So, why keep alpacas?
Unlike other livestock alpacas are ideal for farming small acreages and you don’t need lots of buildings or expensive farm equipment. Most owners do not come from an agricultural background and 1 person can do the majority of work alone.
Non breeding males make wonderful fibre producers and adorable pets and 'lawnmowers'. Friendly and gentle, males are excellent companions for other livestock and ponies. Many males are also used for alpaca walking.
Castrated males will guard other stock from predators such as foxes.
See our Alpaca Sales page for non breeding, pet males.
Are alpacas suited to the UK?
Alpacas are generally very comfortable in this country. In Peru they are used to temperatures which range from 20 degrees in the daytime then plunge to minus 10 at night. Their exceptional fleece has hollow fibres which provide excellent insulation keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter.
What is the environmental impact of alpaca farming?
Breeding alpacas is especially attractive to smallholders on small acreages of grazing land. They have virtually no environmental impact on their pasture as they have a split upper lip with a bottom row of teeth and an upper dental gum which prevent them from damaging vegetation roots. As the alpaca has pads on its feet rather than hooves there is also far less poaching and damage to the pasture surface which allows faster re-growth. In addition alpacas do not require intensive farming or processes such as dipping, dagging or frequent worming.
Is there a sustainable market for UK bred alpacas
and alpaca products?
There is little danger of oversupply of good quality alpacas as they are slow to reproduce, about one cria (baby) per year during a reproductive life of 15-20 years. Importing alpaca from Peru, Chile and Australia is expensive and complicated and the quality of the British herd continues to improve every year. Export opportunities are opening up in Europe and the UK is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this.
Increasingly alpacas are being acknowledged as a viable alternative rural enterprise for both farmers looking to diversify and attracting newcomers to agriculture. In fact one of the most exciting aspects of alpacas is that people with little or no farming experience can, with commitment and hard work, build a successful and ethical business.
