SABN
NEWSLETTER
Winter 2014
2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
Board of Directors
Hans-Peter Vos – PRESIDENT
Newsletter & Website Liaison
Box 106,
Avonhurst, SK, S0G 0A0
Ph: (306) 771-2040
Email: hpavos@hotmail.com
Maggie Spofford -Secretary
Evergreen Lane
Box 1664
Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Z2
Ph- 306-236-5684
Email: wayne.spofford@mltc.ca
Glenda Shotter – Board Member
Show Liaison
Creekside Alpacas
Box 36
Osage, Sk
S0G 3T0
Ph (306) 722-3519
email tgshotter@sasktel.net
Bruce Peters – Broad Member
Promotion Liaison
Dreamin’ Alpacas
Box 663
Hague SK S0K 1X0
P 225-2002
270-1264
Email:dreaminalpacas@yahoo.ca
Lorraine Bray – TREASURER
Membership & Fibre Initiative
Liaison
Prairie Wind Alpacas
Site 707, Comp 15 RR#7
Saskatoon, SK, S7K 1N2
Ph: (306) 934-1682
Fax: (306) 931-1684
Email: bray@sasktel.net
Table of Contents
President’s Address
Show Results ………………………………. pg. 2
Hello again to all SABN members as we welcome in
2014! The past year has seen many victories as we had
another successful presence at agribition and completed our
fibre initiative project with the university. The AGM this year
will be taking place March 8, 2014 @ the Western
Development Museum and I would like to extend a warm
welcome to everyone to attend. It is a great opportunity for
us to build community with each other, to hear and see
firsthand what SABN has accomplished the past year and to
give your own ideas and insight to shaping the coming year.
As a member it is important to stay informed, and to be
involved. We still have 2 vancant board positions so please
consider volunteering to serve the alpaca industry. It is a
pleasure to work with all the present board members and to
be a part of SABN. See you all in March!
All About Fibre …………………………….pg. 3
Education …………………………………….pg. 4
Health Issues ………………………………..pg. 5
Fibre Initiative ……………………………..pg. 7
Advertisements
Hans-Peter Vos
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
Shows
2014 A.L.P.A.C.A. Spring Show
Northlands, Edmonton
March 27-29 2014
Judge: Ken Hibbits
Results from 2013
October 18, 19, 20
2013
The 2014 Northlands Farm and Ranch Alpaca Spring Show will
serve as both a great introduction for newcomers and an
important resource for those already invested in this exciting
livestock opportunity. You’ll be able to learn what happens
“From Shearing to Shawl” through presentations of the fine
fibers produced by Alpacas and the garments and products
made from their fleece. Plus, check out the judged
competition and buy whatever catches your eye in the Alpaca
Marketplace. For a complete run down of the Alpaca Spring
Show events please see
http://farmandranchshow.com/alpaca-spring-show-2
Supreme Champion Female:
Tiger Lily Pandora owned by Tiger Lily Ranch
Supreme Champion Male:
Foxwood's Essential Service owned by Burton Alpacas
and Circle O Alpacas
Supreme Huacaya Fleece:
DLH Gemarco owned by Country Vista Alpacas
Congratulations also to the color champions:
 White Female - Birchleaf Zena from Rycroft
Alpacas and White Male - High Plains
Highkurumba from High Plains Alpacas Ltd
 Fawn Female - Tiger Lily Pandora from Tiger Lily
Ranch
 Brown Female - ARA Brandie from Alberta Rose
Alpacas and Brown Male -Ring Ranch Boogie
Woogie from Ring Ranch Alpacas
 Black Male - High Plains Blacktastic
High
from Plains Alpacas, Ltd
13th ANNUAL ALPACA ONTARIO SPRING SHOW
April 11 - 13, 2014
Location: Orangeville Event Centre (AKA
Orangeville Fairgrounds) City: Orangeville, Ontario
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Orangeville Inn & Suites
7 Buena Vista Drive, Ontario, Canada
Judges: Peter Kennedy & Ken Hibbits
Get ready for the 13th Annual Alpaca Ontario Spring Show!
