July 2011

Winter births for new genetics

Although winter births are not the planned events in Canterbury, these little arrivals were very welcome, as they represent new fawn genetics not often available in NZ and a great chance for us to widen the genetic base of our specialist fawn breeding programme.

Four of the eleven fawn female huacaya we imported from Forestglen Alpaca Stud in Australia late last year were pregnant to Patagonia Celtic Rising Sun, a highly acclaimed fawn stud male with a great track record. So, as can well be imagined we were delighted when they produced four healthy cria - two boys and two girls - the perfect match.

The two boys are of special interest to us. One is a dark fawn male (called Waratah Flats Rising Star) and one a dark brown male (called Waratah Flats Rising Storm). They now provide us with valuable potential stud males for the future.

We'll keep you posted as they grow and as they say - watch this space.

Feb 2011

Waratah Flats Espresso leaves for Europe

Our stunning two year old dark brown male, Waratah Flats Espresso, is now on his way to Germany, as European alpaca breeders continue to invest in top quality breeding stock from NZ and seek to improve their genetic base of coloured huacaya.

Sired by the International Supreme Fleece Champion - Forestglen Seth, out of our top brown female, Waratah Flats Rosewood, this rising two year old male was only 16.8u in his second fleece, making him one of the fineness dark brown available and a great future stud male prospect. We wish Espresso well on his big OE.

Dec 2010

New import of fawn huacaya females

A lovely group of 11 fawn huacaya females has now arrived from Australia to boost our specialist fawn breeding programme and strengthen our genetic base of targeted bloodlines. We are grateful to Maureen Carey from Forestglen Alpaca Stud in NSW for allowing us to select from the top of her fawn alpaca herd and acquire valuable genetic lines, including those of the famous Purrumbete El Dorado, Purrumbete Inti and Purrumbete Highlander pedigrees. We look forward to continuing the fawn genetic programme started by Maureen many years ago.

August 2010

Waratah Flats Earl Grey accepted for National Auction

We are delighted that Waratah Flats Earl Grey, has been accepted for
this years AANZ National Alpaca Auction. He will be offered for sale to the international alpaca market at our 2010 National Alpaca Expo, to be held in Christchurch on the 8th to 10th October 2010.

For details on this auction visit www.alpacaexpo.co.nz.

Earl Grey is a beautiful dark fawn huacaya male, with a luxurious fleece
and an incredible show record. Already in 2010 (in his 2nd fleece), he has been awarded 3 x Supreme Champion titles (Malvern A&P Show March 2010, Oxford A&P Show April 2010, MacKenzie Highland Show April 2010).

Waratah Flats Elite Fashion - also selected for National Auction

We feel honoured, to have had two of our top alpaca accepted for the 2010 AANZ National Alpaca Auction, the premier NZ alpaca sale of the year. Joining Waratah Flats Earl Grey, will be our stunning light fawn huacaya female, Waratah Flats Elite Fashion. She also has an incredible show record, with many Championships ribbons, in both fleece and halter competition. The most recent, was her Champion Light Fawn Female award at the South Island Colourbration Show (August 2010). We urge you to visit the Expo website and see the wonderful line up of quality alpaca on offer.

April 2010

Positive Results from our Breeding Programme

The results of our genetic improvement programme have come through very strongly in our show results over the last two months, as many of our Waratah Flats offspring have won handsomely at all levels. This new generation, with their super fine fleeces and strong conformation, are a reflection of many years of intensive breeding and the careful selection of positive fleece traits. And like all breeders of coloured alpaca, we are pleased to have now achieved this in fawns and browns.

Waratah Flats Earl Grey is a great example of both our high quality breeding dams and the introduction of the ultra fine genetics of Forestglen Seth (Supreme Champion Huacaya Fleece at the first International Fleece Show 2008). With Earl Grey's recent performance, in winning Supreme Champion Huacaya awards at three successive South Island shows, we are seeing a direct result of this breeding programme.

