Selective breeding is something all farms should practice.

I (Leo) think is not controversiel to breed with thes BEW's. For example: If you take the Australian shepherd. Merle x merle is not done. You get 25 % of deaf/lethal pups. In alpacas it is the same... DON'T GO FOR BEW SIRE X BEW MARE!!! ALWAYS USE A SOLID COLOR. BEW sires should not be used.

It is an utopia to think we can remove / decrease this "genentic disorder" out of our the population of alpacas worldwide..., because any animal with some with hairs could be a carrier for this gen.

Many greetings,

Leo van Merwijk

Clik here for a good scientific article about BEW alpacas:

http://www.alpacagenetics.com/AndyMBlueEyedWhites%20sent.pdf

alpaca-vet@alpacasofthelowlands.com

New born criae (alpacas)

Born on the 4th of july!

Well!

After 12 months pregnancy two of our imported girls (Belgium and England) have given birth. Two little girls were born.

The first, a very beautiful chocolat (rare) brown, was born on friday 3th of july. We decided (Marieke and I) that this was the first year (2009) we really are seriously breeding for better genetics. So we have to "come up with a system for naming". We agreed to give the new born alpacas a name by the year they were born, using the alphabet.
All alpacas born in 2009 will get a name started with an A. 2010 With a B and so on...

So we call our brown girl: AOL (stands for Alpacas of the Lowlands): Aoibheann Princess of the Lowlands.
Aoibheann means "beautifull" in Irish. It is pronounced as EE-ven.

On saterday our Belgium mother was on strike. She give us a very bright little white girl. She was racing on our fields and making contact with the other mares where the brown cria was staying with his mother and was sleeping on the grass.

We named her: AOL: Ailbhe Duchess of the Lowlands
Ailbhe - meaning "white, noble, bright". It is pronounced as Elvy

She has a very soft fleece (feels realy unique and very straight and beautifull legs).

On sunday we had a better look on her and we saw that she has blue eyes. Hmmm, just our luck! I'll get back on this subject in a future topic.... BEW's - Blue Eyes White Alpacas. I tested her..., and she is certainly not blind or deaf. Well that's a relief!!!

And of course always check the placenta. It has to come off in several hours. But better is in half an hour after birthing.

Geen alpaca's mee naar Hapert

Aanstaande 21 en 22 maart is het zover. Voor de 2e maal wordt dan de Alpacashow gehouden in Hapert. Met name Jan van den Acker en Yvonne Verbeek zijn grote initiatoren van dit geweldige evenement.

Dus mensen allemaal naar Hapert aanstaande zondag.

zie http://www.alpacashow.eu/

A new logo for "Alpacas of the Lowlands"

The new logo for

"Alpacas of the Lowlands"

Marieke has designed it...

www.alpacasofthelowlands.com

Pregnant or Preg-not?

Today we scanned three of our girls...













Photo 1.
From above you see a full foetus. Left is his/her chest and righthand is the pelvis.













Photo 2.
From aside you see the heart and lungs in the thorax (chest).

Alpacashow in Hapert (2009)

We will be present at the Alpacashow in Hapert in march 2009.
You can visit our stand and see how alpacablood is collecting (on farm) and transfered into plasma for earlyborn (neonatal) criae. It is possible to buy your own mobile plasmarotor (professional). Or you can make an appointment with us to visit your "farm".
We are looking forward to meet you...!

SEE OUR STAND FOR A COMPLETE VETERINARY SERVICE

Marieke and Leo van Merwijk (DVM)
Bata4en - Animal Clinic
Alpacas of the Lowlands

Alpaca Futurity Show in England

The English coast is very beautifull (even in the winter).

This week we (my wife Marieke, our four kids and myself) made a beautifull trip across the south of England. From Hoek van Holland to Harwich we did by ferry (Truckersdivision - with our kids - they never saw 4 kids a wife and a trucker in the Truckersclub on board). We first delivered our trailer by Classical MileEnd Alpacas in Tiverton were we bought some beautifull ladies... (see former article).

Then we stayed for a few nights at Mazzard Farm in Ottery St. Mary. The Mazzard Farm is owned by a dutchman called Ruud and his lovely wife Jacky (and their girls Jasmijn and Amber). We travelled to Cheltenham and stayed at the Clarence Court Hotel (very old building).

At Friday we went to Coventry / Stonely Park were the agriculture bussiness is gadered...

We did go to the FUTURITY SHOW (for alpacas). It was great happening.

At saterday we went back to Tiverton to pick up our alpacagirls. It was a pleasant trip and a great adventure for our family. We will do this more often...!

English versus Dutch

In the last months it became clear to me that the dutch market for breeding high quality alpacas is very little at this moment. Therefore I decide to focus on a bigger audience..., which means that I translate my blog in english in the future. There will be a lot of language/writing problems, ha, ha... But I'll try to evolve!

Yours sincerly,

Leo van Merwijk (DVM)

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Alpacas are delightfull, beautifull, exceptional creatures of nature.

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Last week Marieke (my wife) and I (and our little babygirl Lieke) went to England by plane (easyJet). Jet is one of my former assistents, but she wasn't easy (in many ways to explain?). We visit Chas and Rachel at their alpacafarm in Tiverton (Classical MileEnd Alpacas) http://www.alpaca-uk.co.uk/. Two great people who are willing to help us by selling some beautifull alpacagirls. So we are happy now...

I'll ask some foto's to show (of) my harem (of alpacas).

Many greetings,
Leo