This halter show has almost 300 alpacas in every color of the
alpaca rainbow. In addition to a world class contest featuring
two show rings, you can look forward to a fantastic fibre arts
competition and alpaca fashion show.
Also congratulations to all the ribbon winners from our
SABN membership and neighboring provinces. For a full
listing or results please visit www. alpacashowcase.ca.
For further details visit www.alpacaontario.ca
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
It’s All About the Fibre
Crescent Moon Duvet and Pillow Company
written by Rachel Vos
Canadian National Select Sale and Futurity
Red Deer, Alberta
April 11-13 2014
2014 judge - Arturo Pena.
When shearing is all done in the spring, an alpaca
breeder sits back and looks at all the fibre before
them and thinks “now what”? Alpaca ranges in
color and grade and for all those categories an
ideal product is waiting to be made. A perfect
example and feature for this article is the use of
grade 6 fibre, a grade that most producers
disregard or not think much about.
Juvenile and Yearling offspring of the Subscribed Studs are
eligible for the Futurity. This includes CLAA registered and 0%
- Recorded alpacas born in Canada. Juveniles are those born
from April 14,2013 to November 11, 2013. Yearlings are those
born from April 14, 2012 to April 13, 2013.
Crescent Moon started out in 1997 as a
llama ranch making duvets out of llama fibre. As
the product became more popular, the search for
more fibre began and ended with alpaca. Alpaca’s
hollow fibre makes it light, soft and one of the
warmest fibres in the world. Combined with its
porous nature that keeps it naturally dry, preventing
dust mites and allergens, it becomes an ideal
choice for duvets, pillows and mattress pads. The
company is now owned and operated by Julie
Mclean, a gifted sewer by trade who loves what she
does. The company’s duvets, pillows and mattress
pads are made with 70% Canadian grown alpaca
fibre, coming mostly from B.C and Alberta, and
30% wool that is blended into the batts to create
more loft and insulation. The alpaca/wool batts are
processed in Alberta, the pillows batts at Custom
Woolen Mills in Carstairs and the duvet batts at
Exotic Fibres of Canada in Innisfail. They are then
finished off with organic cotton fabric that is grown
in the USA and milled in Austria. The final sewing
takes place in Cherryville, BC, (which also serves
as home base for the company) where rows of
sewn crescent moons hold the batts in place as a
finishing touch. Once finished they are packaged in
100% cotton bags and shipped to their destination.
This luxurious product’s exquisite properties and
** Also, all cria resulting from the breeding’s purchased in the
November 2011 Stud Service auction and born between April
14 and Nov 11, 2013 are eligible for the futurity as juveniles
even if the studs are not subscribed this year.
On-line entry forms will be available in February. Holiday Inn
Hotel & Suites, Red Deer South. Room Rate is $144.99/night
(includes hot buffet breakfast) Phone: 403 348 8485 or 1 855
348 8485. Reference when booking: Block Code is CAN
Book by March 11
2014 Keystone Alpaca Classic
Brandon, Manitoba
April 26-27, 2014
Judge: David Barboza
For schedules, hotel reservations, registration and other info please
visit www.manitobaalpacaclub.ca
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
Education
qualities travels by word of mouth so effectively that
it runs at close to full capacity producing approx.
700 duvets and over 1000 pillows a year. Crescent
Moon is primarily a wholesale company who is
presently carried in Alberta, B.C, Saskatchewan,
Nova Scotia, and 8 States ranging from specialty
and farm stores to commercial store chains.
Although successful sales always come down to
how well you market the product, the duvets and
pillows appear to do best in mattress companies
where the consumer is already thinking about the
importance of quality when it comes to bedding.
Over the last 16 yrs. the company has grown in
quality as well as interest and although willing to
grow is also happy and satisfied with where they’re
at now and plans to be around for a long time.
How do you shear?
