Winter - Classical Mileend Alpacas

M A G A Z I N E 

Winter 2004/05 £4.80 where sold 

Looking for a suitable boy ? 

Our special feature on stud male selection begins on page 10 

See page 32 for Jane Vaughan’s new two part feature on alpaca nutrition

Rural Alianza EPS Plantel Females – September 2003 

If you are looking to introduce advanced alpaca 

genetics into your herd, please come and see our 

high quality Peruvian females selected from the 

farms of the most highly regarded breeders in the 

alpaca industry and now pregnant to elite Rural 

Alianza Sires. Please contact us for detailed, honest 

information on this limited selection, including fi bre 

samples, selection evaluations and fi bre histograms. 

Sales 

Stud Services 

Consultancy 

Support 

THE PERUVIAN SELECTION 

www.alpacasofwessex.co.uk 

Alpacas of Wessex 

Clouds Park, East Knoyle 

Wiltshire, SP3 6BE 

Telephone 01747 830120 

Mobile 07971 782177 

Email tim.hey@onetel.net

Issue 12 Winter 2004/05 

ISSN 1477–7088 

Editor: Rachel Hebditch 

Vulscombe Farm, Cruwys Morchard, 

Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8NB. 

Telephone 01884 243579 

Mobile 07816 912212. Email: rachel 

@classicalalpacas.freeserve.co.uk 

Advertising: Heidi Hardy 

Telephone 01598 752799 

Copy deadline for the next issue 

4 March 2005 

Design & Production: Bright Friday Media 

Blagdons Means, Bolham, Tiverton, 

Devon, EX16 7RJ. 

Telephone: 01884 257834. 

Email: production@bright-friday.co.uk 

Printed by Buxton Press Ltd, Derbyshire. 

Published by Classical Publishing Ltd © 

The material contained in Alpaca World 

Magazine is compiled by the publishers 

for information purposes only. Although 

the material included has been obtained 

from sources believed to be reliable, no 

guarantees are given as to its accuracy or 

completeness. Readers are reminded that 

expert advice should always be sought in 

individual cases. 

Whilst every care has been taken in the 

compilation of the material contained in 

this issue the publisher does not accept 

responsibility for any loss arising out 

of such changes or inaccuracies nor for 

any other loss suffered as a result of 

information contained in this issue. 

Cover Photo: Rachel Hebditch 

A Happy New Year to all our readers. 

After the devastating events in the Indian Ocean, talk of breed society politics seems a touch irrelevant. 

However talks have begun again between the two Societies about some sort of merger and a single registry 

which is excellent news, particularly if it means that the alpaca community will be working together on a 

joint show programme for 2005. 

Meanwhile the rest of us are scooping up mountains of poo and praying for the grass to grow. In this issue 

we are running part one of veterinarian Jane Vaughan’s article on nutrition that carries the general message 

that grass is best and go easy on the cereals. We also look at choosing a stud male now that you will 

have had a chance to assess last year’s cria. This has become a highly competitive area for stud owners 

– tread carefully. 

Contents Winter Visit www.alpacaworldmagazine.com 

NEWS 

04 Göttingen Symposium 

04 AlpacaSeller Expands 

06 SWAG Sale 

06 Confi dence in UK Alpacas 

06 Vet Conference 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

10 Boys & How to Choose Them 

32 Nutrition 

FEATURE 

44 ATV Attachments 

HEALTH AND WELFARE 

38 Stay Well 

40 Showing Off 

BREEDER PROFILE 

26 A Small Project 

56 Motcombe Motivators 

MARKETING 

52 Alpacas on TV 

FIBRE 

28 Felt 

30 Ladies of the Colca Vally 

46 Curvature 

ADVERTISING FEATURES 

13 Westways Alpacas 

14 Popham Alpacas 

16 Bozedown Alpacas 

22 Morden Hall / Livanti 

34 Gro-Well Feeds 

37 Carrs Billington 

DIARY DATES / LETTER 

07 Letter: Dog Attack 

07 Dates for Diaries

News Göttingen Symposium / AlpacaSeller Expands 

NEWS 

GÖTTINGEN SYMPOSIUM 

AND SEMINAR 

John Gaye reports on the 4th European 

Symposium on South American 

Camelids and DECAMA European 

Seminar – held at Göttingen, Germany 

7–9 October 2004. 

