We need to start this story from the beginning, so let me take you a few years back.
When we started our adventure with the alpacas, we acquired a couple of groups. A few came first as pets, all males to be later castrated. Then we brought a few more, the owner had their planning permission and had no interest left for the animals. We wanted a couple of females, but got the rest of the group out of pity (for the animals). The mating record they gave us was far from accurate. That is how Aramis came at a very unexpected date. Then Milady. This was our first “expected but not today” pair of crias. Aramis was handsome, well built, a light fawn male with a lovely golden shade, black nails, nose and eyelashes, good head shape, good quality fleece.
But let’s get back to the point, as the story we’re trying to tell is about Aramis’ legacy.
As he grew up, Aramis had to move from the girls to the paddock with the group of pets. As soon as he stepped in the field, a suri took very seriously to not to let him in the group, and poor Aramis was bullied and chased, he screamed, he run… it was disheartening. We had to break the group in two.
The pets went one by one, eventually leaving only Aramis from the original group, and some others were born and grew to take on their place. We were considering how Aramis would do or not as a stud, whether to arrange the vet to do their job, when the boy managed to challenge our plans and reached to the females. I took a note of the date. We crossed our fingers if there was any pregnancies from earlier matings had not been compromised. It was very bad time in the year for matings, too cold for crias to be born. We had to move him out of the farm until we could house him back. He left Kestle to spend a few months in a friend’s farm.
The result came back just over eleven months after the event. At the end of the summer, we had two more crias. They were a surprise at the same time we did expect them. Now we know Aramis is fertile and he also passes very good genetic features to his cria. Next step will be fibre testing to assure their fleece quality.
They are definitely progeny from Aramis. He has strong genes! And, same as Aramis was wilful, these two new alpacas are a really naughty pair of youngsters. You can find them always together, planning mischief. They purposely delay behind the mamas when the group is being moved and, just before they reach the gate, they run away to investigate around. They love a game of chase. They jump on the grumpy pregnant girls and escape before they get told off. A boy and a girl, unruly little ones, inquisitive, mischievous and very entertaining to watch. They make me laugh. I just hope the winter soothes their energy, as looking out the window I can see it’s going to be a long very wet winter.
Kestle Alpacas 