DMAR Store - After Thanksgiving Sale

Posted 22 November, 2006 in DMAR Store | No comments

Stop by this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for our after Thanksgiving sale. Entire store will be discounted 10%! Alpaca products make wonderful gifts. We have ponchos, coats, sweaters, accessories, toys, and more. No sense in standing on long lines at the mall. You can shop in a relaxed atmosphere and learn more about alpacas.

DMAR Store hours will be from 1 pm to 5 pm this weekend. We hope to see you there!

2006 AlpacaFest West Show Winners

Posted 13 November, 2006 in Alpaca Shows | No comments

This past weekend, November 11th and 12th we attended the AlpacaFest West show in The City of Industry, CA. The venue was in the City of Industry Expo center. We were pleasantly surprised at how pretty the location was. It was a level II show with 280 alpacas in total and judged by senior judge, Jane Tellier. On day 1 we got to show off our DMAR Apollo. He was in the medium brown category and was one of six alpacas. Jane chose him to be 2nd place. She stated that he had a very pleasing head and was very fine. Apollo definitely has a presence about him. He strutted around the arena proudly and gave the appearance of a winner. DMAR Apollo is an Augusto grandson and he will become our herdsire when he is old enough.

DMAR Athena showed the following day. She was one of six in the light fawn class. She was up against some stiff competition like All American Alpacas, Alpacas of Misty Ridge, and Alpacas del VAlle Cereza. As I held my breath I listened to Jane Tellier place Athena first with the comments such as solid structured female, good conformation, excellent density, and uniform of micron from top knot down to her toes. Then when Athena went in for the championship round she won reserve color champion. Again Jane brought up her excellent density. DMAR Athena is an Augusto granddaughter.

Overall we had a great show and spent some good times catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Herd Management Changes

Posted 3 November, 2006 in Alpaca Health | No comments

I recently attended a neonatal and wet clinic. To my surprise the DVM holding the class made some comments that has changed my regimen on pregnant females and newborn crias. I am not recommending that you make the same changes, but you may want to think about it.

1. CDT shot - I have been giving the pregnant dam a shot of CDT 4 to 6 weeks before her due date. This was so that she could pass the antibodies to the cria. Per the DVM the studies done have not proven that the antibodies are passed onto the cria. Therefore, by administering the shot we are causing needless stress to the dam. I personally will now be administering 2cc of CDT to both the cria and dam two days after birth.

2.Ecoli - I have been giving to newborn crias 10cc of ecoli medicine orally. Per the DVM, unless you have conditions for ecoli to exist (crowded and damp areas) there is no need to administer. Since my alpacas are not born in this type of environment I will not be administering this drug.

Let’s remember folks that these crias are being born in the wild and surviving without all these extra drugs. Sometimes I feel we go overboard on what is actually necessary to take care of alpacas.  

Alpaca Shows

Posted 1 November, 2006 in Alpaca Articles | No comments

I have published my November article of Alpaca Shows. It can be viewed at Alpaca Shows. Let me know if I left anything off my list that you feel is important. I am also interested in hearing about any show experiences that can be shared with others.