Did you know that research has been 

done on the quantity and quality of milk 

produced by llamas in Peru or that there 

has been a meta-analysis of glucose 

tolerance in llamas and alpacas? Were 

you aware that there was a report 

available on the genetic parameters for 

coat characteristics in Bolivian llamas? 

In three days all these subjects 

and many less esoteric and relevant 

were covered during the 4th European 

Symposium on South American 

Camelids and DECAMA European 

Seminar. 

Organised impeccably, as these 

things tend to be in Germany, by 

an excellent team from Göttingen 

University, it attracted delegates from 

every corner of the globe with a huge 

range of interests related to South 

American Camelids. 

DECAMA is short for a European 

funded project dealing with 

‘Sustainable DEvelopment of CAmelid 

products and services MArketed 

(sic) oriented in the Andean Region’ 

– a really snappy little title no doubt 

invented by a committee. Over 

€500,000 have been provided to 

various academic institutions in Europe 

and South America over some years to 

carry out research on this subject. 

This was a wonderful insight into the 

world of academia and EU funding for 

your correspondent. Each speaker, and 

there were many, had thirty minutes 

to describe their methodology, outline 

the result of the their detailed research 

(sometimes over many years) and then 

answer queries from their peer group. 

But it was not just a gathering of 

academics justifying their budgets and 

salaries. The principal guest speaker 

was Dr Jane Vaughan and she spoke 

to great effect on artifi cial techniques 

in camelid reproduction and there were 

a number of leading Peruvian vets 

who also gave papers on their work on 

4 Alpaca World Magazine Winter 2004/05 

Artifi cial Insemmination and Embryo 

Transfer. 

In addition to various papers on 

the domestic species of camelids 

there were many fascinating papers 

on vicunña conservation, on their 

fl eece and not least on the various 

programmes which have brought them 

back from the edge of extinction. 

Amongst the speakers about vicunña 

were Dr Jerry Laker from the Macauley 

Institute in Scotland and Nadine 

Renaudeau D’Arc from the University of 

East Anglia in Norwich. 

Familiar to many UK breeders was 

Dr Gian Lorenzo D’Alterio . He spoke 

exceptionally well on the subject of his 

research while at Bristol University vet 

school on Skin Lesions in UK Alpacas. 

Not for those of a more squeamish 

nature were a number of papers about 

the maximisation for meat production, 

including the evaluation of carcase 

quality of alpacas. It took me back to an 

international alpaca fi esta a few years 

ago in Peru, when many breeders from 

the USA rejected the main dish of the 

evening at the fantastic dinner laid on 

for everyone when they discovered it 

was alpaca – jolly good it was too. 

Dr Chris Cebra from Oregon State 

University had done much research on 

glucose tolerance in alpacas and llamas 

and had come up with the interesting 

conclusion that their tolerance levels 

were on a par with that of a diabetic in 

the human race. 

The fi nal day brought the only note 

of discord during the entire conference. 

One breeder, who was due to speak on 

alpaca nutrition, had been taken ill and 

so had sent her son along to speak in 

her place. The talk, not only told these 

highly knowledgeable people nothing 

about nutrition but turned out to be 

a rather strange marketing drive for 

her international alpaca business. To 

compound matters he also proceeded 

to rubbish the reputation of a leading 

German breeder with whom they 

had a disagreement and gave some 

really out dated advice on mineral 

supplements, which had been the 

subject of an earlier well researched 

paper by a highly respected vet who 

was still in the room. All in all this was 

probably not a very wise move and the 

speaker lacked the sensitivity that he 

had managed in the space of fi fteen 

minutes to turn a friendly audience 

into a highly enraged and thoroughly 

unamused one. Still every conference 

should have one memorable moment 

from which reference can be taken 

when next the delegates meet. It is not 

often one witnesses the amputation 

of the body above the knees without 

anaesthetic but the vet concerned did 

a quite excellent job in ensuring that 

the speaker walked out on well blooded 

stumps. 

To bring together a conference of this 

size with speakers and audience from 

so many different nations and cultures 

with so many different languages 

is a huge achievement. To persuade 

The UK based AlpacaSeller website 

is moving into Europe with the launch 

of AlpacaSeller Switzerland, Germany 

and Austria in the German language in 

Spring 2005. 

