Australian Alpaca

AUSTRALIAN ALPACAAn official publication of the Australian Alpaca Association Ltd

wwwalpacaasnau 2012

Join us for our very popular

residential weekend for new alpaca

breeders at Flowerdale Estate These

ldquoIntroduction to Alpacasrdquo workshops

attract participants from all over

Australia and New Zealand

The Program

Workshops include classroom

learning and hands-on sessions in

the barn working with the alpacas

Participants learn the basics halter

training chuckering weighing body-

condition-scoring nutrition mating

spit-offs birthing cria care weaning

shearing fibre classing vaccinations

drenching toenail trimming business

plans and record keeping

Details on website

wwwflowerdalealpacasnet

Sign up today

WORKSHOPS FOR NEW BREEDERS

There are sessions on goal setting

genetic advancements (SRS and AGE

data usage) selecting quality alpacas

farm plans pasture improvement herd

development strategies succeeding in

the show ring and marketing alpacas

The Venue

Flowerdale Estate is an award-

winning retreat for up to 60 people

Stay in luxury accommodation and

let the chefs tempt you with their

delicious menus These workshops

have provided a wonderful opportunity

for new breeders to network socialize

and have fun Many lasting friendships

have started at these weekends

The Weekend Package

Make it a special weekend of

learning and leisure Play some

tennis Workout in the gym Enjoy

a sauna or challenge someone to a

game of pool At the end of the day

relax with a pre-dinner drink and a

savoury or two

The complete weekend price per

couple is $625 Singles are $425

The package includes accommodation

for Saturday night Saturday and

Sunday lunch morning teas Saturday

night dinner use of recreational

facilities workshop tuition and course

materials

Bookings

Attendance numbers are limited and

fill quickly Complete details including

the weekend program directions and

booking forms are on the website now

at wwwflowerdalealpacasnet

Or phone Jen on 03 9728 7070

ALPACASFLOWERDALE ESTATE

3

Publisher

Australian Alpaca is published bythe Australian Alpaca AssociationLtdABN 30 067 146 481ACN 067 146 481

Unit 2 613 Whitehorse RdMitcham Victoria 3132 Australia(PO Box 1076 Mitcham NorthVictoria 3132)

Telephone +61 (0)3 9873 7700Fax +61 (0)3 9873 7711Email alpacaalpacaasnauInternet wwwalpacaasnau

Designed and ProducedBy Oak Grove GraphicsPO Box 4059 Candelo NSW2550

Telephone +61 (0)2 6493 2036infooakgrovegraphicscomauwwwoakgrovegraphicscomau

CopyrightAll material appearing in AlpacasAustralia Online is copyrightReproduction in whole or part isnot permitted without the writtenpermission of the publisher

LiabilityViews expressed by thecontributors to this publicationand the advertisementsappearing in this publication arenot necessarily endorsed by theAssociation

Every care is taken in compilingthe contents of this publicationbut the Association assumes noresponsibility for the accuracy ofinformation contained in the textor advertisements

Cover lsquoCriarsquoPhotograph by Jill WillisSunline Alpacas

Australian Alpaca

Welcome to AustralianAlpaca a publication whichwill give you an introductionto the Australian alpacaindustry and the AustralianAlpaca Association

Alpacas were first introducedto Australia in 1858 but thisearly venture was largelyunsuccessful

It was a hundred and thirty years later when alpacas again cameto Australian shores from South America that it resulted in muchmore successThe founding of the Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) tookplace in 1990 when the need for a national association to promoteand grow the concept of alpacas as a viable and sustainableprimary industry was recognised by early owners This was farsighted of those individuals and one which has enabled us togrow not only as an industry but as an association which nowsupports more than 2200 members

Australian alpacas are amongst the best in the world TheInternational Alpaca Register (IAR) was established 21 yearsago and contains comprehensive data of over 125000 animalsand their lineage Australian bred alpacas have been exportedfrom Australia to many countries around the world includingNew Zealand South Africa America and EuropeThe AAA has grown into an active membership basedorganisation which is overseen by a Board of 9 Directors TheExecutive consisting of President Vice President Treasurer andSecretary are included in that board structure There are 13regions across Australia each with their own committee ofmanagement and representatives from each of the regions[usually the Regional President] meet twice a year with theboard Membership to the AAA is welcomed from all who residein any part of Australia and indeed the world We currently havea wide age range of Australian members people from overseasand a number of Australian educational institutions that enjoythe benefits of an AAA membership The AAA is a companylimited by guarantee which provides an efficient service structureand the best protection for the associationsrsquo membership Ournational office is based in Mitcham Victoria and this is the hubof our service provision

I hope you enjoy reading Australian Alpaca and if you areinterested in joining the Australian Alpaca Association or wanteven more information about the Australian alpaca industryplease visit our website at wwwalpacaasnau or call our nationaloffice on 03 9873 7700 for more information

AAA Ltd President

A message from our president

reg

Free Information Kit

I am not a member of theAustralian Alpaca AssociationLtd but am interested inlearning more about alpacas

Please send me a FREEalpaca information kit

(Please print)

Name MrMrsMsMiss

Address

State

Postcode

Phone

Email

Send to

AAA LtdPO Box 1076Mitcham NorthVictoria 3132

Phone 03 9873 7700Fax 03 9873 7711Email alpacaalpacaasnauWeb wwwalpacaasnau

4

Alpacas 101

Alpaca Types

HuacayaPronounced wuakiya this is the most common alpacatype in both South America and Australia

It has a soft bonnet of fibre on the forehead and itscheeks boast mutton chops whilst the dense body fibregrows straight out from the body not unlike Merinofleece Ideally fleece coverage is even and extendsdown the legs Its fleece should show a uniform crimpalong the length of the staple

SuriAs a type the suri (sooree) is very much less commonthan the huacaya and in Australia only a smallpercentage of alpacas are surisThis alpaca has fleece with a strongly defined lock Thesuri is covered in long pencil fine locks not unlikedreadlocks that hang straight down from the body Thefleece has lustre and its feel is more slippery and silkythan that of the huacayaThe predominant suri colours are white or light fawn butcolours are becoming more common

