Shearing is a family affair, we have been shearing now for 7 years, my lovely nephew Brooke has been training with me for 5 years and is now a competent shearer too. I started 9 years ago shearing my own alpacas as I was unhappy with how they were being treated at the time and knew there was a better way. We have been developing and honing our own way of doing things where the alpacas and owner's stress is kept to an absolute minimum. We understand the importance of the fibre and will shear your animals accordingly.

 

Please click this shearing video to view us in shearing action.

 

Within shearing we also check feet, teeth, and assess the general health of the individual animal, herd management and land management and can give advice on how to move forward with your alpaca plans. We can also administer husbandry medication and help with microchipping. We like to call it the full MOT :-)

Click here to view scan videos in our gallery

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Business development and collaboration opportunities are a focus of my work. As a paraprofessional working with the Animal Ultrasound Association and alongside veterinary-practice.com and The Livestock Clinic I now offer ultrasound scanning. I have invested in a state of the art, non-intrusive, wireless free handheld ultrasound scanner which offers you quality images such as those on this page. These can be booked as part of our matings service or as a stand-alone site visit.

 

Because alpacas are pregnant for 11-12 months, using this type of equipment means owners are able to make informed decisions about their females if scanned, rather than playing the ‘waiting game’.

 

Working alongside our partners we can also support the scanning of other animals, so please do contact me if you wish to discuss this service further.​

We support vets performing camelid castrations, so much so I thought it was worth this section so any of you unsure of how this procedure works can gain a snippet... no pun intended ;-)... of information about why we would be on site to support your vet.

 

Us being on site means your practice vet does not require any hands on support on the day, little or no sedation, and your alpacas are castrated in the upright position, ensuring maximum health and welfare for all concerned, with minimal medication required. We arrive approx an hour prior to your vet, settle your alpacas into their pen or shelter, arrange our mats and bespoke restraints and once the vet arrives position your alpaca with little stress and fuss ready for your vet to perform the procedure.

 

The vets we have worked alongside have on average working with us only taken a short time per alpaca and we have yet to encounter any post procedure issues only very happy alpacas returning to their herd and daily routine. If any of you are considering castrations then do please get in touch to discuss this further.

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With thanks to Amy - Haywood Farm Vets, Sam - Wern Vets and Matt - Park Issa Veterinary Hospital for permission to use photos.

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Since 2009 I have owned and worked with alpacas first as part of a successful small holding/large holding business, Spring Grove Alpacas and Rare Breeds, specialising in alpacas and rare breed sheep, whilst keeping cattle, pigs, goats, poultry, turkeys, geese, angora rabbits and ponies, my first love always being the alpacas. During this time, I was also running on site educational classes for both adults and children.

 

Over the last few years post covid, like many, I adapted the business. I significantly reduced my own herd numbers and I now offer a freelance consultancy service on the subjects of setting up and running a small holding, land/herd management, animal care and welfare plus specialist camelid handling, welfare and management services, with sustainability and the environment being core to all my work. I offer consultancy services for individuals, groups, education providers and vet practices.

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If you would like to speak to me about my consultancy work just contact me via the 'lets chat' button.

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