BAS Education 2021-2022 Webinars National Alpaca Farm Open Days Event Diary - CEO Notes Geronimo Latest Geronimo in the News Show Diary

CEO Notes
        Geronimo Latest
      Geronimo in the News
BAS Education 2021-2022 Webinars
 National Alpaca Farm Open Days
          Event Diary
          Show Diary

CEO NOTES

National Alpaca farm Day
Well done everyone for making this event so successful - more details below.

AGM 2021
As previously notified the BAS AGM has been fixed for November 3rd 2021 at
7pm.by Zoom.

Nominations for the two available Board seats must be lodged with me by 5pm on
5th October 2021. Please email using ceo@bas-uk,com. If anyone would like further
information or a confidential chat about what is involved then please feel free to call.

Any member led resolutions must be submitted by 5pm on 5th October. If any
members have resolutions they feel the board should present to the membership,
then please let me know asap so consideration can be given to the issue.

We will use the electronic voting system again for Board Elections and Resolutions
which will be open from 18th October to 1st November 2021.

You can email about this or anything else using ceo@bas-uk.com

Duncan Pullar
BAS CEO

Geronimo - latest

Last week we published the BAS complaint letter and the APHA response. BAS was
not satisfied by the response and has replied as below.

APHA Service Standards Adjudicator                   by email 8th September 2021
ESCMU
Woodham Lane
New Haw
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 3NB

Dear APHA

Geronimo – Complaint from BAS Stage 2
Further to our letter of complaint dated 1st September 2021and your response dated
3rd September 2021; BAS wish to escalate the complaint to the second stage as
detailed on your website.
Clearly there were elements of the removal and slaughter of Geronimo that fell well
below the standards of acceptable animal welfare, and I attach a copy of our original
complaint for your records.
The APHA operatives had a difficult task to execute, which could have been made
easier by the owner, however they had a duty to ensure the welfare of Geronimo and
they clearly failed in that duty.
The two main issues were:

    1. The halter used was not suitable for an alpaca nor was it placed correctly on
         Geronimo’s head and will have restricted breathing - causing distress.
    2. The tying of any alpaca during transport is a threat to welfare because they
         lie down during transport and asphyxiation is a real possibility, in trying to lie
         down he also risked breaking his neck. The APHA operatives did not
         transport Geronimo safely.

BAS expect APHA to acknowledge that they failed in their duty of care and take
appropriate action to discipline and educate their staff regarding acceptable
procedures.
A review of the video and pictures taken at the time will confirm the above points and
I would formally request you view the videos before responding to the issues.
Acknowledgement of these failings may go some way to improve the alpaca owners’
views regarding the honesty and competence of APHA.
The letter BAS received to the initial complaint fails to address the two important
issues noted therefore please refer this complaint to the APHA Service Standard
Adjudicator Team.
Regards

Ms Sue Loach
BAS Chair

                        Geronimo in the News

Guardian - Geronimo postmortem results negative for TB, say owner’s lawyers

The Scottish Sun - TB OR NOT TB? Tragic alpaca Geronimo’s owner brands post-
mortem findings ‘blatant cover-up’

Telegraph - Post-mortem shows Geronimo the alpaca did not have TB, owner claims

Sky News - Geronimo the alpaca did not have TB, owner claims, as chief veterinary
officer insists post-mortem showed 'TB-like lesions'

BAS Education 2021-2022 Webinars

Please find below the first confirmed webinars for the Autumn/ Winter
series for 21/22. Other titles will follow as they are confirmed.
In a change from last year the links are made available here to
members so you don't need to register your interest and a link will not be
emailed to you personally.

7.00pm - Thursday 23rd September 2021
Emma Taylor - Skirting and fleece preparation
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83260910294

7.00pm - Thursday 21st October 2021
Paul Vallely - Fleece analysis explained
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88132082585

7.00pm - Thursday 11th November 2021
Neil Payne - Business Diversification (with alpacas)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84659206836

7.00pm - Thursday 9th December 2021
Victoria Barrett - Camelidynamics
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83206614659

National Alpaca Farm Open Days 2021
At the time of writing I have had reports back from 23 farms that were open to the
public and the total attendance for these farms is over 10,000,

Comments that came back include:
"We had a wonderful time on Saturday,,,,,,,It was a really enjoyable day for visitors,
helpers and me too. Can’t wait to do it again."

"Both the response and atmosphere were amazing with visitors ranging from those
with a passing curiosity to those with a desire to pursue ownership".

"We had an absolute blast at the weekend! We have never run an event at the farm
and are not open to the public so this was a first! We had about 800 visitors over
both days. A lovely steady stream all day from start to finish. All the feedback since
the event and on the day has been wonderful and people have been very
appreciative of the chance to see the farm and meet the animals."