5

Alpacas are very closely related to llamas They are both from a group of four species known as South AmericanCamelids The llama is approximately twice the size of an alpaca with banana shaped ears and is principally used as apack animal In Australia alpacas are bred for fleece and as stud animals pets and herd guards against foxes they areunable to withstand an attack by a pack of two or more dogs

That will depend on what sort of pasture and how much pasture your land is capable of producing Different climaticregions and different soil types vary widely in their carrying capacityA standard unit of carrying capacity is the Dry Sheep Equivalent per hectare (DSE) For example in areas of goodsoil and high rainfall your property might sustain 10 DSEha compared with dryland areas that might be 15 DSEhaThe DSE for your property can be determined by speaking to an agricultural consultant or perhaps your neighbour ifthey are experienced farmersAs a general rule one alpaca wether is equivalent to one DSE The nutritional requirements of pregnant alpaca arehalf as much again as those of a wether The nutritional requirements of a lactating alpaca are twice as much as awether If you are prepared to supplementary feed you may be able to increase your stocking rate

Alpacas are principally grazers but sometimes they enjoy casual browsing They are fastidious food selectors that arehighly adapted to eat small amounts of a variety of plantsAlthough they can survive very harsh conditions alpacas do best on good quality pasture and benefit from havingaccess to plant material with long fibres eg hayThere are a number of commercial alpaca mixes available but these are best thought of as supplying vitamins andminerals rather than the bulk feed which is obtained through grazingOne important rule to remember is to introduce any changes to the diet gradually over a period of a couple of weeksThis way the microbes in the gut have time to adjust to any feed changesAlthough some people think alpacas dont drink huge amounts they do need to have ready access to good qualityfresh drinking water

FAQrsquos

FAQs about Alpacas

Are alpacas related to llamas

How many alpacas can I run on my property

Any fencing in broad acreage rural areas that keeps sheep contained is satisfactory preferably without barbed wireAlpacas do not tend to jump fences but are quite capable of clearing a standard fence if sufficiently stressedElectric fencing is not very common but it may be used Advice on the correct height settings of the hot wires is bestsought from an alpaca breeder who has experience with alpacas and electric fencingIf you live in a well populated area wandering dogs are an issue - there are always some that are not locked up atnight despite their owners claims In these areas it is essential that the boundary fencing is suitable for keeping dogsout Dog attacks in some areas are becoming an increasingly prevalent problem and when they occur they havedisastrous consequences

What sort of fencing do alpacas need

What do alpacas eat

Alpacas are shorn once a year usually in spring Shearing is the biggest maintenancerequired and usually takes around five to ten minutes per animal for an experienced alpacashearerDepending on the density of the fleece alpacas cut anywhere between 112 and 4 kg offleece Some of the high quality stud males will cut higher weights

How often do you shear alpacas

6

There are a number of options for alpaca fibre a list of commercial buyers is available on the AAA websiteMarketing opportunities also exist with spinners felters and textile artists Some alpaca owners also process theirown fibre and value add by processing it it into yarns and garmentsA few alpaca owners prefer to home spin their fibre Commercial prices depend on quality with a premium paid forfiner micron fibre - and may be up to $45 per kilogram Sales to home spinners vary and prices may be higher

What do you do with the fleece

Compared with other livestock alpacas are relatively disease free Because of their dry fleece and naturally cleanbreech fly strike is not an issue with alpacas They do not require mulesing or crutchingThey are vaccinated twice yearly with the same 5 in 1 vaccine used for sheep and goats to protect against tetanuspulpy kidney black leg black disease and malignant oedemaWhen buying alpacas for breeding purposes it is advisable to arrange a veterinary check to ensure you are buying ahealthy animal

What sort of diseases do alpacas get

Most alpacas make very good pets if they are treated well and the owners are realistic in their expectationsLike any livestock the more handling they receive as youngsters the quieter they are as adults Given time mostalpacas will eat out of your hand and training them to lead by a halter is a straightforward process

Do they make good pets

Spitting is perhaps the least endearing feature of alpacas It is one of the few defencemechanisms an alpaca has and it is quite an effective deterrentThe material is basically regurgitated or recently chewed grass and it brushes off whendry It does have a distinctive and somewhat offensive odour and it is best to avoidbeing a targetHowever it is quite rare that alpacas spit at people It is normally used as a peckingorder mechanism with other alpacas If a human hit occurs it is usually because theperson has not read the signs properly when stepping between two squabbling alpacas

Alpacas spit dont they

It is possible but not desirable to have a single alpaca and it is not a pleasant existence for the animal Alpacas areherd animals and are instinctively gregarious as are other domestic livestock They obtain security and contentmentfrom having at least one other alpaca for companyFor this reason it is usually recommended that two alpacas are the desirable minimum Sometimes if a singlepregnant female is bought for breeding a wether can go with her for company

Can I just have one or do I need to have lots

Alpacas travel very well in a van covered trailer or horse float Most alpacas will sit during the journey and travelbest in the company of another alpaca On long trips over two or three hours it is advisable to plan for a stop so thealpacas can have a toilet breakClean straw on the floor of the vehicle helps to absorb jarring on rough roads

How do you transport alpacas

Alpacas can bond well with other types of animals Naturally alpacas and aggressive dogs are not a goodcombination but there are many cases of quiet dogs mixing well with alpacasIndividual alpacas have been very successfully run with sheep and goats to act as fox guards The alpacas tend tobond with the foster herd and they are naturally aggressive towards foxes

Can I run alpacas with other livestock

FAQs continued

Females become sexually mature at around 12 to 18 months of age and once they reach 45-50kg in weight Males candisplay sexual interest from a few weeks of age but are not sexually active or fertile until 18 months to 3 years of age(There will be individuals that fall outside this age range) Libido in males is not a criterion of stud quality in alpacasAlpacas do not have a breeding season and providing they are receptive females can be mated at any time of theyear Like rabbits and cats female alpacas are induced ovulators which means it is the act of mating that causes themto ovulate It is preferable though not essential to avoid mid-late summer matings Given the 11 to 12 monthgestation this reduces the incidence of heavily pregnant females and new cria (alpaca babies) in very hot weather

At what age do alpacas start breeding

The average gestation period is 1112 months but pregnancies that go for over a year are not uncommonBirths are generally trouble-free and most occur before the middle of the dayCria should be 6-8kg at birth and most will be on their feet and drinking within 2 to 3 hours The mothers are oftenvery protective and the cria will stay with its mum until weaning at 5 to 6 months of ageFemales are usually re-mated 2 to 6 weeks after giving birth

