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More Pigs!

9/30/2014

I promised there would be more pigs!

Here are some of the new additions to our Idaho Pasture Pig herd. We are only the third breeder in New England to work with these awesome pigs. I believe there may now be four of us total -- two in New Hampshire and two in Maine. HUGE thanks to the newest breeder in Maine -- her name is Pam, and I do not even know her farm name or I would post it here -- for delivering these cuties!

The big pigs are our first two gilts, Paris and Pancakes. They have grown a bit, eh? The one in front of them is one of our two newest gilts. She still needs a name.

Idaho Pasture Pig gilts

Here is one of our two boars! He has some growing up to do. He still needs a name as well.

Here is the second new gilt (the one who was in the last post). This one is tentatively named Panthera. Going for a "P" theme, here. Yes, she is an Idaho Pasture Pig! They come in lots of different colors. She will be our only IPP who does not have any wattles.

Panthera, cream-colored Idaho Pasture Pig, with sibling.

Originally, we had them separated from the big pigs, but the pigs had other ideas. I am so glad that the big ones decided to unite the herd, because they have socialized the little ones -- the new arrivals went from being totally skittish to being curious and friendly, just like the breed is known for!

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Some more alpaca cuteness, and a pig.

9/23/2014

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A lot of Serious Breeding Programs only post Serious Pictures of their alpacas, because their alpacas are Serious Alpacas.

Well, our alpacas are Serious Alpacas, but we acknowledge that not all serious animals LOOK serious all of the time.

Here are some photographs to illustrate that point.

This is Sunny Dee.

Sunny Dee is a full Accoyo fawn, not that this means much to our breeding program. However, full Accoyos are notoriously serious alpacas.

Sunny Dee is normally a pretty Serious Alpaca. She is regal and elegant. However, in this photograph, she is not.

This is Logan. Logan is four months old, and he is amazingly serious for a four-month-old animal.

Logan is a harlequin grey alpaca, which is what our program is all about!

Logan was not feeling terribly serious at the moment this photograph was taken. In fact, he was yawning. Yawning is not at all a serious activity.

Here are two alpacas kissing. That's always cuteness gold. Honey Bun, who is doing the kissing, is usually quite serious, but she is currently very receptive to males (though not yet old enough to breed), and therefore acting a lot less serious than usual. Sheepie, who is the reluctant recipient of her affections, is not really all that serious most of the time, but she's trying really hard to look serious so that Honey Bun will stop kissing her.

Few things are cuter than alpacas kissing.

Last but not least, here's a pig. No reason; we just want to remind you that we DO have other animals at Howling Hill Farm aside from alpacas.

This is one of the new additions to the Idaho Pasture Pig herd. More on them later!

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Alpaca Locomotion

9/10/2014

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So, I find the extremely nerdy topic of quadruped gaits to be actually quite fascinating. Alpaca gaits, unlike equine gaits, have been very poorly studied. They appear to use a variety of gaits -- walk, pace, trot, gallop; even a wonderful "joie de vivre" gait that is commonly known as "proking."

Some day, maybe I'll get around to taking a video of these various gaits. In the meantime, here are some photographs of gaits that are much less scientific.

First, we have the Regal Stride, demonstrated by Millie. She is a queen, and she knows it. Queens do not merely walk -- they stride.

Her full name is MFI Accoyanza Millennial Reign. It is totally fitting.

Sammy demonstrates Studly Prancing. This is really one that ought to be captured on video. It gets even more animated when he's on a lead, going to visit the girls' paddock ...

His full name is AML Principio's Grand Torino. He's more of a Sammy.

And, the final gait, demonstrated by Surfer Girl, is -- WHEEEEEE!!

This is Miss Silver Surfer. I picked that name, and I STILL call her by a different barn name!

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Time for CUTE BABY COWS

9/7/2014

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I mean, when is it NOT time for cute baby cows?

Our second Highland calf was born today. He is a big, solid, gorgeous silver -- I think he is actually a silver dun. His mom is a dun, Lola and he is sired by our white bull, Sir Galahad.

The red calf is a red heifer. She was born the 2nd week of August, which made her a little premature, but she's doing great now. Her mom is a black, Oprah, and her sire is named Broderick.

Blah, blah, blah ... Cute pictures!

Silver dun Scottish Highland bull calf

Red Scottish Highland heifer calf

Red heifer calf looking way super cute

Look how freaking cute we are

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More Pigs!

Some more alpaca cuteness, and a pig.

Alpaca Locomotion

Time for CUTE BABY COWS

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