Written by Rachel Vos
The time is fast approaching when the snow
will melt and weather will warm up. As it does,
alpaca breeders minds start to drift toward planning
their shearing day. Maybe for you this is a routine
chore like any other. Or maybe your stress level
rises just a tad as you try to pick a perfect date,
have all your supplies ready and round up your
volunteers when all your neighbors seem to take
holidays or have pressing plans around this time. If
that sounds like you, maybe contacting AGR
Shearing is for you. The company is founded by
Robert Green, an experienced shearer for 4 years
and happy alpaca owner himself who has a great
love for these adorable creatures and their fibre.
Starting in the spring in Ontario, AGR Shearing
works its way across the country shearing farms as
they go. Consisting of a team of 3-5 people, they
require no shearing table or assistance just access
to your alpacas in a close by catch pen, two anchor
points to the ground and a person to collect the
fibre as it’s sheared off. The blanket comes off in
one piece with no or minimal second cuts and
service also includes teeth and toe nail trimming as
well as inoculation if needed and supplies are
provided. If this interests you or you have more
questions please see the advertisement on page 7
for contact information or visit them on facebook.
It is always uplifting to hear that there is
industry opportunity for alpaca, no matter the grade
and that people are being more exposed to the
great aspects their fibre possesses every day. To
view Crescent Moon products, to seek contact info
for becoming a retailer or for retail locations please
visit www.crescentmoonduvets.com .
Alpaca Blanket Project
Alpaca Fiber Wanted
There is nothing more beautiful than the rich colors of
natural alpaca fiber. We are seeking fiber in ALL colors,
from white to black and everything in between. We are
also looking for fiber that is 20 to 30 micron AND two to
five inches long. If you get us your fiber by September 1,
we will pay you by December 15. Please see our call for
fiber page for more information. alpacabp.com
Fibre Shearing and Sorting Clinic
May 2014, final date TBA
Trudy McCall and Cathy Merkley will be the instructors
and the event will be hosted at Just Choice Alpacas. If
you are interested in attending the Shearing and Sorting
Workshop please let us know and indicate whether you
prefer a Saturday/Sunday or a Sunday/Monday.
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
Health News
Before I started my reading, I was wondering if this
was some sort of "New Age" medicine fad because
it sure wasn't discussed in vet school or in any of
the regular vet medical journals. In a chat with Dr.
Fowler, he reported that 50% of the vets in Europe,
many in Africa and most in India use the
Homeopathic system. Next I wondered if it was so
good, why wasn't it more common in the U.S. After
more reading and talking to people using
homeopathy, it became clear that first there was
very little profit to be made in the dilution of
common chemicals found in everyday plants,
animals and minerals that sell for a penny or two
per pill. Second, to be really good at Homeopathy
took years of study and the ability to spend hours
getting a real good history from each human
patient. Details such as emotions and feelings,
what was felt at different times of the day,
difference between hot or cold food or drinks,
details that went on and on made a difference to a
well-trained Homeopathic doctor. In general, it was
a system of medicine that didn't fit with the regular
six patient per hour M.D.'s time frame………
The following are excerpts from the article:
Dr. Pollard's Herbal Remedies
Introduction to Basic Homeopathic
medicine in Alpacas and Llamas
…….herbal therapy is folk medicine in every culture
and there are more South American llamas and
alpacas getting this kind of care than the much
more expensive North American medicine that we
are used to here. Many modern pharmaceutical
drugs trace their roots back to the active principle
chemical in herbs………
In 1993 I wasn't really looking for another system of
medicine but there were several things about
modern western medicine I wasn't happy about.
First was the cost because every year there are
newer, better (read more expensive) drugs
produced by major pharmaceutical companies. I
can hold 3 bottles (150 ml) of llama medicine in one
hand that cost me over $500. While this might last
a llama most of a week, I've had my own llama at
U.C.D. Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital where
$500 was used up daily for a week. The next
problem was the side effects where the treatment
can be worse than the medical problem being
helped. Some of the largest medical books I have
spend thousands of pages on the warnings and
cautions when drugs are used in people and of
course there is no real data on use in llamas and
alpacas. Another uncertainty I have about many of
the modern western medicines is that they don't
solve or cure the animal's health problem but only
cover it up for awhile. In many cases, it is like
having an oil warning light on in the dash of the car
and just turning it off instead of adding oil to the
engine…………
I guess I wasn't the first person to have this
dilemma because many of the larger Homeopathic
supply companies have produced exactly what you
and I need in the form of "combination" remedies.