How do I get started if I want to breed alpacas

Firstly it is best to talk to as many experienced breeders as possible You will gain lots of useful information frompeople who have already done the leg workIf you are serious it is advisable to develop a business plan and if you dont already have one find an accountant whois used to dealing with primary industry clientsTo be able to register your offspring you will need to become a member of the Australian Alpaca Association andapply for Herd Registration (Herd Prefix and Herd Code) The National Office can send you the appropriate formsAlso ask which region you will belong to and attend any workshops or seminars that are being held The more youcan educate yourself about all aspects of breeding the more informed your choices will be

An expanded version of these FAQrsquos can be viewed on the Australian Alpaca Association website at wwwalpacaasnau

Alpacas as herd guardsHerd Guards

Article byDebbie OrsquoNeillSignature Alpacas

Non-believer Central West Sheep Farmers Converted

Once upon a time there was helliphellip

Well yes Irsquod like to say that becoming owners of Alpacas waspart of a fairytale but the raw truth is more like a Stephen KingNovel to begin with although it does have a happy ending

My husband (long suffering) and I (a NZ sheep farmersdaughter) with our two children a two year old and a onemonth old moved back to Condobolin in the Central West ofNSW to be closer to my husbandrsquos family and their familyfarm to escape the rat race and buy a property of our own Wearrived at the end of 2001 at the start of the drought not thatwe knew it then and bought some older ewes in lamb toDorset rams and duly awaited lambing to commence

About a fortnight before the ewes were due to drop the foxpopulation nearly doubled ndash we had baited from a month priorto lambing but the foxes were still moving in for the mainevent ndash the lambing feeding frenzy We put out over $1000 infox baits for no apparent effect other than to feed the blightersThe Gent who had owned the property before us so we foundout didnrsquot bait partially because he had gone over to cattle andalso because he had lost his dog from eating a bait

We were losing up to 10 lambs a night and that was onlyaccounting for those that were left behind not those that werelsquotakeawaysrsquo as is the foxes habit During one evening ofshooting my Husband witnessed 7 foxes working the sheeplike a pack of dogs circling them so that the lambs arrived atthe outside of the ewes to be then taken by the nearest fox(This is the Stephen King novel bit)

The upshot of this was a lambing of 63 pretty patheticconsidering the effort that had gone in

Out of this frustration was born the idea that there had to be abetter way of controlling foxes I didnrsquot like the idea of usingdogs left unattended with their natural food source wasasking for trouble The idea to use Alpacas came into its own(I canrsquot even remember where I first heard about them) and Istarted to research these exotic creatures and the more Ilearned the more I was convinced that they were part of thesolution to the problem

Next was the sales phase where I had to convince my partnerin life and in business that this was the way to go Working ina very conservative rural farming area didnrsquot help the causetoo much either ndash to cut a long story short I was lsquoallowedrsquo topurchase 2 wethers to trial they had to be white and at leastMN2 as we are living in an OJDBJD exclusion zone

Finding wethers turned out to be a bit harder than wethought especially with the requirements that we had butJuan and Carlos (yes Grand Prix weekend Mr Montoyawould be proud) were duly brought home and placed withthe maiden ewes as all our older ewes like so many others inthe district were on agistmentThe two boys spent the first month travelling the fence lineand the neighbour jokingly suggested that they were doing agood job with his sheep over the fenceWith the size of the area that needed to be patrolled wesourced two more wethers to top up coverage of the paddockndash just on 400 acresA fortnight before the ewes were due to lamb the alpacasstarted camping with the ewes at night

We lost 8 lambs from fox attack As I was picking up allcasualties each day from the paddock and accounting forthem as to cause of death and the ewes had been scanned Iwas able to get a pretty good estimate We were in theunenviable position of having to feed ewes about to drophence higher than usual losses from lambing sickness anddystocia from big lambsThe percentage this year with the help of the boys was 81 and there was the occasional very hungry mangy fox in thepaddock so the boys must be doing their job and had paidfor themselves in the first year ndash not many investments willdo that

The following year we had all the ewes home ndash still indrought conditions and feeding stock and with the boyshaving just cut their 3 year old teeth we managed 94 Notbad in a year where our neighbours were excited about a70 lambing rate due to the conditionsgt

11

gt The ewes often form a nursery group around where the Alpacasare camped under a tree during the middle of the day so the boysget to play babysitter while the ewes go off to graze The Alpacaswonrsquot leave an area until all the lambs are with their mothers Theboys patrol the paddock during the day and will check out anynew additions as they arrive they also tend to hang around thevicinity of lambing ewes I am still able to take my littlesheepdog bitch into the paddock with me but I have to show theboys that she is with me so they donrsquot chase her but they stillwatch her every move

I have seen the Alpacas on several occasions gently pushing alamb up to its Mum as she is walking away from the feederswhere the lamb has been asleep and not realized that Mum hasfinished and had headed offThis year when checking the lambing ewes in the twinmultiplespaddock I found a lamb that belonged to a set of triplets afterfinding the lamb which had become separated from its siblingsand Mum I realized I was being monitored by Juan and Pepe whoare on lambing duty in this paddock they watched me as I put thelamb down then they pushed it up to the ewe who acknowledgedit and let it suck The two Alpacas then nudged the three lambsup after the ewes as she walked off ndash poor ewe wonrsquot get anytime out with these two paddock Nannies on duty

My Husband is a bigger advocate for the alpacas as fox guardsthan I am now and we bought our first three girls (yes those bigbrown eyes and their gentle intelligent nature have got ushooked) so we will be breeding our own fox guards and girls fora while to comeWe still bait for foxes but are only using between $30 and $40 ofbaits during the lambing season a far cry from the $1000 of baitand no real results Alpacas have proved to be a far moresustainable and ongoing solution to our fox problem

Since our first three girls we have added to our herd and throughselective breeding now run a herd of 200 mainly white and lightfawn animals with a herd micron average that merino breederswould be very happy with

