Gwineas and Gruda

At Lambriggan Court we have two Alpacas called Gwineas and Gruda. They were born last year at North Cornwall Aviarys on Bodmin Moor. Gwineas is the female and is red/brown in colour and Gruda is the black male. They came to us when they had been weaned at 6 months old. We used to live on the south coast of Cornwall in a beautiful sea-side village called Gorran Haven. The Gwineas is a landmark rock about half a mile off the beach at Gorran Haven where the local children swim out to and The Gruda is the name of the fields above Vault Beach - the beach around the point from Gorran Haven. The alpacas wander around freely as we have had a cattle grid put in to stop them wandering off up the lane. Gwineas and Gruda like to accompany our guests as they walk around visiting the other birds and animals at Lambriggan Court. Gwineas in particular likes to edge closer and closer until she can have a good 'sniff' and then runs coyley away!
The Alpaca is from the family known as 'camelids' and resembles a small Llama.They can be found in herds high up in The Andes of Ecudor, Southern Peru , Northern Bolivia and Northern Chile at an altitude of 3500-5000 metres above sea-level. Their fleece is used for making knitted and woven items and comes in 22 natural colours.
There are 2 breeds of Alpaca - the Huacaya and the Suri. The Huacaya's fleece is wavy and the Suri's fleece is grouped in spiral locks and is heavier and shinier. Only about 3% of the world's Alpacas are Suris.
Alpacas live for 15-20 years. The gestation period is 11.5 months and births usually occur during daylight hours. The young alpaca or 'cria' are born late Spring/early Summer and twin births are extremely rare. They eat mostly grass, a little hay and water. From the last couple of weeks I could add crocus and daffodils to that list as I chase Gwineas and Gruda out of the courtyard for the umpteenth time!!!
The males become fertile from about 18 months and the females are ready to breed at around the same time. Our Alpacas have been extremely 'active' lately so we have high hopes for a new addition to the Lambriggan Court menagerie in a few months time.
Shearing takes place on a yearly basis in May by a sheep shearer with electric shears. On average a fleece will weigh between 2-5kg. It is a most interesting process to watch although very undignified for the Alpaca as they are whisked off their feet , spread-eagled and expertly shorn.
They are very inquisitive and intelligent creatures and much loved by all the guests. The only one that had a bit of a shock one dark night was the lady taxi driver who after delivering our daughter and her friend home from a hen party in Newquay was suddenly aware of two pairs of eyes peering at her in the driveway!
NB. Photographs of our Apaca can be found on the 'gallery'.