"We were blown away by the turn out we received. It was a great day and the smile
on all of the kids' faces was amazing and lovely to see."

"We made new friends with some of the locals (we've only been trekking 5 weeks!)
And showed our old friends what we've achieved. We got some super feedback (All
good)!"

                  Gallery of photos available here

2021 Event Diary

   If you need information about any of the events listed below then please email
                          Duncan using ceo@bas-uk.com

Thursday    16-Sep         Affiliate Course- Suffolk
Friday      17-Sep         Affiliate Course- Suffolk
Tuesday     21-Sep         Affiliate Course - Moray, Scotland
Thursday    23-Sep         Webinar - Emma Taylor, Fleece care
Thursday    14-Oct         Affiliate Course- Staffordshire
Thursday    21-Oct         Webinar - Paul Vallely, Fleece Analysis
Friday      22-Oct         Intermediate Alpaca Assessment
Saturday    23-Oct         Intermediate Alpaca Assessment
Sunday      24-Oct         Intermediate Alpaca Assessment
Wednesday   03-Nov         BAS AGM
Wednesday   10 Nov         Affiliate Course- Staffordshire
Thursday    11-Nov         Webinar-Neil Payne -Diversification
Saturday    04-Dec         Advanced Alpaca Assessment
Sunday      05-Dec         Advanced Alpaca Assessment
Thursday    09-Dec         Webinar-Victoria Barrett, Camelid dynamics

If you would like your BAS, Educational or Regional group event included in this
section (not shows) please send details to Duncan.

                            2021 Show Diary

Make a note in your diary!
(New information in red)
Breeders considering entering more than one fleece show may need the organisers
of one show to forward the fleece(s) to the next show the fleeces are entered
for. Please could entries to multiple fleece shows advise the organisers of the plan
to ensure they know those entries need to be despatched asap to the next show.
Please ensure that all the necessary entry forms are included in the box separately
to the forms for the first shows.

HoEAG Autumn Fleece Show 2021
Judges: Tim Hey (lights and whites) & Jay Holland (other colours)
Fleece Delivery (deadline: 19th September 2021): Julia Corrigan-Stuart, Yeat Wood
Farm, Wotton Underwood, Bucks HP18 0RL
Show Organiser: Julia Corrigan-Stuart; julia@csalpacas.co.uk; 07803726464

East of England Alpaca Show 2021 organised by EAG - CLOSED NOW FULL
Dates: 10th October 2021
Judge: Mrs Mary-Jo Smith
Venue: Beechwood Equestrian Centre, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford CM3 8DY,
Arrivals: pm of 9th or early am of 10th. Judging on 10th
Show Organiser: Harley Laver- 07934463342, harley@churchfieldalpacas.co.uk
Yorkshire Alpaca Group Halter Show

Dates; 16th and 17th October 2021
Judge: Mrs Barbara Hetherington
Venue: York Auction Mart, Murton, York YO19 5GF
Organiser James Stanger, Email: jameslstanger11@gmail.com         Tel: 07757687378

Northern Fleece Show
Date: 23rd October 2021
Judge: Roger Clarke
Venue:
Entries open: 1st Sept
Entries Close: 1st Oct
Entry fee: £24 in VAT
Max entries 80
Organiser: Stuart Ramsey      Email: stuart@velvethall-alpacas.co.uk   Telephone
07787508448
Fleeces delivered to WESTYETT FARM, LANARK, ML11 8NT

Northern Halter Show
Dates; 30th and 31st October 2021
Judge: Tim Hey
Venue: Penrith Auction Mart
Entries open: 1st Sept at 9 am
Entries Close: 17th Sept
Entry fee: £22 +VAT
Organiser: Ian Mitchell, treasurer@bas-uk.com, 07813 145013

Midlands Championship Halter Show
Date: 6th November 2021
Judge: Tim Hey
Venue: Three Counties Show Ground
Entries open: Monday 13th Sept 9 am
Entries Close: 17th Oct
Entry fee: £32.40 +VAT
Organisers:

ROGER MOUNT roger.mount@btinternet.com 07711044106/01386853841
IAIN SHARP iain.c.sharp@gmail.com       07722953635
JAY HOLLAND jay@purealpacas.co.uk           07789257222

NWAG Halter Show
Date: Saturday 2nd April 2022
Judge: Mary-Jo Smith
Venue: Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

HoEAG Spring Alpaca Fiesta 2022
Show Dates: Friday 8th, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th April 2022
Judge: Barbara Hetherington
To be held at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre

Scottish Alpaca Championship
Dates; 23rd and 24th April 2022
Judge: Barbara Hetherington
Venue: Lanark Auction Market
Entries open: 18th February 2022
Entries Close: 24th March 2022t
Entry fee: £22 inc VAT
Organiser Stuart Ramsay