We have since sold herd guards to farmers from large corporatefarming enterprises stud breeders and broadacre graziers all ofwhom have reaped the benefits of these animals and are oftenrepeat purchasers as their sheep stock numbers are increasing

helliphelliphellipAnd they all lived happily ever after

Debbie OrsquoNeillldquoCarlowrierdquoCondobolin NSW 2877

13

Calendar of Alpaca Events 2012

Date February

11 Crookwell NSWShow

17-19

Seymour NSWAlternativeFarming Expo

18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow

25 Exeter TAS ShowDisplay

25 Berwick VICShow

Date March

2-4 Creswick VICFleece Show

3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow

17Wynyard TASColourbrationShow

17 Mt Pleasant SAShow

18 Castle Hill NSWShow

18 Moss Vale NSWShow

22-25

Farm World 2012Display VIC

23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow

25 Goulburn ShowDisplay only

25 Ranelagh TASSale Day

29-31

Toowoomba QLDRoyal Show

Date April

5-18

Sydney RoyalEaster Show

10-12

World AlpacaConference KebleCollege OxfordUK

14Nanango QLDColourbrationShow

21 VER Spectacular2012

27-29

Bathurst NSWRoyal Show

27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29

Whiteman ParkWA Show

Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow

3-5 Agfest - Displaysales TAS

4-5Grafton NSWColourbrationShow

4-6 Tocal Field DaysNSW

11-13

Coffs HarbourNSW Show

12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20

Autumn ColourShow WarragulVIC

19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20

Tasmanian AlpacaOpen Farms

19-20

Victorian EasternRegion ColourShow

19-20

EPIC AlpacaEXPO CanberraACT

Date June

1-2 Campbell TownShow TAS

9-11 AlpacaFestHamilton VIC

10

Southern NSWRegional ShowGoulburn

10New EnglandAlpaca ShowUralla NSW

16-18

PRIMEXAgriculturalIndustries Expo

17New AlpacaOwnersrsquo DayTAS

23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July

WA ColourbrationShow

Donrsquot miss the Australian AlpacaAssociationrsquos National Show

When 25-28th October 2012

Where Adelaide Showgrounds SA

Visit wwwnationalshowcomau

15

Date July

TBA Ballarat VICSheep amp AlpacaShow

TBA ldquoFrom Paddock toCatwalkrdquoConference TAS

7-8ldquoAlpacas onShowrdquo MalenyQLD

13-14

Mudgee NSWSmall Farm FieldDays

20-22

Australian Sheepamp Wool ShowVIC

21Mid North CoastAlpaca ShowKempsey NSW

Date August

TBA

ColourbrationHalter amp FleeceShow Bendigo VIC

TBA Kyneton VICFleece Show

4Annual AlpacaShow CentralWest NSW

4-5 Colour ClassicShow SA

6-7 SheepventionHamilton VIC

9-18 Royal QueenslandShow Brisbane

11Lardner AlpacaShow WarrigalVIC

31- 2 Gold Coast ShowQLD

Date September

6-10 Adelaide RoyalEaster Show

15-16

Charles LedgerShow Moss ValeNSW

22-23

Nimbin QLDshow- promotionaldisplay

29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October

TBA Seymour VICHalter amp FleeceShow

TBA Wangaratta VICHalter amp FleeceShow

1 Strathalbyn SAShow

5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13

Royal LauncestonShow

18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show

22Bendigo VICHalter amp FleeceShow

25-28

19th AAA LtdNational Show ampSale - Adelaide

26-28

Royal HobartShow

28 WarrnamboolVIC Show

Date November

TBA Whittlesea VICHalter amp FleeceShow

TBA Bangalow NSWShow

2 Colac VIC Show

2-5 Tasmanian CraftFair Deloraine

3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

10 Alexandra VICShow

17 Huon TAS Show24-25

Focus ConferenceGreenmountBeach ResortGold Coast QLD

Central Region ndash Victoria Ms Heather Burn32 Morrow Rd East NEW GISBORNE VIC 3438Tel 03 5420 7881 Email heburn1958gmailcom

Eastern Region - Victoria Ms Rose Thorogood40 Winstanley Rd AVALON VIC 3212Mobile 0447 602 309 Email versecretarygmailcom

Western Region ndash Victoria Ms Rochelle VeitchP O Box 149 WINCHELSEA VIC 3241Tel 0422 329 174 Email alpacasvicwestsecgmailcom

South Australia Region Ms Sue DrogemullerP O Box 1004 NAIRNE SA 5252Tel 08 8188 0027 Fax 08 8188 0027Mobile 0417 841 099Email adamincaactiv8netau

South Queensland amp Northern NSW Region Ms Leanne TunnyP O Box 6104 YATALA DC QLD 4207Tel 07 5543 8988 Fax 07 3807 3935Email infomclarenvalealpacascomau

Queensland Region Ms Paula Leeson22 Penny Rd MOTHAR MOUNTAIN QLD 4570Tel 07 5482 9497 Email pphjaussiebroadbandcomau

Tasmania Region Ms Henni PetrP O Box 305 HUONVILLE TAS 7109Tel 03 6264 2628 Email hennipetrinternodeonnet

Central Western Region ndash NSW Ms Jennie CareyVice PresidentActing Secretary381 Vittoria Rd MILLTHORPE NSW 2798Tel 02 6368 7223 Fax 02 6368 7339Email jenniestaplesindustrynswgovau(email for AAA matters only)

HawkesburyBlue Mountains ndash NSW Ms Sue Maynard16 Mansfield Rd GALSTON NSW 2159Tel 02 9653 2277 Fax 02 9653 2277Email alpacastpgcomau

Central Coast amp Hunter Region ndash NSW Mr Michael Walsh4826 Great North Rd LAGUNA NSW 2325Tel 02 4998 8298 Email cksarmbigpondcom

Sydney Coast amp Highlands Region ndash NSW Ms Sharon Dawson149 Eastview Drive ORANGEVILLE NSW 2570Tel 02 4657 2730 Email jennjoleybigpondcom

Southern Region ndash NSW Mr Graham Lugg130 Davis Lane YASS NSW 2582Tel 02 6227 3158 Fax 02 6227 3159Mobile 0427 455 633 Email lualtoalpacas1bigpondcom

Western Australia Region Ms Isi CameronP O Box 686 YORK WA 6302Tel 08 9641 2058 Mobile 0413 834 734Email infokeisnetau

