Alpaca news

Alpaca breeders are invited to participate with their ‘PR-style’ animals (non-solid colours welcomed) throughout the whole show in displays in the alpaca pavilion (Centenary Hall) and Town Square walks, enabling the general public to interact with the alpacas. Judging will take place on 25th – 28th September

Show dates:
The RASV has moved the dates of the Royal Melbourne Show. Instead of opening on Thursday 16 September and closing on Sunday 16 September, the 2010 show will commence on Saturday 18 September and close on Tuesday 28 September.

It is planned that alpacas will be required to arrive at the Melbourne Showgrounds on the morning of Saturday 25 September from 6:00am and are required to be in their pens for inspection no later than 10:00am. Judging of Huacaya Juniors will commence at about 1:00pm.

Age section judging is projected to be completed by the evening of Monday 27 September. It is anticipated that, while interstate exhibitors may wish to depart on Monday evening (or early Tuesday morning), the Tuesday will provide for a ‘spectacular finale’ for the final day of the show on Tuesday 28 September and, of course, provide a good opportunity for ‘marketing’ the alpaca industry to the general public.

Vitamin D was low in late winter and high in summer. plasma vitamin D concentrations increased with age, were higher in alpacas with light fleeces than in those with dark fleeces and were also higher in the Suri than in the Huacaya breed.

A joint SW TAFE and Alpacas VicWest working party will look at the need for, and appropriate programs for, issues such as owner classing for alpaca fibre / fleece, novice shearing for owners, speciality alpaca shearing training for interested existing shearers. It will also look at specialty fibre programs being developed within the Institute and the range of units developed for a TAFE Rural Productioin Training program.