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Breeding and General

(Click on image to enlarge)	13/01/2012 - Guanaco Group We were lucky to see groups of guanaco like this in the Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile, amongst the spectacular mountains there. This area is not at high altitude compared to Peru and other regions, but quite mountainous in places. They were very shy and ran from the sound of our bus approaching. Every so often, you would see a lone male on a high ridge, which would make a spectacular photo, but so small in the overall view of such awe-inspiring beauty.
(Click on image to enlarge)	13/01/2012 - Patagonian Adventure Another 'research' trip was undertaken recently to Patagonia, which is the southern most region of South America, incorporating both Chile and Argentina. What an amazing place with stunningly beautiful snow-covered mountains, pristine blue lakes, spectacular glaciers, and lots of wide open wind-swept spaces in between. No alpacas to be seen, but guanacos, the wild forebears of the Llama, live among this spectacular scenery. They live in small groups of one dominant male with his harem of females and youngsters. The males, often in groups, live separately. This one pictured had been hand-reared, and was very friendly.
(Click on image to enlarge)	19/10/2011 - Grindon Juggernaut sires National Fleece Champion Sunline commends the breeding decisions of early breeders, Dennis and Michelle Mycock, of Grindon Alpacas, in producing Juggernaut, who is now jointly owned by Nattaginni and Sunline Alpacas. One of his progeny, Sunline Jade, from one of our early females, Sunline Diamonty, has taken out the Intermediate Huacaya Fleece Championship at the recently held National Show in Sydney. Jade tested at 17.3 micron on her second fleece, with an impressive length of 110mm for an 11 month fleece.
(Click on image to enlarge)	22/09/2011 - Sunline adds a touch of COLOUR! Due to popular demand for coloured animals, we have added a couple of darker coloured breeding females, purchased from some recent auctions. Next year, we hope to have more cria on the ground from some of these mums. They're certainly easy to pick out in our mostly white and fawn herd!
(Click on image to enlarge)	22/09/2011 - 2011 Alpaca of the Year goes to Sunline Ignite After a very consistent show season, Sunline Ignite with three Championships, Supreme White at Nanango, and Supreme at Sunshine Coast, took the title of Huacaya Alpaca of the Year for 2011. This title was awarded at the Ekka and was particularly significant for us as breeders, having also bred Ignite's dam - Sunline Elegance, and his sire - Sunline El Zorro, and shows how far we've come since we started breeding.
(Click on image to enlarge)	22/09/2011 - Shearing Completed - Fleeces available! This season's shearing has been completed and fleeces are now available for sale. We also have more yarn in stock with a selection of hand-knitted scarves available, made from yarn processed from our own alpacas.
(Click on image to enlarge)	05/04/2011 - Sunline Galaxy takes out Reserve Champion Fleece at Toowoomba Against a group of 60 fleeces, Galaxy took out the Reserve Champion Fleece at the Toowoomba Royal Show.
(Click on image to enlarge)	19/10/2009 - SHEARING DEMONSTRATION AT MALLKINI During our visit to Mallkini Ranch, they were kind enough to do a demonstration shearing for us - a lot like we do in Australia with a few differences. Animals are shorn on a low table, only restrained by back legs, with the whole fleece coming off in one piece. The handler controls movement and rotation of the alpaca by holding the head and front legs. The fleece is folded up all together and bound by the neck fleece - a very interesting method!
(Click on image to enlarge)	19/10/2009 - PERUVIAN ALPACA EXPERIENCE Peru is a fascinating place in so many ways. After our family wedding, and travelling to Chile, Argentina and Bolivia by buses and trains (another story), we hired a 4WD and drove to the heartland of alpaca country in Peru - the high country, via Ayaviri, Pucara and Azangarro and visited two of the biggest alpaca farms - Mallkini (the Michell Group) and Pacomarca (Grupo Inca). Both were very helpful and put on demonstrations for us, and were generous with their time and knowledge of alpacas.
(Click on image to enlarge)	19/10/2009 - PACOMARCA During our visit to Pacomarca, the experimental farm of Grupo Inca, Alonzo Burgos and his staff were running a workshop for Peruvian breeders (through a government grant), teaching them the rudiments of recording matings, and improving shearing outcomes. We were very impressed with their indoor, fully grassed showing area, with 6 or so holding pens outside - ideal for seminars. This group also has impressive records for every animal (thousands of them) and were very scientific in their breeding selections, using their own computer programs.
(Click on image to enlarge)	22/09/2009 - Grindon JUGGERNAUT joins Sunline Stud Team Recently, in conjunction with Nattaginni Alpacas, Sunline Alpacas snapped up the opportunity to purchase Grindon JUGGERNAUT. This young stud male is a wonderful example of the great genetics Grindon Alpacas developed in Qld and the potent impact that Jolimont Warrior adds to his progeny. JUGGERNAUT is the winner of many broad ribbons, both Supreme and Champion at many shows statewide and has been awarded the prestigious Qld Alpaca of the year title in 2006 (jointly with Sunline Elvis) and backed up winning it again in 2007.We are proud to offer JUGGERNAUT for stud duties and we eagerly await to see the results from our selected females as his cria hit the ground.
(Click on image to enlarge)	28/07/2009 - WE'RE OFF TO PERU! We are travelling to Peru to attend a wedding and to do some research into alpacas in their homeland. We're very excited and will share some of our photos and experiences on our return.
(Click on image to enlarge)	28/07/2009 - AUTUMN CRIA GROWING WELL With our autumn babies all birthed successfully and now growing well, it's wonderful to watch them develop and grow lots of fleece over the winter, ready for their first shearing in the Spring.
(Click on image to enlarge)	28/05/2009 - MAITAKE PROGENY EXCEL IN SHOWS AROUND COUNTRY Congratulations go out to breeders in three states who have had wonderful results from their 'Maitake' matings this year. Queensland saw Kevin and Barbara Craze from Bolero Alpacas lead their young white male'Domingo' into the winners circle taking out Champion Junior male at both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast shows while Peter and Mary Robinson at Southland Alpacas took the Supreme Champion at Ipswich with 'Tiegue'. In NSW, Rick Hodgson from Adori Alpacas took Champion Junior Female at Kendall with young 'Taki'. Then in W. A., Murray and Judy Stannard from Encantador Alpacas were happy with 'Enoki' at Whiteman Park show where he scooped both the Res. Champion ribbons in animal and fleece classes. He then backed this up with Champion 6-12 month fleece in the Perth Royal. Their 'Maitake' grandson 'Manchurion Warrior' put the icing on the cake for them at the Perth Royal by taking out the prestigious Most Valuable Fleece. Jill and Jeff are thrilled that 'Maitake' has been able to impact on the breeding programmes of these knowledgeable breeders and wish them well for next year. This year has seen a wonderful crop of Maitake's cria hit the ground. We're very pleased with how much he is improving the fleece on cria from some of our average quality girls!