Regional Contacts

16

Fleece ClassingFleece

Article byGraeme DicksonIndustry Development Panel

The Australian Alpaca Industry Moves Towards ProfessionalClassing StandardsSince the arrival of alpacas into Australia some twenty threeyears ago the industry has largely concentrated on thebreeding aspects of the animal and adapting them to Australianconditions Whilst breeders use fleece testing and the showsystem to benchmark their alpacas little attention has beenpaid to establishing classing lines and standards forcommercial fleece production In more recent years privategroups have emerged to collect fleece and assist in thedevelopment of a fibre industry classing the fleece collected tomeet the specific requirements of the products they planned tomarket

For the Australian industry to market Quality AssuredAustralian Alpaca it is necessary to set a range of lines thatconsider the multiple aspects of alpaca The primeconsiderations were obvious ndash breed type natural colourmicron group length and style ndash but other considerations forthe processor and the consumer also need to be addressed ndashguard hair (kemp) SDCV VM content strength (tenderness)and stain to name just a few

Following consultation with classers processors andconsumers combined with research into the Australian Woolamp Mohair industries a comprehensive Classing Code ofPractice is now available It will be this standard to which we will class Australianalpaca enabling processors and international buyers topurchase Australian product with confidence knowing thatwhat they are being offered meets the specifications theyrequire

The next step in this process is to train alpaca classers to alevel of competency that will enable them to meet the standardrequired To assist in this training we are in discussion with theNational Training Council of Australia through TAFE NSW inorder to find the best and most efficient way of introducingthese training courses

The Australian Alpaca Industry Moves Towards Professional Classing Standards

The alpaca industry is fortunate that there are a number ofexperienced registered wool classers who have been workingwith and classing alpaca for some time

With little training these wool classers could form thefoundations for the first group of qualified alpaca classersThey would also be the logical source from which to drawtrainers for prospective student classers

A registration and audit system will be established for qualifiedclassers in order to offer a Quality Assurance guarantee topotential purchasers This will include a mechanism by whichwe will guarantee that the fleece offered for sale is genuineAustralian alpaca

Once all of these systems are in place members of the AAAwill be in a position to brand and identify their QA-classedalpaca with the appropriate registered mark

In turn processorsmanufacturers of Quality AssuredAustralian alpaca will be able to participate in a AAAlicensing agreement enabling them to brand their productswith a mark officially designated for the content of theirproduct

The introduction of this Quality Assured scheme for theclassing of Australian Alpaca is a significant milestone forthe future development of the industry and will help tomaximise the return to the grower the processor and themanufacturer

17

ldquoWhen we purchased our first 5 females we never in all ourwildest dreams imagined twenty years later we would own andcontrol over 4000 alpacas worldwide subsequently making usthe largest lsquoalpaca studrsquo in the worldrdquo

In 1992 at the age of 19 I was totally absorbed in finishing mytertiary Accountancy and securities qualifications with eyeswidely fixed on a life as a London based StockbrokerWith a born burning ambition to be a traditional livestockldquoFarmerrdquo this seemed worlds away from the path I had chosenhowever with no previous family interest experience or historyof farming the means to acquire one of the vital ingredients ofsuccessful farming ie Land seemed a million miles away

Fate subsequently intervened and my families Adelaide basedbusiness was suddenly thrust to the forefront of my everywaking minute

After first noticing this enchanting creature the ldquoAlpacardquo andbeing totally entranced back in the late 80rsquos we started ourjourney with alpacas and a wonderful journey it has beenOver the years we have travelled to the high altiplano of Peruassessing many thousands of alpacas to speaking on alpacanutrition in places like Norway Switzerland GermanyBelgium and the UKrdquo

Large Stud ProfileProfile

Article by C amp M LloydEP Cambridge Alpacas

We have sold EP Cambridge genetics throughout the worldincluding one of the largest exports to ChinaOver the years we have experienced the evolving changeswithin the alpaca industry that today remains a strongworldwide alternative livestock option for serious and hobbyfarmers alikeWe have enjoyed many successes and during the years wehave established ourselves as BASEuropean judges openingopportunities to see not only our Australian herd develop butalso to see the improvement of quality and industry strengththroughout the world

We produce over 3 tonnes of alpaca fibre that is produced intoproducts including qulits throws blankets scarves and manyother clothing items Our yearly clip has consistentlyimproved with lower microns and higher weights fromindividual animals This trend has been seen throughoutAustralian herds

Today the coloured alpaca is as popular as the white one andthe quality of fleece characteristics that have developed inthe coloured herds throughout the world are competing withthe best of the whites and fawns

Throughout our years as alpaca breeders we have seen manychanges When we entered the industry in 1993 alpacas werevalued because they were alpacas and not necessarily ontheir individual quality

Gradually the industry matured and today the alpaca isvalued on its merits therefore seeing the best of the bestincreasing in value with the lesser quality alpacas morereasonably priced and rightly being based on net commercialvalue This is a good thing for the industry opening thedoors for new breeders who in the past may have not had themeans to follow their dreams

The industry has changed from predominantly ahobbylifestyle and collectors venture to many now havingserious stud stock andor commercial farming enterprisesToday we sell over 600 wethers worldwide as commercialproducers and lamb guardians against foxes and sell our topstud males for many tens of thousands

The years have passed quickly the journey has been full ofchange and excitement and the alpaca industry as we see it ispoised to enjoy another twenty years or more continuing tostrengthen as a viable agricultural option

19

Emerging markets for Alpaca meatCommercial

Article byIan FrithIlawarra Prime Alpaca

Then together with the slow food society of our region a guest listwas made up of foodies journalists vigneronrsquos local politicians andbusiness people from Sydney amp the South Coast to attend a sevencourse degustation menu of Alpaca and local wines DavidCampbell ownerchef of the Hungry Duck restaurant in Berryprepared and hosted the evening in his restaurant and a great nightwas had by all

When looking at the meat side of the industry from the earliestdiscussions we decided that we would not hide behind a substitutename for Alpaca that it is Alpaca meat and that is what it should becalled We also decided that we would only supply restaurants whorsquoschefs have been trained in cooking with Alpaca or were alreadyexposed to cooking and preparation with lean meat Our meat is notavailable in butcher shops or retail outlets nor do the public haveaccess to it from us This way it cannot be incorrectly prepared norconsumed without the proper diligence It is a meat that cannot beserved other than medium rare

