Just out mowing the lawn in "brain off" mode when Jo called to say we were about to have a new arrival..sure enough one of our younger females Bettina was already quite dilated.....not many minutes later the head and front legs appeared...much to Bettina?s surprise! Unlike most animals, that long neck enables you to take a good look at your rear end and it must be quite disconcerting in an alpaca sort of way to see another animal emerging from under your tail!

We left Bettina for a while but she did not look like she was making great progress. The head was out and the cria was breathing but it looked like it maybe needed a gentle hand. So I carefully eased one leg forward and one back to help the journey through the pelvis. In a few seconds the cold wet legs I was holding were followed by a warm lively body. The miracle of life never ceases to amaze and move me?.a quick check revealed that this was our second boy in a row?and after a twinge of disappointment we got down to the usual husbandry tasks?all looked well ?but as we were to find out that wasn?t the full story?.to be continued?.

By Adrian Stewart