Five baby alpacas born during farm lockdown

Delighted owners Stuart Ramsay and wife Jean McDonald love watching the babies playing together in the Borders.

Five baby alpacas born during farm lockdown SWNS

These five baby alpacas were born during the coronavirus lockdown at a farm in the Borders.

Newborn Mr Softee was only born on July 19, and the oldest of the five babies is Casey, born on May 29.

Dark brown Sahara Foncé is expected to become a prize-winner at shows when she competes, as is fawn-coloured Akoya.

The other female alpaca is named Qilaut, and three of the babies are half-siblings as they have the same father.

Delighted owners Stuart Ramsay, 56, and wife Jean McDonald, 64, love watching the babies playing together.

Baby alpacas playing together at farm. SWNS.

They own 37 alpacas at their farm, Velvet Hall Alpacas, in Innerleithen after a hobby turned into a business.

Dad-of-one Stuart said: “It’s an exciting time of year – vets call it ‘unpacking’.

“When you go to the vet they will say ‘has she unpacked yet?’.

“There’s only been alpacas in the UK since the 1980s, they come from South America and there is a strong Spanish influence, I wonder if it’s a direct translation.

“This year we have been quite fortunate with the births, it’s gone really smoothly this year.

“They each weigh between 8.5kg to 9.5kg which is a good weight for a healthy alpaca.

“They run about in the evening, they love to play and they end up racing around the field.

“We sell the wool and make garments – Sahara will be a lovely colour.

“When we make a scarf or a hat we can tell exactly who it has come from.

“Sahara is absolutely lovely, I think she will end up being one of the favourites.”

The couple gave up their full-time jobs, Jean as a pharmacist and Stuart as the owner of a water treatment company, to run the farm full time.

Stuart added: “They are quiet, because they are preyed on in the wild.

“They can be a little bit shy, they don’t like it if there’s a lot of movement and people being a bit hyper.

“They are good fun.”

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