In October this year the Fairfax organisation sponsored CRAVE amonth of gastronomic splendour Chefs from all over the worldjetted into Sydney accompanied by food journalists and criticsAgain some good luck came our way with the theme of the festivalbeing South American cuisine ldquoHello Peru Hello Alpacardquo We hadfore warning from Miss Joanna Saville the festival director and inconjunction with David Campbell we sponsored a Peruvian chef MrRicardo Zarate of Mo-Chica amp Picca in LA who was voted NewTop Chef 2010 by USA Food amp Wine magazine to come to Sydneyand showcase to the public and fellow chefs the wonderful taste ofAlpaca During the 1st two weeks of the festival over 800 portions ofAlpaca were served at dinners and training days with the highlightbeing the Gala dinner with 350 paying guests at The Ivy

The Hilton Hotel Bar H Morena and the Hungry Duck were otherrestaurants showcasing Alpaca and a training day was also held forthe Nowra TAFE school of cooking amp hospitality for their studentsby Ricardo Zarate

When Annette amp I first decided to farm Alpacas we knew that for theventure to be financially viable that apart from obtaining the bestgenetics (that we could afford) from already successful breeders tostart our herd that we also needed to be able to utilise the ldquowholeanimalrdquo From fleece animal salesexport mating services to meatand hides

We have been indeed fortunate to have found some great mentorswithin the industry who have been totally unselfish in assisting us notonly with knowledge but the purchase of correct animals for thecorrect reasons for the correct purpose Whilst only fairly new to theindustry and knowing the hard yards put in by those earlier breedersthere is still a lot to be done We think (hope) we are only 4 to 5years away from our fleece objective but only time will tell

Stage 2 of the adventure (whilst it is a business it is still anadventure) was to source a good chef who with herhis passion forfood would work with us to create recipes that would appeal to theldquofoodiesrdquo of the world when we introduced alpaca meat to them

During national alpaca week 2011 we thought the time was right totake the alpaca meat to the people rather than have the people meetthe alpaca on our farm Together with Ian Davison from IllawarraAlpaca Stud the new venture Illawarra Prime Alpaca was launched

All animals are grazed naturally and a not grain fed The meat isvery lean (99 fat free) high in protein high in iron and low incholesterol Our animals have electronic tags and are weighedmonthly to check weight gain and health

To date Illawarra Prime Alpaca has processed just over 2 tons ofmeat for restaurants We are still experimenting with cuts andstyles and recipes in conjunction with our chefs We have alsobeen invited by other regions to train chefs in the leadingrestaurants in their area which we gladly do as it only augurswell for the sustainability and further commercialisation of ourindustry For further information please refer to the followingweb siteswwwprimealpacacomauwwwmillpacacomwwwhungryduckcomauwwwmorenacomau

Therersquos two of us amp two of them think we can take lsquoem

23

24

This is my journey Initially I frequented markets ndashfrom ruraltourist venues to busy city farmer markets This on reflectionprovided valuable marketing public feedback and product ideasthat have allowed me to now feel comfortable moving into astatic retail outlet in my local town of Toodyay

A group of local business from organic producers of honey andolive oil through to local artists and potters have leased a fabulousheritage building which we run using a cooperative structureMembers staff the shop seven days a week Being only fortyminutes from Perth we cater for tourists as well as the localcommunity It is now six months down the track and every oneinvolved is very positive about the future

Hand made items will always be limited by your own drive andcapacity to produce the end product this is why it is so importantto mix with like minded friends and colleagues who can help feedand stimulate your creative juices and keep you fresh in ideas Yesit is time consuming and discipline does come into it after allwhenever you sell an item - oops have to make anotherwwwPacaMolinocom

Alpaca - A Versatile FibreFibre

Jenny Cornwall - Paca Molino WA

Knit 1 amp 2 4 T - SA

As our fledgling industry moves forward and weincreasingly focus on the commercial production of alpacafibre itrsquos easy to forget that the fleece from our animals isideal for both the cottage craft sector and for the individualspinner knitter and weaverMany breeders and new owners are finding that thesetraditional skills can add value be a source of considerablesatisfaction and even open new markets as well of courseas providing a source of wonderfully warm and comfortablegarments and throws for friends and family

When we think of alpaca fibre crafts most of us will thinkof Huacaya fleece first This is not surprising after allhuacayas are by far the more numerous and the fibre isprobably the most versatile On its own it can be spun upinto all types of yarn from the finest two-ply for lace-workto the heaviest of chunky knits And then there are theopportunities for blending

Why not try silk Options here include mulberrybanana and even sari silk Or you could try Bamboocarbonisedblack diamond bamboo is particularly goodfor socks

For the traditionalist blending with cashmere or sheepwool can increase the versatility of your product Forthe adventurous for novelty or just for a changecrafters have even successfully blended alpaca withmetallic strands and other exotic materials

The list of fibres that can be used is probably only aslimited as your own imagination

The luxurious silky fleece of the suri is also ideally suitedto the craft sector Suri fleece is ideally suited to finerknitted garments in particular to lace knitting where itsnatural lustre shines through creating some of the mostimpressive items

The longer staple length makes suri popular with manyspinners who say that it is quicker to spin up and easier towork with

25

SSSC (Superb Stunning Suri Creations)At Beavona Lodge Suri Alpacas we have created a niche market byspinning crocheting and knitting exquisite creations from our ownsuri fleeceOver the last fifteen years Beaver (Darrel) has perfected the art ofhand spinning gossamer fine yarn for which he has won manyawards Fiona knits and crochets this yarn into haute couturegarments lace shawls and wraps Our work is highly regarded bothNationally and Internationally and although only a micro cottageprocessor our SSSC label is now widely recognized

Breeding Suri alpacas has given us the opportunity to experienceand experiment with the ultimate in luxury fibres We are alwayshappy to pass on our knowledge through lessons and workshops tothose who enjoy crafting their own heirloom pieces