The site will be run in partnership 

with Alpaka-Appenzell, a small breeder 

in the St-Gallen region of Switzerland, 

them all to deliver their papers in 

English, or at least a version of it, 

was remarkable. Perhaps the most 

impressive performance came from the 

chief organiser Dr Martina Gerken who 

managed to provide, when required 

simultaneous translations between 

every language – sometime Spanish 

into French, other times English into 

Spanish – and always she insisted 

that the main language used was 

English which is the lingua franca of 

the Agricultural Institute of Göttingen 

University. 

The next symposium is already being 

planned, probably for next year. If you 

want to broaden your knowledge and 

meet interesting people with a wide 

range of experience in some really out 

of the way places on the altiplano as 

well as hearing from the very latest 

research information ensure watch out 

for it. 

ALPACASELLER EXPANDS 

who are doing all the translation into 

German and will administer the site. 

World wide AlpacaSeller has listings 

on nearly three thousand animals 

and six hundred and forty breeders. 

The site’s founder Chris Moor is now 

looking for anyone interested in setting 

up AlpacSeller in France or Spain.

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

� �� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

��

News SWAG Sale / Confi dence in Alpacas / Vet Conference 

SWAG SALE 2005 

Members of the South West Alpaca 

Group have decided to change the 

format of their Annual Collective Sale 

on Saturday 2nd April 2005. 

Instead of having an Auction, SWAG 

Members will be bringing alpacas 

they wish to sell to the Bristol Sales 

Centre where they can be shown 

to prospective purchasers and will 

negotiate the Sale of their alpacas 

privately. 

This type of Sale is bound to 

enhance the relationship between 

breeders and purchasers to the benefi t 

of all concerned, not least the alpacas. 

The advantage to the purchaser is 

the wide range of alpacas to choose 

from under one roof, from a variety 

of Breeders. Of course the Breeders 

have the advantage of reaching many 

potential clients and promoting their 

Alpacas. 

There will be lectures and 

demonstrations on all aspects of 

keeping alpacas, Breeder and Trade 

Stands and over sixty alpacas to see, 

feel and learn about – it is expected to 

INTERNATIONAL 

CONFIDENCE IN THE UK 

ALPACA INDUSTRY 

EP Cambridge, the largest and arguably 

the most successful alpaca stud in 

Australasia, has demonstrated great 

confi dence in the UK alpaca industry 

with the purchase this month of fi fty 

percent of Arunvale Alpacas. 

After an inspection of Arunvale’s 

stock earlier this year, EP’s principals 

Matthew and Cathy Lloyd were 

extremely impressed with the overall 


be a truly great day out for all alpaca 

enthusiasts – new and established! 

There is plenty of parking, an excellent 

café and the whole event is under 

cover, so make sure that you mark the 

date fi rmly in your diary. 

quality of the animals. 

‘The quality of the Suri herd at 

Arunvale would rival the best Suri studs 

in Australia and a large number of the 

Haucayas would look right at home 

with our Royal lines. This, along with 

our confi dence and enthusiasm in a 

united British alpaca industry, made the 

decision easy for the Group’, Matthew 

Lloyd said. 

VETERINARY CONFERENCE 

A camelid conference for veterinarians 

will be held in Corvallis, Oregon, on 

March 3–6, 2005, followed by a neonatal 

seminar for owners on March 6th. 

The 2005 International Camelid 

Conference has assembled a 

programme of nineteen speakers from 

across the US and the world to cover 

a variety of topics regarding New 

World Camelid Medicine, Surgery, 

Reproduction, Nutrition, Parasites, 

Infectious Disease, and Physiology. 

A companion vet lab will offer 

opportunities for veterinarians and 

technicians to practice some basic 

techniques, including physical 

examination, venipuncture, catheter 

placement, abdominocentesis, 

liver biopsy, spinal taps, ultrasound 

examination, orogastric intubation and 

other techniques. 

For further information visit the 

website at www.vet.orst.edu/camelid/ 

education.htm or contact Chris Cebra 

(541) 737-5568 or Christopher.cebra 

@oregonstate.edu. 

