Advice on Buying and Keeping Alpacas for the Newcomer

The demand for Alpacas in the UK is increasing. Breeders contribute the biggest market share, but there is also a growing trade in Alpaca as pets and for their fur to sell to the high quality clothing trade. The price range for Alpacas is quite wide with the best quality animals commanding considerable investment, whilst the animals kept primarily as pets are much lower in price. This is why matching animals to new owners and their rationale for keeping Alpacas is so important.

Caring for your alpaca herd

If you intend to keep Alpacas for pleasure or as a business, then it is very important to learn how to farm your animals properly. It does not matter if you own a large farm or a small field, the importance of setting up the right environment for your animals from the start cannot be overstated.

Alpacas need good grazing

Adequate grazing must be provided for the number of animals that you are farming. A ratio of an acre to four or five Alpacas is a good guide, but this number should be reduced during winter or when grass values are low. If your farm is a reasonable size then it is also advisable to periodically rotate grazing as this allows the land to recover. Alpacas are natural herd animals, so never keep them on their own or with other livestock like goats or horses.

Alpacas are hardy animals

All breeds of Alpaca are hardy animals and so can live outside on the farm all year round provided that they have some shelter. This should be natural shelter like hedges and trees as well as specially designed field shelters. If your field is particularly large, then it may also be a good idea to have a small holding pen. Animals can then be encouraged into the pen when you or the vet need to examine them. A good tip is to feed your Alpaca herd from the holding pen. This helps them to get use to the pen and going in and out of it, which will make getting your animals into the holding pen a lot easier and save embarrassment when the vet comes to call.

Check your herd every day

Make sure that you check the condition of your Alpaca herd at least once a day. By spending time with your animals, you will get to know them better and are therefore more likely to detect when something is not quite right. As with all livestock, the earlier that you can detect and treat illness, the quicker your Alpaca will recover. Any unusual behaviour should be properly investigated and if you are ever in any doubt, call in the vet to take a look.

For the untrained, buying your first herd of Alpacas might seem a daunting prospect. The risk of purchasing an animal that has health problems or a defect is real to the untrained eye and if you get it wrong, then it is not only your financial commitment that you are putting at risk.

Buying the right animals

An Alpaca with genetic problems could affect your entire breeding programme making the sale of offspring more difficult. Some problems can also affect the general well being of the animal.

There are many different things to consider when making your purchase. For example, are the Alpacas the right size? A tall animal might suggest that it has been in-breed with llamas while an Alpaca that is too short may have had nutrition problems.

The ideal Alpaca should have a short muzzle with a triangular and symmetrical head, the jaw and bite need to be even and its eyes should be bright and alert.

If you are now starting to think there may be more to this than meets the eye, then don't worry, because help and information is available.

Building your knowledge

Before even approaching a breeder, visit as many Alpaca shows and events as you can (see our News and Events section). Listen to what the judges say about each of the Alpacas entered for competition. Note the good and bad comments made about each animal and then apply them yourself when evaluating animals for your own herd.

Talk to breeders and owners at the shows. All are there because of their love for Alpacas and most will be willing to assist a newcomer and share stories with them of their experiences.

Registered breeders

Ensure that the breeder from whom you intend to purchase is a member of the British Alpaca Society. Membership requires breeders to abide by an industry recognised and approved code of conduct when selling Alpacas.

But if you want to be really sure that you are spending your money wisely, then there can be no better person to ask than a professional. Zarza have everything that the new Alpacas herds-person and breeder could possibly want. This includes training courses in how to care for and manage your new herd and top quality breeding stock to choose your animals from. All this comes with as much advice, info and hand holding as you need to get you going and give you the confidence to make Alpaca ownership enjoyable. To find out more, click on Training Courses.