HOW CAVAMEER CAVIES STARTED
Cavameer cavy stud began in early 2009. We got our first ever guinea pig in 2007. He was a birthday present for my younger sister. He was a lovely boy who we still have now, his name is Rusty and he is a patchy brown, gold & white short haired pet.
Soon after acquiring Rusty, I fell absolutely in love with guinea pigs and soon got some of my own. We ended up with about 10 pet guinea pigs a couple of which we still have. One of my favourites would have to a be a sheltie cross girl named Charlotte (lotta) I still have her and love to get her out for cuddles.
After a while of having just the pet cavies I found out through a friend that you could actually show them! I was currently 11 and amazed at the idea. I got straight onto google and started researching, I came across the Cavy Council of Victoria and found out when the next show was. It also happened to be the first show of that year.
At my first show I showed one of my crested pet cavies, Ginger. I entered her in the novice fanciers class as well as pet condition. I wasn't expecting to win much as their were heaps of people entered. The novice judge on the day was Ken Peddersen who ended up awarding Ginger with 'Best novice cavy in show'!! I couldn't believe it! When that day was over I couldn't wait to come back.
At the next show I purchased my first ever pedigree cavy. An abyssinian sow named Amber-Rose, she came from Robert Brown (Dunvegan Stud). Amber became a family favourite in our household. A few months down the track we purchased her a boyfriend. A lovely boar named Kasper from SheOak stud. That was how we first started our abyssinian line.
After starting with abysinnians we also had an interest in the Rex cavy and at the Victorian State Championships in May 2009 we purchased our first 2 rex cavies they were two beautiful chocolate agouti & gold sows called Belle and Truffle, they were mother and daughter. We purchased them from Erik Fahri (Tuuretts Stud).
Soon after purchasing the girls we began the search for a boyfriend. I got in contact with one of the main Rex breeders at the club who sold us a beautiful Golden agouti rex boar named Norbit, from Guineas-Galore Stud (Angela Lawrence). From then on rex babies began to bloom at Cavameer! We gained a few more abys and rex here and there over the year.
Towards then end of 2009 My father decided he wanted to do longhairs, Mum wasn't soo keen but ended up giving in. We purchased our first longhair from Alisha Short (Cavalisha Stud). She was a gorgeous but zainy lilac,gold and white sow named Daphne. Unfortunately she chewed her coat before we got her on the show table. We purchased another longhair sow from some friends of ours her name is Eartha we showed her once at the 2009 Christmas show. Later on we bought a texel boar called Denzil, he's a great boy and loves cuddles he has produced several offspring for us too. He came from Ken Peddersen (Eramosa Cavies).
In 2010 dad kind of stopped showing the longhairs but me and my Mum kept showing. We did quite well and ended up winning 'Best Longhair exhibitor of the year' which was a great achievement for our stud!
In early 2011 we decided that we would get into some Self cavies as they appeared so much easier than the longs. I got into Self and Crested blacks and my sister got Self & Satin pink eyed Goldens. We now also have self and crested whites with the occasional creams.
Our average stud size is about 90 cavies. Most of our cavies live outside in a huge garage but we do have about 10-20 that live inside the house.
I'd like to thank all the breeders who supplied us with our foundation stock because without that we wouldn't be where we are today.
Foundation Stock Breeders:
Abyssinians - Robert Brown, Dunvegan Stud Vic & Bronwyn Kerkhoff, SheOak Stud Vic.
Rex - Erik Fahri, Tuuretts Stud, Angela Lawrence, Guineas-Galore Stud Vic & Erika Buhck, Rockside Stud Tasmania.
Longhairs - Alisha Short, Cavalisha Stud Vic, Ken Peddersen, Eramosa Stud Vic &Pauline Van Trienen, Adalene Stud Vic.
Blacks - Robert Brown, Dunvegan Stud Vic, Rachel Booker, Starburst Stud NSW & Graeme Rosenow, River-Rose Stud Vic.
Goldens - Marg Booth, Xcalibar Stud Vic & Sarina McLean, Sathra Stud NSW.
Whites- Jeff Phelan, Cuye Stud Vic & Jennie Maggs, Karkalla Stud Vic.
Creams - Jeff Phelan, Cuye Stud Vic.
Buff - Ken Peddersen, Eramosa Stud Vic.