Fiona amp Beaver LaughtonBeavona Lodge Suri Alpacas

Beavona Lodge - SSSC NSW

wwwyarravalleyalpacascomau

345 Foxhow- Cundare R oad B errybank VIC 3323T + 61 3 5596 4267 or 0438 897 147

wwwamblesidealpacascomauMN3 VA 2121 Q-Alpaca 060200

26

Environment

Article byJulie McClenOak Grove Alpacas

21st Century Livestock

We live in a world becoming greener by the day greenas it relates to an environmental conscious that isMost modern consumers have an understanding of theconcepts behind environmental sustainability amp newcatch phrases relating to environmental issues arepopulating our language at a rapid rate

Carbon footprint eco friendly global warming andsustainable agriculture are but a few of the newermembers of the new dialect of environment joiningthose more established terms like recycling and greeniesAdd to this growing environmental consciousness thedesire by consumers to consider the welfare of thelivestock that provide the raw products of fleece leathermilk and meat to name but a few and you have afarming environment like no other in the history ofagriculture

With global animal rights groups like PETA drawingattention to the practice of mulesing sheep amp batteryfarming of chickens severe economic consequences areoccurring for farmers unable to adaptWith some countries now banning imports of animalproducts whose husbandry involves such practices on theblacklist of animal rights organisations worldwide

But all of these issues are something alpaca breederslook on from a distanceAlpacas are designed by nature to fit perfectly with thegreener consciousness of the 21st century

The eco friendly traits of alpacas make them perfectlysuited to Australian conditions and appealing to theenvironmental groups whose influence is growingstronger each yearNew farmers with a green conscious can seriouslyconsider alpacas as an environmentally friendlyalternative to sheep or goats

How can anyone fail to be impressed by the alpacas softpadded feet putting less pressure on our fragile soils thanother livestock and even our native animalsAt 39 kPA the static load weight of an alpaca is muchbetter than sheep at 82 kPA cattle at 185 kPA and manat 95 kPA and even better than our native kangeroocoming in at 46 kPA

Their soft padded feet do not damage our shallow topsoils like other harder hooved livestock and they do notrip out grasses damaging the roots or ringbark treestherefore compaction is less fertility is maintained lesssoil erosion occurs and less weed invasion is likely

Alpacas do well on native grasses amp as browsers theytend to select a variety of plants to eat so biodiversityis maintained amp since native pastures require lessfertiliser this can in turn reduce waterwaycontamination from chemical run off

The practice of alpacas to have communal dung pilesthat they tend to not graze around reduces wormburdens amp therefore the need for chemical drenches isalso reduced and the ease of manure collection offersthe opportunity for another side line to supplementfarm income and improve soil fertility naturallyDue to their clean breach and the lifting of their tail tourinate and defecate they do not require crutching ormulesing now a major issue for the sheep industry

They tend not to suffer from fly strike or parasites likeother livestock and this also reduces the use ofchemicals in the farming process

Their fibre is produced in a variety of natural colourslending itself perfectly to producing products fromundyed fibre a process which requires environmentallydamaging chemicalsThe lower grease content in alpaca fibre also requiresless chemical use in the scour process furtherenhancing its ability to appeal to the growing naturaland organic markets worldwide

So when you next think of alpacas remember theywere green long before the term was even adopted torepresent the environmentally conscious

27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS

Quality Breeding females in all coloursForestglen Seymour Multi-award winningstud male available for matingsProven sire with award winning progenyWethers as pets and sheep guardsPackages available to suit your needsAll animals at realistic pricesExcellent after sales supportFarm visits welcome by arrangement

Norma Keily 0416 173 573 or 08 8536 6276Rex Keily 0400 279 297ldquoSerenityrdquo Old Bull Creek Road Strathalbyn SA

Email RNKeilyactiv8netauwwwserenidadalpacascomau

28

For over 10 years Creswick has used fibre of the gods to offersuperior natural softness and a high level of comfortable warmth inits blankets and throws With tireless dedication to AustralianManufacturing Creswick proudly blends spins and weavesAustralian Alpaca fibre in Australia

Through David Jones and specialty retailers Creswick has continuedto grow the number of blankets amp throws manufactured in AustraliaThe consumer truly values light weight Alpaca naturally lighterrelative to wool blankets Feedback from our diverse customer basearound the world shows they appreciate the unique thermal propertiesthat release heat in warm conditions and trap heat when the weatheris cool A perfect seasonal insulator

Creswick also complements its Homewear range with AlpacaAccessories and Alpaca Apparel sourced from Australia and aroundthe world This dedication to quality design amp product innovationensures an exciting future for Creswick Woollen Mills whichcelebrates its 65th year of manufacturing in 2012

29

Small Stud ProfileProfile

Article byJudy DurkinMoon Shine Alpacas

The joys of small acreage alpaca farminghelliphellip I get to wake upto the sounds of humming and grass chomping at my windowadmittedly Irsquom waking up in a caravan 6 feet away from thefence as we rebuild our house but either way on small acreagethe animals are never far away If Irsquom lucky Carlos will lookup and twitch an ear in my general direction Carlos is one oftwo wethers but hersquos what we call the Godfather of the herd ashe loves to take the young boys under his ldquowingrdquo and teachthem how to be big grown up alpacas

My dream of owning alpacas started about 18 years ago when Ifirst saw them in a paddock on our honeymoon Over the yearsthese big eyed long necked woolly creatures held their intrigueand after staying at an alpaca farm BampB in the Hunter Valleyin 2004 my affinity with these creatures was further cemented

In 2006 my husband and I decided to look to the future andfind a property out of the hustle of the city that would be ourretirement Whilst originally planning on buying a block ofground we stumbled upon the most perfect property it wasoriginally a caretakers residence for the original cattle propertythat had been subdivided so there was infrastructure galore 29gates in all on 5 acres And so the realisation of a dream wasset in motion

In 2009 after months of studying the IAR database hours ofbrain picking and hands on learning from some veryexperienced alpaca breeders who live only a few minutes driveaway and attending every regional show that year I tookownership of my first pregnant Suris one grey one black YesI planned to breed greys and blacks and yes I soon found outwhy other breeders laughed when told this With the additionof 2 wethers ownership of the boys was claimed by myhusband (for reasons Irsquoll leave to your imagination) andanother female soon after my little herd was a realityItrsquos been an incredible learning curve for this city born pairMy father who has bushysrsquo blood running through his veinslaughed hysterically when he first heard me talk aboutadjusting the swing on the gate or repairing the water trough ordrenching the animals or giving injections

