A Beginners Guide To Alpacas

How can you start a happy, healthy alpaca herd from scratch? Lydia Tewkesbury finds out

- Lydia Tewkesbury

Alpacas have never been more popular. There are estimated to be around 25,000 in the UK and growing. The South American camelids come in two varieties: the most popular teddy bear-like huacaya (pronounced wak-kay-ya) and the rarer — but ever more popular — dreadlocked suri. With their fairly basic grazing and fencing requirements, they are an increasingly attractive proposition for smallholders — as pets and a potential income stream. But what should smallholders consider before taking the plunge?

STARTING YOUR HERD

Aspiring owners should be wary of letting their enthusiasm get the better of them, warns Barbara Hetherington of Beck Brow Alpacas (www.beckbrowalpacas. co.uk) in Ainstable, Cumbria. She says: “It’s very easy to get excited about purchasing your first alpacas and buy the first ones you see, but it’s best to check out different farms.”

For first-time alpaca owners, buying from a reputable source who will be available for help and advice is vital. The choice of breeder is as important as the choice of animal.

“You need to purchase from somebody who is going to give you back up, support and education — someone you know really does that rather than just says they will do that. You want to make sure that the farm is clean, health standards are good and that they have good standards of biosecurity,” Barbara explains.

Many breeders, including Beck Brow Alpacas, offer beginners’ courses for new and prospective owners to learn about set up, husbandry, handling and many other aspects of alpaca ownership.

THE SET UP