ALPACA SALE 

SOUTH WEST ALPACA GROUP 

PRESENT THEIR THIRD 

COLLECTIVE ALPACA SALE AND EVENT 

APPROX 60 ALPACAS WILL BE OFFERED 

FOR SALE – TO INCLUDE 

PREGNANT FEMALES, 

CASTRATED MALES, STUD MALES 

AND YOUNGSTOCK 

BREEDER AND RELEVANT TRADE STANDS 

LECTURES AND PRACTICAL 

DEMONSTRATIONS ON ALPACA HUSBANDRY 

SATURDAY 2ND APRIL 2005 

11am–3pm 

BRISTOL SALES CENTRE 

EASTER COMPTON 

JUST OFF M4/M5 

For brochure & enquiries please contact: 

ORGANISER: KAREN OGLESBY 

TEL: 01489 878663 

E mail: info@mvalpacas.co.uk

DOGS ATTACK AGAIN 

Dear Editor, 

Further to my letter in your previous issue, there 

have been more dog attacks on alpacas. Tinkers 

with fi ve lurcher dogs off the leash, attacked 

Rachel Pike’s alpacas. It took over half an hour 

to get the dogs off, leaving one dead and others 

badly injured. Two other alpacas were killed in Co. 

Durham more recently. 

In all cases the police will not prosecute 

because alpacas are not on the list of the Animal 

Health Act of 1968. I would be grateful for letters 

or emails of any other incidents of worrying to aid 

the campaign to get alpacas on the list. British 

Camelids have done a lot of lobbying of Members 

of Parliament and others with no result as yet so 

any letters will help greatly. 

Please contact Norma Miller at Low Crompton 

Farm, Royton, Oldham OL2 6YP 

www.euro-alpacas.co.uk 

DATES FOR DIARIES 

April 10, 11am British Camelids Association AGM 

Jersey Pavilion, NAC, Stoneleigh 

Saturday 2nd April 2005 11am–3 pm at Bristol Sales Centre. SWAG (South 

West Alpaca Group) is holding the fi rst sale of this kind in the UK. 

Around sixty alpacas for sale to be offered privately to include breeding 

females, stud males, youngstock and pets, all under one roof – lots of 

relevant trade stands and presentations and demonstrations on alpaca 

management. 

For more information and brochure please contact Karen Oglesby 01489 

878663 or email info@mvalpacas.co.uk 

ALPACA CLASSES ARE PLANNED AT THE FOLLOWING SHOWS: 

May 1st/2nd South of England Spring Show 

Liz Butler llamaliz@aol.com 

May 14/15 BAS National Show 

Newark County Showground 

tim@osborn-jones.freeserve.co.uk 

May 21/22 Devon County Show 

info@langatonalpacas.co.uk 

May 30 Northumberland County Show 

g-ridley@line1net 

Outstanding genetics for alpaca breeders and fi bre producers 

Visit our website at www.alpaca-uk.co.uk and for the best 

independent alpaca magazine visit www.alpacaworldmagazine.com 

Letter to the Editor / Dates for Diaries 

Thinking of keeping alpacas? 

Why not book one of our ‘essentials’ courses 

which will give you all the basic knowledge 

you need about these lovely animals. The 

courses will cover day-to-day care, how to 

make handling easy, breeding and what to look 

for when choosing your alpacas. There will be 

plenty of opportunities to handle our animals 

and a chance to examine the fl eeces and see 

the end products. Please ring us on 01884 

243579 to book a place or visit our website 

www.alpaca-uk.co.uk 

Rachel Hebditch and Chas Brooke have been 

breeding alpacas for eight years, publish Alpaca 

World magazine and are partners in UK Alpaca, 

a company that buys fl eece from 

UK breeders and manufactures yarn. 

Courses: January 22, February 19 

and March 19 

If you are not able to attend 

a course, try our video 

‘An Introduction to Alpacas’ 

Chas Brooke T/F 01884 243514 M 07970 415638 

E chas@mileendalpacas.freeserve.co.uk 

Rachel Hebditch T 01884 243579 M 07816 912212 

E rachel@classicalalpacas.freeserve.co.uk 

Alpaca World Magazine Autumn 2004/05 7

BRITISH CAMELIDS 

ASSOCIATION 

British Camelids Association 

is the association for everyone 

interested in llamas, 

alpacas and all the 

other members 

of the ‘Camelid’ 

family. 

Our aim is to increase awareness of these delightful 

animals and to help members care for them whether 

they be companion animals or part of a business enterprise. 

We provide: the only comprehensive Camelid Registry, 

Breeding Standard Assessment, Training Workshops, 

Seminars, Conferences, Shows, Demonstrations, 

Regional Social Activities and Treks. All our members 

receive a comprehensive information pack and our 

quarterly journal. 