In western medicine it would be real poor to use
four or five drugs at the same time trying to do the
same thing. In fact I would say it would be
dangerous. In Homeopathic medicine, if the wrong
remedy is selected, there is no effect, no toxicity,
no penalty. Now, for diarrhea, instead of trying
single remedies one at a time until one worked, I
use a Diarrhea Combination tablet with 5 or 6
different single remedies blended together.
Probably 3 or 4 don't work at all but I'm only
interested in the fact that one or two do work and
the animal improves quickly. There are
Combination remedies for most of the common
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
problems all the way from Asthma to the Urinary
Tract.
Another thing I like about Homeopathic medicine is
that the owner can easily learn to drench in the
dose 3 or 4 times a day as opposed to the owner or
myself giving injections. I try to give every injection
to alpacas and llamas as gently as possible but
many drugs sting and I've found these speechless
brothers have a long memory. Especially when the
injections are twice a day for a week, they never
forget.

I still consider myself a beginner since I have been
only dabbling in this for 4 years compared to 26
years of western medicine. I now have about 8
different combination remedies and about 10 single
remedies on hand but I find I am using them more
and more. I like the fact that there are no side
effects, signs of problems are not hidden, the cost
is very reasonable and in many cases it works.
Don't get me wrong, I still have all those expensive,
dangerous western drugs and I would be real
nervous if I didn't have them along but now I have a
choice.



Immune Booster: Feed one 5oz. dixie cup daily
to sick Llama or Alpaca or start one week before
travel or show and continue for one week after.
Lactation Stimulation Formula: Lactation
stimulation blend has proved to be a very
effective method of increasing milk production in
our females. It also seems to have a beneficial
side effect of easing labor and after birth healing
for the females. Crias seem to gain more weight
because of the amount of milk produced. This
product has allowed for less or no milk
supplementation in females who have a history
of light milk production. Available in two sizes.
Ingredients: Fenugreek, Basil, Caraway, Dill,
Fennel, Red Raspberry
Directions: Add 2 oz. (1 5oz dixie cup per day) to
each daily grain feeding beginning the 11th
month of gestation and increase to twice daily
when cria is born, continuing until cria has
achieved adequate positive weight gain.
Continue with 1 scoop daily until comfortable
with cria weight gain.
Tendon Formula: Over the years Rob has seen
many llamas with a condition that we describe
as "down in the pasterns." It has been common
to blame heredity for this condition but after
seeing many healthy and upright animals from
the same parents he began to question this
theory. He feels that nutrition has had more
impact on this condition than heredity, and has
been using this formula with great success.
Camelid Tendon Repair Herbal Blend
Guaranteed Analysis(Per half ounce): Horsetail
4.91 gm, Nettle Leaf 4.91 gm, Alfalfa 2.45 gm,
Vitamin C 1.09 gm, Turmeric 546 mg, Ginger
273 mg, Manganese Amino Acid (40 mg Mn),
Boron Amino Acid (3 mg B)
Directions: Top dress 2 rounded tablespoons (½
oz) twice daily for 2 weeks, then once daily as
needed.
Arthritis Formula: For helping the older and/or
arthritic llama become more mobile and alleviate
the pain from this debilitating disease. Camelid
Arthritis Herbal Blend Guaranteed Analysi(Per
half ounce):
Glucosamine Sulfate 2300 mg, MSM 2300 mg;
Alfalfa Leaf Powder 2170 mg, Yucca Root
Powder 1960 mg, Devil's Claw Root Powder
1625 mg, Vitamin C 1080 mg; Boswella 325 mg,
Cat's Claw Powder 200 mg, Turmeric Powder
140 mg, Feverfew Herb Powder 140 mg, White
Willow Bark Powder 140 mg
Directions: Top dress 1 rounded tablespoon (½
oz) twice daily for 2 weeks, then once daily as
needed.
