Welcome to our Alpaca Special where we focus on this versatile and attractive animal! In this in-depth feature, we look at management, explore the many reasons to keep alpacas and highlight understanding behaviour.
You’ve looked at them over the fence, felt the soft fibre and feel you have time and space for alpacas. But how do you go from an admirer of alpacas to owning them? There are so many reasons for keeping alpacas with obviously their luxurious fibre being one of the main ones and the aim of having a quality breeding herd. But they also can be much loved pets, help guard other livestock from predators, be soothing therapy animals and also used for trekking. They can even be more than one of these things, with responsible breeders producing animals whose fibre will be of good quality even if the desire is to keep as pets.
With so many colours including Appaloosa, there is something to appeal to everyone from spinners, to knitters, to home dyers. (You need ideally at least 3 – never buy one – a responsible seller will not sell you one if they know it will be on its own).
CAN I PROVIDE THE CARE AND FACILITIES FOR ALPACAS?
Before buying, you need to find out as much as you can on caring for alpacas. The British Alpaca Society website has a wealth of information and will help you find courses and members who can give you some ‘hands-on’ experience.You will need a well-fenced paddock with a strong, dry shelter (preferably with hard floor and apron) and the time to care for them.
Firstly look on the British Alpaca Society Website and seriously consider joining. There is a half price membership offer at the moment. Go on courses, speak to breeders, go to alpaca shows, soak up everything alpaca. You need to get ‘hands on’ practical experience before you own your own. Buy alpacas that are registered with the British Alpaca Society, even if you are not intending to breed – you’ll have a whole traceable history for them then. Be very honest with the breeders about what you want. It’s fine if you just want loveable pets but if you want to spin or have an interest in fibre, you can still combine that with owning as pets or therapy. Also be honest with what the breeder is offering (and what you want). Is there backup and support after the sale? Do the alpacas have a health record ?Always meet your alpacas before you buy them – if you want to walk them, ask if you can do this. Not all alpacas are trained to lead. It’s a big purchase so you really need to get the alpacas that you like.There is a code of conduct for sellers on the British Alpaca Society website which you should check out. Agree with the seller what food they are currently having so you can continue with that while they settle in, how they are managed and have a plan between you and the seller about what to do when you get them home so they are able to adapt to the change. Do let the seller know how they are doing as well.
This article extract was taken from the June 2024 edition of The Country Smallholder. To read the article in full, you can buy the issue here.
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