For further information and membership 

form visit: www.britishcamelids.co.uk 

or telephone The Association Secretary 

on 01372 458350 


Concepts of Peru 

M.R. Harness 

Protecting and handling your investment 

www.mrharness.co.uk 

CRIA WATERPROOF COATS 

Sturdy but lightweight waterproof 

material with quilted lining. This 

quality coat fastens and adjusts by 

means of press studs. Made to fit 

the alpacas shape of body, giving 

all round protection to the animal, 

even on the vunerable tummy, with 

a collar & tail loop. small neck to tail 

approx. = 15” medium = 18” large = 

21” red,navy, dk green, ink, royal 

PRICE ONE £30, 2-4 £28 Each, >5 £26 

XL = 24” one £35 two plus £33 each 

Quality alpaca products made with care 

and caring about the people who make them. 

Tel: 020 8855 3282 Fax: 020 8855 6953 

Email: info@conceptsofperu.co.uk 

Website: www.conceptsofperu.co.uk 

Classic alpaca knitwear. 

Available for trade and retail. 

Contact for further information or a brochure. 

Retail members of BAFTS 

Registered in the Importers directory 

ALPACA HEADCOLLARS 

Especially designed to fit alpacas!! 

Made from soft nylon webbing with 

fully adjustable nose. 

6 Sizes: mini, yearling, small, 

standard, large £10 and cria £9 

AVAILABLE IN : Black, brown, red, 

burgundy, royal blue, navy, emerald, 

sage, dark green, yellow, white, grey 

plus ask! 

ALSO LARGE SELECTION OF LEADS 

AND CATCH ROPES from £5.50 

PREMATURE CRIA COAT 

Based on the small coat, there is an additional tail loop, and a smaller 

removeable tummy band, as well as the normal tummy band. This will then 

cater for a very small cria of about 13 – and will grow with the baby as it is 

also a normal small coat! You get two coats for one! 

Red, ink or royal. Single price £40, two or more £38 

Also flectalan ‘space blanket’ coats for hypothermic cria - ask for details 

Post & Packing: Orders of £30 and under + 10% of order, 

£31 – £50 + 5% of order, over £50 FREE 

European P & P: Orders under £30 + 20%, orders over £30 + 10% 

A5 SAE for price list & full product range guide 

Please state first and 2nd colour choice. 

Please make cheques payable to Mary Roach 

Kingswood Hollow, Stanford Road, Great Witley, Worcs. WR6 6JG 

Tel 01299 896 827 Fax 01299 896 051 E-mail mary@mrharness.co.uk

Classical MileEnd Alpacas 

Outstanding genetics for alpaca breeders and fi bre producers 

Chas Brooke T/F 01884 243514 M 07970 415638 

E chas@mileendalpacas.freeserve.co.uk 

Stud Services for 2005 

White, fawn and black PROVEN stud males 

For our brochure call 01884 243514 or visit 


Our overall HERD average micron* is an excellent 23.7 

Access the best bloodlines using Classical MileEnd studs 

to join in with our success. 

Peruvian Hemingway, Purrumbete Highlander, 

Purrumbete Brigantine, Windsong Valley Snow Legend, 

Somerset Peruvian Excellence, Purrumbete Ledgers Boy, 

Colorado Extreme, Jolimont Oscar 2, Jolimont Sculptor, 

Banksia Park Peruvian Voyager, Jolimont Stephano 

(Accoyo), Accoyo Tulaco. 

Peruvian Avalanche’s fi rst ten 2004 cria had micron 

counts ranging from 16.8 to 19.4 

We’re just twenty minutes from M5 Junction 27, Tiverton, Devon 

* 2004 season 

View progeny and talk to us about using our proven 

males to construct a breeding programme at a price 

you can afford. No pregnancy no fee basis. Our own 

ultrasound testing service included in the fee. 

We offer a professional, caring and reliable breeding 

service. Choose from on-farm, drive-by, mobile or 

season’s lease. 

Classical MileEnd Alpacas. 

Quietly breeding for success since 1996 and now 

pioneering alpaca embryo transfer in the UK 

Rachel Hebditch T 01884 2435791 M 07816 912212 

E rachel@classicalalpacas.freeserve.co.uk


AND HOW 

TO CHOOSE 

THEM 

Don’t risk undermining 

the quality of you 

herd by using hit or 

miss methods when 

choosing sires, writes 

Rachel Hebditch. 