The day I heard my husband talking for the first time to hismate about dribble ejaculation and induced ovulation Irealised hersquod taken the bait and got sucked in as well and itwas I who laughed hysterically I think wersquove had a widevariety of experiences for small acreage breeding Wersquoveagisted other breeders animals as well thanks to them fortheir trust in us learnt a lot too along the way fromsupportive breeders a good vet and alpaca associationactivities it all adds to the rich tapestry of life

Wersquove had the joys of births albeit the very first birth wasa stillborn well didnrsquot I cry buckets that day ldquoItrsquos notsupposed to be like thisrdquo I heard myself wail Years ofdreaming of this moment had turned out to be bitterdisappointment The pain subsided as the next one gavebirth but wasnrsquot I on tender hooks until that happenedSince that first year wersquove had several births mostly goodexperiences but still others adding to our knowledge Wehad a night time birth with the cria having a hole in itrsquosskull with itrsquos brain exposed Had to call the vet for thatone and whilst he was euthanizing the little fella themother decided to have a prolapsed uterus Thank God Ihad called the vet and yes there goes that all to familiarheart ripping out feeling again I was asking myself thenext day ldquowhy am I doing thisrdquo then to my surprisefound myself laughing out loud at the antics of a youngcria in the paddock prancing and pronking terrorising theother females running races around the paddock myanswer was clear ldquothatrsquos why Irsquom doing thisrdquo

SHOCK ABSORBING LEAD withTRAFFIC LEADER and brass clip

The last lead yoursquoll needhellip

Kind and considerate to bothanimal and human the stretch leashabsorbs the jolts not the 2 and 4 legged creatures on eitherend Thislead suits anyanimal that needs to be led Great for the show ring tooor for those Stud outings when a firm grasp may be required youdonrsquot want a lead slipping through your fingers

UV stabilized sheath100 pure rubber and a brass clip this lead willoutlast and outperform all the leads yoursquove tried to date the Small orMedium size will suit most alpacas See our range of colours and sizesplus ourother great ROK strap products for securing your load weoffer the safest bungee yoursquoll ever findYou can Order online or call Ron and Judy on 07 31031606 from OVImports your fellow alpaca breeders at Moonshine Stud

wwwrokstrapsaustraliacom

Join us for our very popular

residential weekend for new alpaca

breeders at Flowerdale Estate These

ldquoIntroduction to Alpacasrdquo workshops

attract participants from all over

Australia and New Zealand

The Program

Workshops include classroom

learning and hands-on sessions in

the barn working with the alpacas

Participants learn the basics halter

training chuckering weighing body-

condition-scoring nutrition mating

spit-offs birthing cria care weaning

shearing fibre classing vaccinations

drenching toenail trimming business

plans and record keeping

Details on website

wwwflowerdalealpacasnet

Sign up today

WORKSHOPS FOR NEW BREEDERS

There are sessions on goal setting

genetic advancements (SRS and AGE

data usage) selecting quality alpacas

farm plans pasture improvement herd

development strategies succeeding in

the show ring and marketing alpacas

The Venue

Flowerdale Estate is an award-

winning retreat for up to 60 people

Stay in luxury accommodation and

let the chefs tempt you with their

delicious menus These workshops

have provided a wonderful opportunity

for new breeders to network socialize

and have fun Many lasting friendships

have started at these weekends

The Weekend Package

Make it a special weekend of

learning and leisure Play some

tennis Workout in the gym Enjoy

a sauna or challenge someone to a

game of pool At the end of the day

relax with a pre-dinner drink and a

savoury or two

The complete weekend price per

couple is $625 Singles are $425

The package includes accommodation

for Saturday night Saturday and

Sunday lunch morning teas Saturday

night dinner use of recreational

facilities workshop tuition and course

materials

Bookings

Attendance numbers are limited and

fill quickly Complete details including

the weekend program directions and

booking forms are on the website now

at wwwflowerdalealpacasnet

Or phone Jen on 03 9728 7070

ALPACASFLOWERDALE ESTATE

3

Publisher










Australian Alpaca






AAA Ltd President


reg




(Please print)

Name MrMrsMsMiss

Address

State

Postcode

Phone

Email

Send to



4

Alpacas 101

Alpaca Types




5




FAQrsquos

FAQs about Alpacas





What do alpacas eat



6















FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














3

Publisher










Australian Alpaca






AAA Ltd President


reg




(Please print)

Name MrMrsMsMiss

Address

State

Postcode

Phone

Email

Send to



4

Alpacas 101

Alpaca Types




5




FAQrsquos

FAQs about Alpacas





What do alpacas eat



6















FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














4

Alpacas 101

Alpaca Types




5




FAQrsquos

FAQs about Alpacas





What do alpacas eat



6















FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














5




FAQrsquos

FAQs about Alpacas





What do alpacas eat



6















FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














6















FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














FAQs continued





















11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29




























11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














11








13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














13


Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29















Date February


17-19


18 Bega NSW Show

19 Gunning NSWShow

24-26

Royal CanberraShow


25 Berwick VICShow

Date March


3 Boorowa NSWShow

3 Braidwood NSWShow

17 Wodonga NSWShow





22-25


23-24

Camden NSWShow

24 Goulburn NSWShow

24 Red Hill VICShow



29-31


Date April

5-18


10-12




27-29


27-29

HawkesburyNSW Show

28-29


Date May

1-2 Maclean NSWShow




11-13


12-20

National AlpacaWeek

19-20


19 Gympie NSWShow

19-20


19-20


19-20


Date June



10



16-18



23-24

Mudgeeraba QLDShow

30-1July






15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














15

Date July




13-14


20-22



Date August

TBA









Date September


15-16


22-23


29 ndash2Oct

Royal MelbourneShow

29 ndash6Oct

Royal Perth Show

Date October




5-6 Burnie TAS Show

11-13


18-20

Lismore NSWShow

20 Clare SA Show


25-28


26-28

Royal HobartShow


Date November



2 Colac VIC Show


3 Sale VIC Show

9-10 Albany WA Show

















Regional Contacts

16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














16














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














17














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29



























19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














19














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29



























23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29















23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














23

24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














24














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














25








26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














26

Environment















27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














27

SERENIDAD

ALPACAS




28




29














28




29














29














Documents

Australian Alpaca