To read more of this article or view/order this product
please visit www.lightlivestockequipment.com
~6~
2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
The Alpaca Fibre Project, as conducted by research
scientist, Dr. Satya Panigrahi, studied 4 areas: storage,
washing, drying, and processing of alpaca fibre. As was
anticipated there was not a lot of information found
during the literature review. Various methods and
containers for storing alpaca fibre were tested including
materials currently used by many producers. From the
research Dr. Panigrahi concluded the best methods of
storing alpaca fibre to have the least amount of
deterioration of the fibre.
Johne’s disease prevention, diagnosis remains a challenge
by the western producer
Johne’s disease has long been recognized as an economically
important disease in dairy cattle, but it actually affects a wide
variety of ruminants including a growing number of alpacas.
To read the article and learn about symptoms, and treatment
options please visit www.producer.com and search alpaca.
Various detergents available to producers and water
temperatures were used in conducting washing
research looking to retain color and physical
characteristics. Dr. Panigrahi designed a simplified
washing chamber that could be built on a producer’s
farm fairly inexpensively.
Final Report SABN Inc Alpaca Fibre Project
For Canadian Agricultural Adaptation
Program (CAAP)
Funding for this project has been provided by
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian
Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In
Saskatchewan, this program is delivered by the
Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan
Alpaca Breeders Network incorporated as SABN Inc in
order to qualify for this funding and perhaps additional
funding in its future endeavours.
Three different methods of drying alpaca fibre were
studied with the desire to reduce drying times while
retaining color and physical characteristics. To conduct
this research Dr. Panigrahi built a thin layer drying area,
and a dehumidifying chamber as well as using a
microwave drying system. Again Dr. Panigrahi has
designed these drying systems with the producer in
mind.
The Alpaca Fibre Project was first introduced to the
SABN membership at the Annual meeting held in March
2010. Dr. Satya Panigrahi spoke to the membership on
the possibility of doing research at the University of
Saskatchewan using alpaca fibre in the hopes of
advancing the alpaca industry in Saskatchewan and
throughout Canada. Subsequently SABN learned of the
CAAP program and the possibility of obtaining funding
to assist in this research. During the following 12
months the project was formulated with an anticipated
start date of October 2010. The research actually
started in April 2011.
To study processing only the initial phases were studied
in depth. The picker, draw frame and carder were
present at the University of Saskatchewan and at Dr.
Panigrahi’s disposal. By making adjustments and using
attachments Dr. Panigrahi was able to manufacture an
acceptable roving. He also experimented with blending
other fibres with the alpaca. To facilitate the spinning
process the rovings were sent to Twisted Sisters Fibre
Mill at Nisku, AB.
The results of this project are that producers will have
information based on research to store their alpaca
fibre so there is little deterioration. If producers so
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
desire they may use the research to construct washing
and drying facilities on their own farms thus enabling
them to save money on processing. Processors, who
have long complained of the bottleneck in their system
being the washing and drying process, could take note
of the conclusions in this research and shorten that
section of the process. It is encouraging that a course
outline is developed for study at the University of
Saskatchewan which will include the study of processing
alpaca fibre.
time more links will be available on the SABN website
for members and the public to access. This will include
a booklet of current best practices that will feature
results of the research combined with practices for
handling fibre drawn from the base of experience. Hard
copies of the short, user-friendly booklets are in the
process of being prepared for the printer and making
sure website links referred to in the booklet are live
online. These will be available to SABN members as well
as any other producers or interested people wishing to
purchase them. They may also be available in electronic
format on our website as soon as we develop the
wording that will ensure copyright and
acknowledgements are adhered to. These booklets may
be made available at various alpaca events such as
Agribition and to other Alpaca organizations for
distribution to their members and the public who may
be interested.