Selecting a stud male 

is one of the most 

important factors 

affecting the progress 

of your breeding 

programme. As the 

Australian judge 

Dianne Condon, who 

owns the Shanbrooke 

Alpaca Stud, says; 

‘males have a huge 

infl uence on a large 

number of females 

over the period of 

their breeding life; so 

if they don’t come up 

to standard, don’t use 

them.’

Not all breeders will be looking for the same 

thing in their stud males. American breeder 

and author Mike Safl ey has this to say 

about selection; ‘The art of the selection process is 

subjective. What do you, as a breeder, want your 

herdsire to refl ect in his offspring? A certain colour, 

maybe heavy bone or a particular head shape. Do 

you want large or small alpacas? Fibre quality is 

extremely important, but can also be subjective. 

How does it feel or “handle”? Is fi neness more 

important than volume?’ 

You may be breeding for the show ring, for 

commercial fl eece production, for particularly 

attractive animals that will be sold as ‘pets’ or 

to produce the very best animals in the UK of a 

particular colour such as black or fawn. 

So the fi rst decision the breeder has to make is 

to decide what their breeding objectives are and 

secondly to look at their females realistically and 

try to work out what quality of stud male would 

set them on the road to meeting those objectives. 

It is worth bearing in mind that we are talking 

animal breeding here and that alpacas, unlike fruit 

fl ies, do not do anything in a hurry. You may well 

not achieve your objectives in one generation, it 

is far more sensible to take the long view. This 

will involve ‘breeding up’ and probably using a 

succession of males to eventually reach your goal. 

It will take time but there is the satisfaction of 

knowing that you did it ‘your way’. 

The only way to assess a stud male’s genotype 

is to test the progeny. Mike Safl ey explains on 

his Northwest Alpacas website; ‘The genetically 

correct way to select alpacas with high breeding 

value is by progeny testing. This involves using 

a selection index to evaluate a stud’s offspring 

for important traits, such as fl eece fi neness and 

density. This means not just evaluating the stud’s 

outstanding cria; either all of the offspring, or a 

random sample large enough to ensure accuracy, 

must be measured. To be accurate, progeny 

testing must be done in an environmentally neutral 

manner. This means that all the cria examined must 

have been raised in similar circumstances with 

similar feed and care. 

By way of example, alpaca shows have a 

Progeny class where three offspring are shown 

together, hopefully representing the male’s 

production capacity. As a breeder looking 

to purchase a replacement male, would you 

rather base your buying decision on the three 

offspring that the exhibitor brought to the show 

or a complete survey of the cria from the stud’s 

production? Believe me, the large sample is 

superior. The second approach to progeny testing, 

which is more complex, is to use the dam’s 

statistics to create an index that measures how 

much a sire improves the cria over the dam. 

Analysing just the male’s progeny is easier, and 

testing all the offspring, or a representative random 

sample, of a particular male creates a high degree 

of selection accuracy for breeding values.’ 

Many breeders will not have enough cria on the 

ground to do such large scale testing, but if there 


Special Feature Boys and how to choose them 

are any cria available, it will be helpful to look at 

them and their dams. 

Much stud selection has been made on the basis 

of phenotype – that is what the animal looks like. If 

the animal has a pedigree that contains successful 

males and females in terms of fl eece quality, 

comformation etc., then the stud is more likely to 

be prepotent for these traits. If there is no pedigree 

then the judgement has to be made on the animal 

itself. 

Comformation is important. The international 

judge Allan Jinks of the Benleigh Alpaca Stud in 

Australia says; ‘The alpaca should be in proportion 

and compact, with a broad chest and hindquarters. 

Upstanding animals with ‘presence’ and good 

strong bone structure are desirable. When walking, 

the hind legs should follow the front legs and the 

back legs should not touch, that is be cow-hocked. 

The front legs can be slightly deviated from the 

knees. The animal should look alert, with upright 

bayonet shaped ears. (Banana shaped ears are 

typical of the llama) Ears must not be fused at the 

tips. Teeth must not be over or undershot – they 

must meet the upper dental pad. 

Testicular size should be inspected. Both should 

be large and of even size. It is undesirable for the 

alpaca to have blue eyes, as some have been found 

to have hearing problems. Temperament would not 

be classed as a high criteria, as most alpacas are 

easy to manage.’ 

LANGATON DARK MOON 

Born 13/06/2001 

2004 Micron Count 20.6, 3.9, 18.9, 2.7 

Dark Moon is the progeny stud of Shafts Dream 

(P58) bred by Langaton Alpacas. Winner of his class 

and Reserve Intermediate Champion at the BAS 

2002 Show. A beautiful Huacaya with good solid 

colour. Dark Moon is available for service from 

either Sid Valley Alpacas or Langaton Alpacas. 

