Bjorn's cria - glad to have found his way into the world!
That’s what we had to tell Bjorn yesterday as she tried to deliver her cria.
Yesterday wasn’t particularly a hot day, but it was a humid day making it feel hotter than it actually was. As we fed the girls in the morning I noticed Bjorn cushed shortly after eating which was unusual for her. Sure enough she was in labor and once we let her out of the pen where she eats she made her way to the shade of the shelter.
As Bjorn’s labor progressed she wandered around the pasture. I prepared a pen to put her in once her cria had been delivered. Being on dry lot I prefer to have a pen with blankets or bedding to put new crias and their dams into so that they can bond after birthing.
Bjorn was definitely seeking out the cool breeze of the fan, but she had strong competition for the prime spot immediately in front of the fan. Ivanna had already staked her claim to a spot in front of the fan and Black Prince and Buccaneer were cushed there also.
Before long I could see the nose of Bjorn’s cria emerge, but by now Bjorn had firmly wedged herself in front of the fan with her rear pressed up against the wall of the shelter blocking the cria from making any progress. I tried to move Bjorn so that there was space behind her but as fast as I moved her she moved herself back. The crias nose came out and went back in again at least twice, and once the cria’s head and feet had fully emerged Bjorn was pushing but there was nowhere for the cria to go.
Eventually I manage to get Bjorn’s rear away from the shelter wall and with a few more pushes she delivered her cria a large white boy.
Bjorn usually has large crias and at 19.8 lbs this was one of her smallest cria. You would have thought that Bjorn would be anxious to get her cria delivered quickly rather than position herself to where her cria could not come out.
Bjorn’s cria didn’t seem any worse for wear once he was fully delivered, and was cushed and then up on his feet in a short while. Bjorn though looked tired after the birthing and took her time resting after the cria was born, but some MSE drench, a bowl of alfalfa and a nice cold bucket of water to drink soon had her up on her feet again.
So we have another white boy to add to our herd. He’s a handsome looking cria with bright white silky fleece and the dense bone of his sire Zin. I think he will be quite the good looking lad as he grows up and will be competitive enough to take part in the white classes at the alpaca shows once he is of age. Now he’s finally out I suspect nothing will stop him!
A Taste of Life at Windrush Alpacas 