The project activities were completed except for a
planned trip to Peru to learn of milling strategies there.
This and the delay in the writing of the reports was due
primarily to the fact that our researcher encountered
numerous unrelated family crises. Our researcher has
also identified possible sources for equipment to
process alpaca fibre on a larger scale.
A research trip to China was timed in conjunction with a
Textile Symposium being held in Bejing, which proved
to be an enlightening experience for the researchers
and the SABN members who went.
Our recommendations and hopes are that with this
research a larger mill will be operational in the near
future to accommodate the current producers and that
the alpaca fibre industry will grow further.
The alpaca fibre project was a proposal to assist alpaca
fibre producers in finding the best methods of storing
their harvest as well as documenting the best washing,
drying and processing methods. Existing mills have a
very long turn-around time for processing alpaca fibre
so it was hoped that the research would find methods
that would speed up the washing and drying process,
where most of the bottle-neck seemed to occur.
All research data has been available to the members of
SABN throughout the project. Members were invited to
come to the U of S at any time to observe or assist in
the project. The research began in 2011 and there were
updates to the membership at the SABN annual
meeting in 2012 and 2013 by both the researcher and
the SABN Fibre Committee. There have been posters
and updates on the research available at Agribition. The
written reports from the researcher are available to the
membership currently by request to the SABN BOD. In
the near future as our website volunteer team has the
Research substantiated the fact that alpaca fibre must
be stored in a dry condition and kept dry throughout
storage. Deterioration of the fibre begins quickly if it is
not clean and dry. A number of materials were
recommended for storage. Research also showed that
when washing and drying alpaca fibre, temperature is
very important. Current methods of washing use hot
water as used with sheep wool. However temperatures
should remain below 50 degrees Celsius to retain the
color and physical properties of alpaca. Drying
temperatures need to remain low as well and the most
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
effective method was to reduce the moisture content
without raising the temperature to extremes. If
producers follow the recommendations for storage,
washing and drying on their farms, they would have
much less waste and save money. Subsequently the
milling process would be speeded up because of
superior fibre and the washing/drying process would
already be completed. This would be a financial savings
to producers and to millers which in turn would be
passed on to producers. This is a win-win situation for
producers.
Herd Reduction Sale
Thank you to all SABN members who provided their
fibre to be processed into rovings at the UofS so that we
would have our cash contribution to the CAAP research
project and also thank-you to the members who served
on the Fibre Committee at one time or throughout the
project. That dedicated time served as our “in kind”
obligation for the research. Your tireless efforts over
the past 3 years have set the foundation for further
expansion of the knowledge of alpaca fibre and the
assurance of a sustainable future for alpacas in Canada.
This was our first “big undertaking” and the experience
will prove to be invaluable as we move forward to meet
the evolving needs of alpaca producers!
Lake Breeze Alpacas, located on the shores of
We have juveniles, yearlings, bred & open females
and proven & unproven males for sale at great,
great prices. Ten have to go to make room for this
year's crop so we will be considering all offers. Call
Rodney or Gill at 306-374-6737 or send an email to
r.weber@sasktel.net. Best of the season to you
from Sundog Alpacas.
beautiful Last Mountain Lake, is reducing its herd!
Award winning, double registered alpacas for sale:
including bred females, cria, Jr. Herdsires &
herdsires! Packages available. Please contact for
pricing. Sherry Mochinski 306-580-8131 or
torco@telus.net
Shearing Criations
Robert Green
P.O. Box 79
Turkey Pt, ON N0E 1T0
Advertisements
FOR SALE: Double and single registered
alpacas. Many colors to choose from. Call
Dreamin' Alpacas at 306-225-2002 or visit
our website dreaminalpacas.com!!
robgreen@alpacagardensranch.com
Phone: 519-718-3849
Services Offered:
Full Shearing Services
Farm Sitting
Mid Season Tooth and Nail Trimming
Micro Chipping Available
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
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2014
NEWSLETTER
Website: www.sabn.net
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