Waratah Flats Earl Grey's first fleece results - shorn late November 2009:

17.85u, 3.51 SD, CV 19.7% and CF of 99.3% (curve 46.6)

March 2010

Great Expectations

Some great new cria are starting to show through from last seasons breeding programme. And as we start the preparation; shearing, halter training, etc, for the show season ahead, it is clear that we have some real little crackers in this bunch. Two young mid fawn males, Waratah Flats Embassy and Waratah Flats Exodus, are standing out ahead of the others and although it is early days for these youngsters, they look like shaping up to be stud male potential. Both these boys are sired by Forestglen Seth, while their dams are two of our top fawn females, the mother and daughter combination of WF Skylark and WF Obsession. Keep an eye out for these two young males in the coming shows season.

Waratah Flats Exodus 16.55u, 4.76 SD, CV 28.8% and CF of 98.3% (curve 52.4)

Waratah Flats Embassy 17.48u, 4.64 SD, CV 26.7% and CF of 97.8% (curve 45.1)

December 2009

Great Fleece Results from our Super Fine Fawn Stud

With his forth fleece now removed, it is time to monitor the progress of Forestglen Seth's super fine fleece. And we are very pleased with what we see. The test results, from SGS Wool testing, are from a mid-side sample of his 4th fleece, taken at his last shearing in October 2009.

18.18u, 3.36 SD, CV 18.5% and CF of 99.8% (curve 50.5)

This is a great result, that shows his fleece has only moved less than one micron in the last year and this is despite spending half of his year feeding on the lush pastures of the Coromandel Peninsula, in the North Island. This is truly, genetic fineness on display here.

November 2009

New Owners for Waratah Flats Limited Edition

Congratulations to Sandra and Wayne Allison, on the purchase of WF Limited Edition, who recently took out Supreme Champion Huacaya at the Wanaka Show and who looks like having real stud potential. Sandra and Wayne purchased WF Limited Edition from us, as part of a package of white and light fawn huacaya, that included: WF Crystal, WF Rainbow Girl, WF Champagne and WF Etruscan Princess. This is a family line of high quality females, that represent some of the best white genetics available in NZ and we wish them well for their future breeding programme.

August 2009

New website for Forestglen Seth

We now have a special "stand alone" website for our international award winning stud male. This is probably the first stud alpaca male to have his own website. Take a look at www.forestglenseth.com

The website contains plenty of interesting photos and details on this super fine fawn male and is the ideal place to watch the continued development of his offspring.

July 2009

Advanced Breeding Workshop

About 20 alpaca breeders from around the South Island attended our Advanced Breeding Workshop in July and from all reports, they enjoyed a casual but informative day. The programme included - livestock improvement, pedigrees, genetic selection, progeny testing and selection planning for your breeding programme. If you are interested in attending one of our training workshops, please contact us for details on upcoming events. We are happy to share our 25 year plus knowledge base with you - we are all still learning.

March 2009

Fibre tests continue trend

Like many alpaca breeders, we were trilled to see that our fibre tests from last summers shearing are showing continued good results. It is always pleasing to see those fibre tests for your cria first fleeces coming back at under 20 microns but it is even more pleasing to see those tests coming back at under 20 microns for 3 year old stud males. Forestglen Seth's 3rd fleece has come back at 17.07u, 3.10 SD, Cv of 18.2% and a CF of 99.7%. While his curvature is 57.5 on the OFDA 2000 scale.

Feb 2009

Waratah Flats Achilles new co-owners

Congratulations to Cathy Roche and Steve Davy, from Aquaviva Alpaca Stud, who are now co-owners in our premium mid-fawn stud male, Waratah Flats Achilles. Sired by Kaihere Peruvian Ven Chura, out of an ultra fine imported Peruvian female WF Jaunita, WF Achilles with his impressive show record, is now proving to be a top class stud male with a string of quality cria to his credit.

January 2009

First Forestglen Seth cria arrive

The first of the long awaited Forestglen Seth cria have now been born and they are simply stunning. The first three all arrived within a few days of each other, each one a very special occasion for us. All different colours (from different coloured mum's) but each with a great covering of soft velvety fibre.

October 2008 

Alpaca Expo

In the presence of stiff competition we were delighted once again to gain some significant results for our little show team at this years National Alpaca Expo in Christchurch. We felt so proud of this photo (taken by Ann Rogers) of Waratah Flats Jacana, winner of the veteran female Championship, that we just wanted to post it as a news item. As many of those who where there will know. Jacana was not very co-operative in the show ring and just wanted to sit down all the time. So to get this photo was a real rarity.

