Baarrooka Alpacas, Stud Male, Suri, Alpacas, Alpaca Farm, Baby Alpaca, Alpaca Stud, Strathbogie, Australia

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Cedar House Winslow due to trauma inflicted by a young male who thought it time to take over the alpha male position.

We bought Winslow at the 2001 National Show and Sale amidst the shaking of heads from established breeders wondering what those newbie’s were doing.  Winslow was a great buy and has been the foundation of the Baarrooka herd, producing progeny with density, fineness and great bone.

Winslow comes from that great combination of Amador and Senator, two of the most influential stud males in Australian suri history.

At Baarrooka we have 4 generations of Winslow progeny in every colour, from white to black.  His daughters are some of our best producers and we have 3 sons on Stud Row.  Two of his daughters have excelled at National Level.  Baarrooka Kim Wilde (SW) was Senior Champion at the 2009 National Show and Baarrooka Marilene (SLF)was a broad ribbon winner at three National Shows in a row, as a Junior, Intermediate and Senior – and doing so from the fawn class, a pretty impressive feat!

While Winslow hasn’t been used very much in the past couple of years because of the import of our swag of coloured boys, the intention was to bring him back over the coloured girls in a year or so, particularly because of his strong, straight conformation and fineness.  Luckily we still have his sons to do this for us.

RIP Winslow, and thanks!

By Julie Filed under: Our Animals, Sire's Progeny

We only went to 3 big shows in 2011 – Canberra Royal, Colourbration and the National – as we were awaiting our new cria from the US boys to reach showing age.  We decided to finish off the year with Alexandra Show as it is relatively small, close by and always a great day out – well organised and in a lovely setting (albeit usually hot).

We then went and spoiled a lovely relaxing day out by entering 13 animals – 11 of them juniors! Some had been to the National, but a lot had to be halter trained before the show.  Unfortunately one broke his leg the day before the show – I don’t know how, but I suspect something chased and/or spooked them and he ran into the fence or the feeder/water trough.  He is strapped up hoping that the break will heal, but I doubt his fleece will survive for him to be shown again.  Such a pity as he is quite magnificent – a medium fawn, very dense, lustrous and locky boy from Ultimate Black. So then there were 12. One of the greys has developed a tender fleece, which I just spotted on Friday – but the judges certainly saw it in the ring.  Another fawn boy decided to hide one of his testicles – was there at the National, but the judges could find it, so he was relegated as well.  Not looking good… Then our LF Durango boy, Roam was turfed out of his class – from White into Fawn.  Not looking or feeling very good…but we picked up from there!

The juniors, and the big boys, performed very well, with firsts to:

• Baarrooka Durango’s Acclaim (LF female)
• Baarrooka Durango’s Roam (LF male)
• Baarrooka Walking on Sunshine (MB male)
• Baarrooka Vagabond (LF male) and
• Baarrooka Wild Card (MB male)

Seconds to:

• Baarrooka Durango’s Magic (MB female)
• Baarrooka Durango’s Rosalie (DF female)
• Baarrooka’s Durango’s True Colours (DF male)
• Baarrooka Poltergeist (DG male)

Third to:

• Baarrooka Secret Spirit (DG female) (tender)

Further results included:

• Reserve Champion Junior Female to Acclaim
• Champion Junior Male to Roam
• Adult Champion Male was awarded Vagabond
• Reserve Champion Adult Male to Wild Card
• Durango received first and second in the Sire’s Progeny – with Roam and Acclaim (LF) and Rosalie and True Colours (DF)

Vagabond then went on to win Supreme Champion Suri – third time in a row for us.

We also were awarded the Supreme Champion Suri Fleece with a scrumptious 16.8 micron fleece from White Out (SW) with a point score of 81.

Team Baarrooka (Russell, Julie, Brioude and Jayson who all lead animals in the ring) were very happy!  We would like to thank Helen and David who helped lead animals and Karen and John for helping us pack up – even though Karen was suffering mightily with a lurgi. Thanks guys!

By Julie Filed under: Events, Fleece, Our Animals, Show Results, US Animals

Thought I would add some photos of the Baarrooka entrants at the National – unfortunately the official photographer didn’t get any photos of the Juniors on the first day (the majority of our entries!).

The first photo is the Sires Progeny class, with three of Durango’s first cria combining for a very nice progeny entry of light fawns.  This group was awarded third place.

Next is the spectacular Senior female champion Pucara Eliza. This was one of my very first purchases, 10 years ago! Yes, Eliza is almost 11 years old and still shows off fantastic fineness, lustre and locking on a strong frame.  The judges were stunned!  Not just a pretty face, Eliza’s son Baarrooka Mr Mister was awarded 1st in the Senior Light Fawn Male class, another son, Baarrooka White Out, won first, Champion and Best White in the fleece classes and a Granddaughter was awarded 1st Light Fawn and Reserve Champion fleece.

The remaining photos show: Mr Mister, Vagabond, Wild Card and Dam’s Progeny entry (Baarrooka Tip Top).

By Julie Filed under: Events, Our Animals, Show Results, US Animals

A fantastic National Show and Sale in Sydney. We had a great time catching up with friends and colleagues from all around Australia – particularly those from WA and QLD that we rarely see. Lots of very interesting discussions on suri breeding (and breeders).

Baarrooka had probably its best National ever, with a combination of awards for animal, fleece and even craft!

First ribbons were awarded to:
Baarrooka Durango’s Acclaim – light fawn junior female
Baarrooka Durango’s Roam – light fawn junior male
Baarrooka Walking on Sunshine – brown junior male
Baarrooka Poltergeist – grey junior male
Baaarrooka Mr Mister – light fawn senior male
Pucara Eliza – white senior female (and Champion Senior Female)

Julie Wilkinson – Novice spinning exhibit!

Second to:
Baarrooka Durango’s Magic – brown junior female

Third to:
Baarrooka Durango’s Smooth Operator – light fawn junior male
Baarrooka Vagabond – light fawn adult male
Baarrooka Wild Card – brown adult male
Sire’s Progeny – ILR Moon River’s Peruvian Durango
Dam’s Progeny – Baarrooka Tip Top

In fleeces, four 6-18 month fleeces were entered for the following awards:
Baarrooka White Out – 1st White; Champion and Best White
Baarrooka Lumina – 1st Light Fawn and Reserve Champion
Baarrooka Justified – 1st Med/Dark Fawn and Best Med/Dark Fawn
Baarrooka Lights Out – 2nd Brown

By Julie Filed under: Events, Fleece, Our Animals, Show Results, US Animals

My favorite colour for suris is mahogany brown – a deep dark brown with red, and sometimes purple, overtones. Gorgeous – I’d have a paddock full of them if I could work out how to make them!!

This is a lovely female born today to Baarrooka Queen Wihelmina and Moon River’s Peruvian Durango.  She looks like her grand-daddy Macgyver.

By Julie Filed under: cria, Our Animals, US Animals