I sit writing this blog waiting for my Queen to get off work. This year has been quite interesting related to alpacas. The economy has definately contributed to slow sales nationwide! I ask myself 2 questions. Did I get into alpacas too late? Can I be successful breeding, raising and selling them? My answers are "No" and "Yes".

This year I sold 1 animal. People might smile at this and say aloud "1". I'm happy becasue this is one more than last year. I was partnered in one animal. I traded my share in that animal for the two offspring. I'm looking at a very nice Hemingway son.

In 2010 I'm going to re-do my website, taking control of the entire thing to do what I want, when I want. I'm also purchasing a nice trailer to get my animals around the Portland metro area. I plan to show some animals in the spring and am looking for more property.

I look at my motto daily; Simple Philosophy = Ideal Alpaca. So far my 2008 and 2009 births have been better than their parents. I guess I'm doing pretty good so far.

2009 Babies!

This year at Stoneberg Alpacas, LLC has been quite a roller coaster with new babies.

In July, Brandy Storm had a baby girl who died 3 days later. She was a beautiful Sun Tzu female. I did a necropsy on her which turned out inconclusive.

The next birth was Marshmallow Cream. She gave me a beautiful Paul Revere female! Vanilla Cream is 34 pounds as I write this post. She is robust with nice fiber and thick bones.

Next came a DENSE boy from Mocha. Paul Revere did it again. Annihilator is the full brother to Cocoa. He has a small grey spot on his left hip. He like his half sister, Vanilla Cream, is about 32 pounds as I write this post.

Aspire my 16 year old matriarch was next. She was bred to MSA Hemingway's Bogart. On 09/16/09, Aspire went into labor. My gut told me something wasn't quite right as I saw the amniotic sack but no nose or feet. Jamie got in and got the cria out. There was a heart beat and we worked on her for 30 minutes but were unsuccessful. That Bogart baby was a nice brown female...and not a pinto.

At this point I was ready to throw in the towel with Alpaca breeding. I felt somewhat responsible for the 2 deaths. I was frustrated that the full gestation of each cria went for nothing! It got even more frustrating with Hi-Way.

Hi-Way, bred to Artero, gave me a beautiful white female. less than 24 hours later she had died. It is unknown what she died from. I honestly was a little depressed and really began blaming myself. However, I thought in my heart and mind...Keep going Eric. Think about the long term plan you have with Alpacas, learn from what happened to these babies, see the big picture, re-breed and get that farm you so desperately want.

Today, 10/14/09, Zafiro birthed a white Glacial Storm daughter. She weighed in a 17.4 pounds and was treated extra special. Leanne and I used a hairdryer to get her dry. We also put a cria coat on her. As I write this post, she and Zafiro are resting comfortably under the carport on a nice bed of straw. I have learned from my mistakes and vow not to repeat them.

I am blessed with the 3 cria that I have. They are all healthy and are excellent additions to my herd. My next post will be about 2009/2010 breedings.

2008/2009 fiber sorted.

Yesterday, 06/27/09, I went to Alpacas at Tucker Creek and helped with shearing. 30 animals were shorn including, "THE MAN" Sun Tzu. Wow, nice fiber and his daughter Candy is superb. Candy's fleece is phenomenal! Carrie Hull with Course Boards, sorted all my fiber and it is ready to go to get processed. Now I'm waiting for Brandy...July 21 or so. Sun Tsu baby and I can't wait.

Shearing!

Monday June 15th through Wednesday June 17th I had my 12 animals sheared. They all are much happier to get their fiber off. My total was about 52 pounds for 2009, not to mention another 40 from last year. Tomorrow June 22nd, I am heading to Tucker Creek Alpacas to drop off my fiber, which will be sorted by grade next weekend. I am also helping with toenails and top knots. June 28th I will be helping Tucker Creek Alpacas with some of their shearing.

Over the next few months, I am going to intensify my marketing strategy. I need to sell some animals. I have good bloodlines and look forward to the births this year.

Sheering and Fiber!

The sheering season is under way throughout farms in Washington County. On my way to work I have seen animals that have been recently shorn. I will be helping NWA with their sheering June 16-18. I have also been asked to help Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch (June 5) and finally Alpacas at Tucker Creek June 28,29. This year my fiber will be sorted and sent out to get processed.

I went to the CABA fleece and halter show and spoke with a few different breeders about how they processed their fiber. To do it privately vs. a co-op there are many factors to consider. Here are a few:
1. Price
2. Individual animals vs. many animals
3. turn around time
4. quality of fiber processed

The year is moving by and June will be here shortly. Then one baby in July: Brandy Storm/Sun Tzu. The rest in September. Shayda/K2 cria April 2010 if the breeding was successful from last week.

Three boys are down the road!!

Anatolian, Brunson and Thunder and off to new homes. The family in Damascus took Thunder and Brunson. Anatolian will be given away at the end of June. Have some things in the works for this year! I won't jinx myself, but I can't wait for Mocha, Brandy, M.C. and Aspire to deliver. I'm interested to see last year to this year, especially Mocha/Paul Revere. Cocoa is beautiful and I'm hoping for a repeat!

Making room for 2009 cria = get rid of some boys!

Anatolian is in a drawing to win an alpaca. Thunder and Brunson are being looked at tomorrow as fiber boys/lawn mowers for some people in Damascus. Please take them....less mouths to feed and room for new babies!

The shelter is being taken down. Apparently the county got wind. Soooo new shelter might be a Costco car cover.

ALPACA CASTLE!

I've been working hard to get the alpaca shelter complete. As you can see in the picuture, the frame is almost complete. I got some supplies ordered from Jeffers.com and Valleyvet.com. I will be updating the shelter pictures daily as I have time to work on the structure!

http://www.stonebergalpacas.com/ All my animals are up for sale!

Things!

NWA traded Pearl for Hi-Way. Previously I thought Pearl was full Peruvian...I was wrong. Hi-Way was selected through careful analysis of 5 animals. Jamie helped me and Hi-Way is bred to Artero. Taxes are done and sent in. Shelter will be under way this weekend. Fields will be re-done this weekend and website will be getting some updates.

Updates...

Pearl, my female bred to Bogart aborted 01/01/09. It occurred within 30 minutes of my arrival home from work, as the fetus was still steaming. An ultrasound by Dr. Jones showed that the egg implanted in the right horn. This is not a good thing... So Pearl got traded with another full Peruvian animal..Hi-Way. Jamie helped me pick out Hi-Way. She is bred to Artero with a Sept. 2009 due date.

Other tasks I am working on are the re-building of my alpaca shelter, looking for a transport van and contacting SEO about updating and optimizing my website. Gene Genie Alpacas out of Michigan has a nice site as well as nice animals. A few of their studs are very striking, especially PRIDE! Wowzers.

Finally, taxes are in the works. Slow but sure. All my 2008 cria are doing well to include Firecracker. He was born very small and in-fact lost weight. It has been a bit of a task trying to put weight on him...up to 40 pounds now. I checked his bite today and observed it appeared to be forward. Firecracker will have his feet doctored this weekend and be kept under the carport to get him healed up.

Until next time.