March 2008

Forestglen Seth wins Supreme Champion at the International Fleece Show

Even more excitement at Waratah Flats this month, as our new stud male Forestglen Seth, affectionately known as "The Sheriff", takes out the ultimate prize in the alpaca fleece world, that of Supreme Champion Haucaya Fleece, at the International Alpaca Fleece Show held recently in Sydney. This competition (the first of it's kind ever held) attracted over 470 entries from around the world and represented some of the best alpaca fleeces ever shown. A truly great award for an outstanding young male, who we are sure, will make a wonderful addition to the Waratah Flats breeding programme.

February 2008

New fawn stud male arrives from Australia

There was great excitement at Waratah Flats this month as our new stud male "Forestglen Seth" arrives from quarantine in Australia. Purchased from Maureen Carey at the Forestglen Stud in NSW, this medium fawn male (son of Forestglen Maestro) is a stunning alpaca, with enormous potential. He is a bold, upright male, with a solid frame and an excellent coverage of ultra fine fibre. His first fleece won Supreme Champion at the Sydney Royal in 2007, being only 15.6 microns. Forestglen Seth is co-owned with QTAZ Alpaca Stud.

December 2007

Alpaca exports off to Switzerland

We were delighted to be able to supply one of the top breeders in Switzerland, with some of our quality Waratah Flats genetics, as two of our own breed alpaca were amongst a small group flown to Europe in an export order. They included Waratah Flats Sweet Embrace, a solid medium fawn female, from our ET programme and Waratah Flats Trojan Gold a medium fawn male, who is an up-an-coming young stud male. Both of these alpaca, represent the very top of our fawn breeding programme and clearly illustrate that the European alpaca breeders recognise that New Zealand is now breeding world class alpaca.

November 2007

2007 Waratah Flats Newsletter - now available

Our 2007 spring newsletter is now available for those who would like a copy. It contains an overview of our fawn breeding programme, "Fabulous Fawns" and what we have been doing with a large part of our alpaca fibre. It also features a selection of six of our top fawn females we have for sale and three outstanding fawn males. Most of these alpaca are being offered for sale for the first time. So if you if you would like a copy, then please let us know.

Alpaca Judge training clinic

Paul was one of the six NZ alpaca judges who took part in a training clinic run by the internationally renowned alpaca judge trainer, Amanda van den Bosch, from the USA. The clinic involved two full days of intensive training, designed to continue the up-skilling of NZ alpaca judges, in fleece and breed judging systems.

October 2007

Great day at Ellesmere A&P Show

It was an exciting day for Waratah Flats alpaca last Saturday, as they showed off their best against the 160+ other alpaca at the Ellesmere A&P Show near Christchurch. From the 11 alpaca we entered, all came home with at least one ribbon, some of them with several. In the Championship classes, we won a total of six firsts, one second, three thirds and one forth. In addition we took out 3 championship broad ribbons and both of the progeny classes. We were also delighted, that all of the alpaca in our show team this time, were born and breed at Waratah Flats.

To read more on how they performed ……. see Show Results

June 2007

Dunedin Conference

Paul gave a short paper at the Dunedin conference on judging alpaca and llama in Peru. While not quite the same as A&P Shows in NZ, the different style of fleece types being displayed and the length of fleece, some up to two years growth, fascinated many people. If any alpaca breeders not at the Dunedin conference would like to see these photos, please contact us.

May 2007

Conference Auction

For those of you who have been following the conference stud service auction, we are sure you will agree, that it was a lot of fun. We were delighted to be part of this fun-raising event in support of the conference and trilled that Waratah Flats Achilles attracted the top bid for a coloured stud male. Well done Kevin and Lesley Burgess for your top bid on Achilles, we are sure you will like the results.

April 2007

New Cria Looking Good

This years crop of summers births are ready for further evaluation and we are very pleased with what we are seeing. We have tried some new breeding combinations this year with some of our top females and early indications look very good. Although still only young, mostly only 6 months of age, we have some great fibre test results, down to 15.6 micron. It's breeding alpaca such fun. What could be nicer than watching each new generation developing before your eyes.

March 2007

New Stud Males Now Working

Our two up and coming young stud males, Waratah Flats Achilles (son of Ven Chura) and Homestead Farm Gold Star (son of Bellisimo) are now both working and if early spit-offs are anything to go by, then both are very fertile. Both are solid medium fawn, with very fine fleeces (only 19u at their second shear) and will bring new bloodlines to our breeding programme. Both will be available for outside mating duties in the coming spring.

