Saturday was a bit of a traumatic one, Gill, Ross & Taylor were coming over for the day, and I was hopeful that Gill might get to see an alpaca birth.
It soon became apparent after breakfast time that Isadora was going to birth, so a quick call to Gill to establish their whereabouts revealed they had only just left. With a nose soon out it was touch and go whether or not they would make it.
Literally just before the final push they came running into the field. Unfortunately this is were the good news ends. Poor Isadora's cria was still born, there was absolutely nothing there, not that that stopped me working on the little man for quite some time.
He was full term, a perfect presentation, healthy weight and looked fine; what a waste. Poor Iasadora had carried this little man for over 11 months and now had nothing to show for it. We left her to grieve her little man for a while before removing him.
One of the harsh realities of farming means that despite loosing her cria Isadora's colostrum could be crucial in saving the live of another vulnerable cria so we milked her and froze it just in case we need it later in the birthing season.
A couple of paddocks further up the hill in one of the isolation paddocks there had been another birth, this time from Faith. This is a bit of a bonus cria, Faith came to us a couple of months ago and wasn't supposed to be pregnant, however I had my suspicions. When James Dixon came to shear her he also thought she was pregnant.
Sure enough Saturday morning she proved us both right and produced.............. you guessed it, another white boy! Ashling is happy to have a play mate.
This little man (currently father unknown!) who we have names Asher, in view of the cricket and the meaning, fortunate, was quite down on his pasterns and has a blue flash in each eye, not something we've ever had before either! Thankfully he appears not to have any hearing problems and he is already catching peoples eye so I doubt he will hang around once he's weaned and put up for sale.
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6 comments:
What a bitter sweet day ... hope Isadora is coping well after her ordeal, what a real shame ....nice to see the new arrival doing well ...Jayne
Poor Isadora - it can certainly be tough for them. Shirley & Robbie
Sorry Debbie I can imagine how awful that must have been. Something I remember from last year with Lucie. I am glad that you had a happier end to the day.
Very sorry Debbie - it is heart breaking I know.
Ooh - blue flashes! I had one and that is why he is called - Ohno!!
What a disappointing day for you, and your visitors.
So disappointing and sad for all after all that waiting... it happens sometimes. Don't worry about the blue flashes - people love them for pets!
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