Both mom and baby are home safe and sound.  And yes, he is keeping us up ALL night!

On Thursday, March 6, 2008, Sawyer Barnhart was born.  He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19″ long!  We have had a very busy couple of days but will be posting pictures and more details shortly!

It seems hard to believe that show season is here again!  While Steph is staying home as we are expecting the birth of our son shortly, the doctor gave the OK for me to go to our first show of the season, The Southern Select in Shelbyville, TN.  I will just be taking a “light” trailer with 11 suri alpacas to show.  We are also participating in the live herdsire auction by donating a breeding to Torbio’s Accoyo Masterpiece for a worthy cause!

Well, we just had a little cria born this Friday.  It was a little girl.. She was about 2 weeks early and even in the warm room, she was hypothermic.  Weighing in at just 10.5 pounds, we worked for nearly 4 hours to get her temperature up to 99 degrees.  Then we tube fed some cow colostrum intoher and she started to perk up.  it was touch and go for a while but once she turned the corner she never looked back!  We did tube feedings every 2 hours and luckily her mom, who was a maiden, took her job real seriously and by 4:30 in the morning the cria, still wobbly legged and weak started to nurse on her own.  Now, 3 days after her birth she is strong as can be and nursing and growing just fine.  What a difference a good mom can make!

Things have been hectic here as we start a new year at The Alpaca Trading Co.!  We just had our 16 year old Accoyo girl, Lamium, give birth to a full Accoyo Torbio son.  I guess this is one time I do not mind getting a boy!  Steph is getting ready to have a (human) baby! Our first and of course, it is a boy!  How could I expect anything else on this farm?  I am getting ready for the show season.  Our first show is going to be the Southern Select.  We are going through submissions for consignments for The Prestige Auction as well.  We have gotten a great response with many high quality alpacas submitted and look forward to a superb auction this June!

There’s always something happening at The Alpaca Trading Company. From seminars to the store, from the lab to the pasture, take a look at what’s going on. We spend several months of the year traveling to the latest industry shows. Here’s where you can read all about life on the road and get an up-close look at the alpaca lifestyle!

We’d love for you to pay us a visit.