Flatfoot and his friends...

Don't try this at home.
This young female has a problem with her tendons... And her feet. We have to immobilize her. Give her steroïds to make her tendons and muscles stronger.

Classical MileEnd Alpacas

Thanks Rachel and Chas.

http://www.alpaca-uk.co.uk/

If your work is your hobby...

X-ray! What do they say...?

First, I am a vet! And for my hobby, I have some alpacas.

What is more perfect then combining these two!

We have some alpaca-patiënts at our vet-practice this moment.

One of this patiënts has a problem with his frontleg. It was broken more than a year ago...

We made some pictures with our digital x-ray system (Philips). The fraction has healed, but their is an infection of the intramedullair bone. The inflammation will be flushed daily for several weeks with a combination of antibiotics. We first have taken a swab of the infection to determine which bacteria is involved and what antibiotics the best could be used...

Nice case for a vet who is interested in alpacas.

Many greetings, Leo

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We always have beautifull alpacas for sale. Prices vary between 500 euro (pets) - 2500 (female - lower quality) till 20000 euro (superstuds).

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The 18 hours of Jinke, the alpacas and me...

We were going to Paris in England???

Some recommandations for transporting / exporting animals from England to the Netherlands.

1. Don't go for a ride all over England on the last weekend of the summer holiday (black Friday). The traffic jam is hell...


2. Never use Norfolkline for the transport of your animals. "We go for the wellfare of the animals". But they let them wait for 6 HOURS!!! All becaus of a little rain and wind... I had to beg to get to the mainland.


3. Don't use the port Dover - Calais or Dover - Dunkurque. Best boat to catch for the Netherlands is Harwich - Hoek van Holland. It is much more expensive, but much better for the animals. No waiting. Much larger ship - no worries for the animals - very stabel. You and the animals will get much more time for resting / sleep.


4. Don't put to much animals in a trailer. A good advice / protocol should be half the animals you can normally transport would be the max for such a long trip.


5. Take some hay and water with you and there must be enough straw on the floor.


6. There should be enough ventilation for the animals...


7. Stop every 2 to 3 hours. It is better for the animals. The stop wouldn't take longer than 10 minutes. The animals can standup when you are standing still.

At the photo's:

Me and the first officer of Norfolklline and two co-workers on the dock...

Chas Brook and me looking over compatible medicine in England and the Netherlands.

Genevuive getting mated with Paris (hopefully we will collect her in october with the other new 5 girls).

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Lysander - The new King of The Lowlands

Here he is...!

Lysander
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The new King of The Lowlands.

Our brand new studmale

A super stud for the future who has already won some prestigous shows in England (look at the list at the end of this article). Most amazing fleece... never saw anything like this.

Thank you Chas and Rachel of Classical MileEnd of letting him go.

http://www.alpaca-uk.co.uk/

Many greetings, Leo

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British Alpaca Futurity 2009

Judge Amanda Vandenbosch

Junior White Male – 1st Classical MileEnd Lysander ET

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BAS Spring Show 2009

Judge Val Fullerlove

Junior White Male – 2nd Classical MileEnd Lysander

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Heart of England Show 2009

Judge Cathy Lloyd

Junior Fawn Male – 2nd CME Lysander ET

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Devon County Show 2009

Judge Vicki Agar

Junior Fawn Male – 3rd CME Lysander ET

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Royal Bath & West Show 2009

Judge Liz Barlow

Junior Fawn Male – 1st CME Lysander ET

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Girls on tour to the Netherlands...

Glamourgirls from England

Here are the pictures of two ladies which come over to the Netherlands .... We bought three animals (not seen) on the Internet. It is something we never do!!! We always want to check them before buying. But we were lucky; two of them have nice fleeces (micron - 18 both at 11 months of age). And the other had a fleecesample (same age) of 16 micron....! Very beautiful small crimp. Density and brightness could be better. But this something to improve in the next generation.

We have several options for very beautiful animals. But first we have to think what our breeding goals will be and how much money we want to spend .... And of course don't forget our ROI (Return On Investment). We have to do some serious marketing. In the Netherlands nobody knows who we are.... ha, ha....

Have a very nice weekend, Leo


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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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Test automatic mail...

By this underscored "Mail the alpaca-vet" at the end of every article on this blog you can directly ask your questions about alpacas.

English, German or Dutch language please...

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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