Fee £650. 

Sid Valley Alpacas 

Valeside Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0RB 

Telephone 01395 597 899 

Email edmunds.graham@virgin.net 


Dianne Condon again; ‘A true stud sire should 

look like a Macho with strong bone and excellent 

conformation, he should have presence and be well 

proportioned moving evenly through the show ring. 

His fl eece must be of the highest standard, after all 

this is what we are breeding them for. The qualities 

I like to see in a fl eece is fi rst of all fi neness and 

softness, this is what it is all about, however it is 

no use having this if he only has a handful of fl eece 

on his body, so he must have density. I look for a 

A Partnership of Devon Breeders 

www.devon-alpacas.co.uk 

Stud Services 

The Perfect Gentlemen 

We have two exceptional Huacayas 

standing at stud this year. 

Is your preference for Black or 

White. We have both! 

Our young gentlemen have fi ne, 

dense, crimpy fl eeces with consistent 

colour. Highly desirable and 

heritable qualities for your crias. 

We offer a friendly environment 

and a free return of service in the 

event of a live birth not being 

achieved. 

Please give us a call to discuss 

your needs. 

blusterous slippery fl eece, this usually indicates 

a low CV and a lack of medullation. Coverage on 

the head, legs and belly are also an indication of a 

dense animal and these fi nishing points are what 

give the animal presence in the show ring. Finally I 

like to see a high frequency deep amplitude crimp 

carried evenly over the entire body through into the 

legs, belly and chest.’ 

If correct comformation is a given in any animal 

being used as a stud >> Continued on page 15 

CLASSICAL PRIAM 

Born 08/12/01 

2004 Micron Count 23.0, 3.9, 17.0, 3.5 

Sire: Purrembete Inti Top 

This season Priam was placed 4th Intermediate 

Male at the Bath & West Show, Reserve Champion 

at the Mid Devon Show and 1st in Senior Male at 

the North Devon Show. Our prize winning white 

Peruvian of outstanding parentage is available 

at Hindcross Alpacas in Exeter or at Sid Valley 

Alpacas in Sidbury. Fee £450, negotiable. 

Hindcross Alpacas 

Whitestone Exeter EX4 2LA 

Telephone 01392 811 375 

Email trowbridge@hindcross.fsnet.co.uk

BOZEDOWN WEST 

at WESTWAYS 

ALPACAS 

Nick Weber says that with 

Bozedown Alpacas bloodlines 

now resident at Westways 

access to top quality sires just 

got more convenient for breeders 

in the west country. 

Contact Nick Weber, Orchard Farm, East Chinnock, 

Yeovil, Somerset. Telephone 01935 863467 

www.westways-alpacas.co.uk 

£750 + VAT per service 

Albion a ‘true to type’ 

proven full Accoyo stud 

Macho from the Jolimont 

line in Australia. His 

fi bre is superior, showing 

have been female. 

After the most successful 2004 season 

in the show ring, with eight Supreme 

Champion titles, we approach our new 

season with Bozedown Alpacas blood-lines 

resident at Westways with absolute confi dence 

in a proven genetic worth. In particular this year 

we shall be offering the two males featured here. 

Bozedown Thunder is a stunning jet-black male 

with uniform character and lustre and a very dense 

fl eece. We know that he will be in great demand 

from breeders of blacks. Bozedown Prophet is a 

three-year-old white male from Malkini with great 

Advertising Feature 

Bozdown Thunder: 24.9u; sd 4.1; cv 16.7; %>30u 6.9 Bozdown Prophet: 16.5u; sd 3.9; cv 23.4; %>30u 1.0 

TRISTRAM Above 

Solid Medium Fawn, 

£600 + VAT per service. 

Tristram, son of Peruvian 

Bozedown Star. Tristram’s 

fi bre is a lovely solid fawn 

colour, dense and very 

fi ne, it has been quoted 

that his fi bre just ‘glows’. 

Micron: 21. 

of England Show, 2004. 

The Judge, Dr Julio Sumar, 

Cuzco, Peru, said ‘This 

Alpaca Fibre is Excellence’. 

character, fi ne, uniform and lustrous. All that you 

would expect of a top line sire. 