February 2007

Our Twin Has Her Own Cria

We are excited to report that the female of our twins born in 2005, "Skylark", has just given birth to a fine female cria. Solid medium fawn just like her mother and grandmother. We are looking forward to watching this one develop.

January 2007

ET Cria Progress

The 5 cria born in the spring from our ET programme are all doing well and we are delighted with quality of their fleece. All these are sired by Jolimont Attitude and out of a single flush from our top female Waratah Flats Jacana. As we expected, these is some variation in both the style and type of fleece, but the overall quality remains good. All were shorn at about three months old and we are now looking forward to how the shape up in the spring shows.

December 2006

Alpaca Fibre Processing in Peru 

While visiting Peru, Paul took the opportunity to visit both Mitchell's and the Inca Group's alpaca fibre processing plants. As our breeding programme expands, and both the quality and quantity of the alpaca fibre increases, it is important stay up to date with the latest alpaca fibre processing activities.

November 2006

Worldwide Camelid Fair in Peru

Paul, along with fellow New Zealand alpaca breeder Murray Basingthwaighte, were both keynote speakers at the first Worldwide Fair for South American Camelids, held in Puno, Peru. The Fair took place over 4 days and included scientific sessions, cultural events, entertainment and a major livestock show with over 1,000 alpaca and 400 llama. This was a real honour for us to share our knowledge with other alpaca and llama breeders. Paul talked about Alpaca Farming Techniques in NZ, while Murray spoke on the AGE project. It was also a great opportunity to develop closer ties between NZ and Peru.

Peruvian Alpaca Judge

While attending the alpaca show in Puno, Paul had the opportunity of working with the great Peruvian alpaca judge, Dr Julio Sumar . With his years of experience and a keen eye for detail, Dr Sumar spent 3 days working through the 1,000 alpaca on show. There where some very big classes and Paul found it a great experience working with one of the worlds best alpaca judges. Of particular interest, were the large classes of coloured suri.

October 2006

ET Cria Arrive

Our first Embryo Transfer cria have been born at Waratah Flats. This is the first of six embryos, from our beautiful medium fawn female, Waratah Flats Jacana. Sired by Jolimont Attitude, this stunning light fawn male cria, has been named "Lightning".

September 2006

Paul Judges Alpaca and Llama Show in Peru

On the 28th and 29th of August, Paul had the privilege of being asked to judge an alpaca and llama show in Peru and to become the first non-Peruvian to judge these animals, in the home of their ancestors.

The alpaca show was part of the larger annual "Ayaviri Expo", a combined agricultural and livestock show, that included sheep, cattle, alpaca, llamas and horses, which is held in the highlands of southern Peru.

The Ayaviri Expo had over 300 alpacas and 100 llamas and was to be judged over two days. Paul was asked to judge to New Zealand judging standards, as the local alpaca breeders were keen to learn from the experience we have gained in NZ in breeding alpacas and to benefit from our judging and evaluation.

One of the highlights of the visit, was the opportunity to see a large number of suri, both at the show itself and on visits to some of the larger alpaca breeding farms in the area.

August 2006

New White Stud Male Coming to Waratah Flats

An outstanding solid white Huacaya stud male named "Forestglen Rameses", will be standing at stud at Waratah Flats from Oct to Dec 2006, for a limited season. This four year old working male, comes to us on breeding loan from Sarah and Peter Busby of the Rapaki Alpaca Stud in Hastings.

He has an impressive fibre data, at two years being 19.8u, 4.3 SD, 21.7% CV and a CF of 98.5%. He also has an impressive breeding background, being sired by the legendary Shanbrooke Accoyo Rasputin (SW) and out of the El Dorado dam, Forestglen Queen of Sheba (SW). For more details, check our stud male section.

Waratah Flats Buys New Fawn Male

We are pleased to announce the purchase of Homestead Farm Gold Star, an 18 month old medium fawn huacaya male, sired by the well known Benleigh Bellisimo. This high quality young male will bring new bloodlines to our breeding programme, while adding more valuable fawn genetics to our line up of coloured males. For more details, check our stud male section.