All the joy has gone

I wasn't going to write this blog and I would advise all non alpaca breeders not to bother with it as it is a horrid blog.  In fact all avoid this blog but I have to write it to get it out of my system.

Zara looked restless this morning and I sat and watched, really excited - first cria of the year.  I did a lovely series of photos of a perfect, text book birth - until it slithered out and I sensed something was wrong.  It just lay there at first without a twitch so I rushed over cleared it's mouth, swung it around (knew at this point not breathing was not the only problem) but breathing started, sprayed, such a gorgeous, solid black little girl.  Very alert, attempting to be very active - but she couldn't move.  Her back legs were twisted with the tendons on top and somehow turned upside down.  A quick consultation with Viv and I called the vet.  You may be able to see that the leg looks wrong.

Whilst he was on the way baby had some colostrum but Zara wondered off and seemed to give up on her.  Sapphire lay down with it and would not let anyone else near.

The vet came and to cut a long and tearful story short she had to be put to sleep and I was so angry but sad.  I  showed you a photo - but before she died just because it seems wrong not to recognise her brief little life.  These are just after she was born and before Sapphire took over - that is far too sad a picture to show.

Baby is still in the field so they can get used to her not being with us anymore and Bert is now sitting beside her and moaning.  I think Bert associates it with little Matchless and will not move away even when Sapphire spits at her and I sit down beside her.


Okay, I know what you are all thinking - Schmallenberg.  We  need a brain autopsy thing on that so we will have to see.

I am really sad now - sad for the alpacas.