If you have swung by our booth at a recent alpaca show then you already know about our head first dive into the dye bath. We have partnered with a dye house to begin offering some beautiful color variations on some
of our alpaca products.
First up for release are the Purple and Blue Cable and Lace Scarves. We've taken our beautiful lace scarf and snazzed it up a bit with a splash of color. Gauging from the reactions at the recent Spring shows, we know these are a sure hit both with you and all your customers. Along side our existing natural colored products, they really pop out at you! We also noticed younger generations instantly flocking to the brightly dyed products in the booth.
Available for purchase today!
Available @ Fiber and Wholesale Pricing
Calm-A-Lid Now Available
In 2010 Michael Freifeld, alumni of UMass Amherst and current 2nd year veterinary student at Cornell, worked extensively on the associated behaviors of alpacas during their reproductive cycles. He worked under the close supervision of the highly acclaimed Dr. Stephen Purdy, who founded the Nunoa Project. While engaging in ultrasound procedures on alpacas it was recognized that the stress hormone, cortisol, could have an effect on the reproductive cycle and development of the fetus.
Recognizing this need to create a scenario that effectively relaxed an alpaca during these procedures was important for the research Michael and Dr. Purdy were conducting. Thus, Michael approached his friend Billy Shore, an Industrial Designer who is an alumni of the Rhode Island school of Design, in order to help more clearly identify and resolve the problem at hand - how to calm down alpacas during these stressful procedures.
After much research, iterations and trials, Michael and Billy came to the solution that is The Calm a Lid. Quite simply, it is a restraint that fits over the halter and does not interfere with the alpaca's nasal breathing requirements. It acts as a facial cover which blocks visual stimulation, a common practice, that was due for a much need improvement. It is recognized, that every animal - much like every human - is different, so results may vary. The Calm a Lid is easy to put on, take off and carry around, any small herd owner, alpaca enthusiast, veterinary practitioner and even shearer would benefit from having one.
"We have used the Calm-a-lid on our alpacas here at UMass for over year. I find it works very well for fractious animals to calm them down without drugs. I have used it successfully for reproductive exams, foot trimming, and shearing. I recommend it to anyone for their alpacas and llamas."
Stephen R. Purdy, DVM
Associate Professor of Veterinary Education
Director of Camelid Studies
Director of Animal Management, UMass Center for Agriculture
University of Massachusetts Amherst
President, Nunoa Project Peru
www.nunoaproject.org
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Spring Show Season Recap
NEAFP's Spring Alpaca Show tour has wound down and we would like to thank all the breed organizations and show coordinators for their hospitality. It's an amazing experience to setup the booth at a show, run a fiber collection, and most importantly, connect with the alpaca farms that make up the U.S. Alpaca industry. We can put faces with names, discuss the fiber pool with new farms, and get feedback and ideas for new product offerings down the road.
In the last 6 weeks we have traveled 2,500 miles, over 40 hours on the interstate, and hauled back thousands of pounds of fiber. Now it's time to get this fiber sorted and into production while we start ramping up for the Fall and Winter months.
Thank you for a great start to 2013!
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