We shall also have Bozedown Razzle Dazzle 

(22.2u; sd 3.8; cv 17.3 in 2002), a proven sevenyear-old 

light fawn male along with others, 

including some Accoyo. We shall continue to 

have both established favourites and younger 

males, available either at Westways or on a 

lease that offers clients the benefi ts of cost 

effective breeding on their own property with the 

additional health benefi t of no movement off 

the farm. 

www.thistledown-alpacas.co.uk 

Thistledown, Westcott, North Tamerton, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6SF. Telephone: 01409 271106 Mobile: 07798 501865 Email: adriansandy@briard-alpaca.fsnet.co.uk 



INCA 

MATADOR 

Gary Sanders, of Popham 

Alpacas of Cornwall, says 

his solid white suri macho 

has an extremely sound 

background featuring a 

wonderful mix of great 

genetics. 

Please contact Gary Sanders on 

07812 145 902 / 01752 843518 or 

email: gary@pophamalpacas.co.uk 

Website www.pophamalpacas.co.uk 

A 

stunning example of a true to 

type suri macho imported into 

this country from Australia 

last year. Heavy boned with text-book 

conformation and great coverage. 

His fl eece is already showing an 

outstanding lock formation shortly 

after shearing and retains an excellent 

lustre. 

His fi rst fl eece measured : 18.6u: 

5.3sd: 28.5cv (November 2000) and 

his latest came in at 25.6u: 5.60sd: 

22.00cv (October 2003). 

Prizes Won: Supreme Champion 

Suri Hobart Royal 2000 

He has an extremely sound 

background featuring a wonderful 

mix of great genetics. Inca Matador’s 

father is the renowned Australian 

suri Cedar House Peruvian Amador 

who was bred from Accoyo lines, 

exported to USA from Peru and 

then in 1999 moved to Australia. 

At the age of 10 years his fi bre still 

measured an impressive 25 micron. 

He has strong suri bloodlines on 

his mothers side with his great 

grandparents, Suricaya Classic and 

Suricaya Cinchona both being solid 

white suris. 

Available for stud duties both on 

and off farm from Popham Alpacas in 

Cornwall. 

We also have available for stud 

duties two young huacayas in their 

fi rst year of work: 

Colour Solid White 

Breeder Rural Alianza – Macusani 

Birth Date Jan 2000 

Fibre Details (May 2004) 

Micron SD CV %>30 Micron 

20.0 4.6 20.2 1.2 

Wirrachochas Ayoka, a solid white 

huacaya with a micron of 19.4 (August 

2004) and Little Legend, a fawn 

huacaya whose last sample measured 

18.9 microns. Again both these males 

are available for work on and off farm. 

Select Rural Alianza Sancho 


Available for on-farm, drive-by 

and mobile matings 


To arrange a booking or for more 

information please telephone The Alpaca 

Centre, Cumbria, on 01768 891440 or 

Alpacas of Wessex, Wiltshire, on 

01747 830120 

Standing at stud at The Alpaca Centre 

from February, 2005, Rural Alianza 

Sancho comes from Rural Alianza’s herd 

that is renowned for longevity in fi ne fi bre 

production. 

Sancho exhibits excellent conformation 

and exceptional fi bre characteristics. 

He produces a long, highly aligned staple 

of very fi ne lustrous fl eece. His whole 

fl eece is dense, very uniform and low 

in medulation. Sancho is the type of 

high quality macho that you would 

expect from generations of selective 

breeding by Rural Alianza. Sancho 

is a macho capable of impacting 

on the highest quality females.

Continued on page 18 



BOZEDOWN STUDS 

ACCESS OUR SUCCESS 

If you’re looking for top genetics, come to Bozedown, the 

foremost alpaca stud in the UK. In 2004 alone alpacas owned 

or bred by Bozedown carried off eight Supreme Champion 

titles. Top prizes were awarded both to our studs themselves, 

and to their progeny; this does not happen by chance. It is proof 

that our selective breeding programme is paying dividends. Many 

different bloodlines are accounted for among our prize alpacas. 

See our web site for a complete list of prizes. And for a further 

list of Studs which contributed to our successes. 

Bozedown Galaxy, Royal Show Supreme Champion now has 

crias on the ground to further prove his supremacy. This amazing 

group of youngsters can be seen alongside their Sire at our 

Open Day on 16th April 2005. As alpaca breeders we all want 

to produce the best quality alpacas possible for our future fi bre 

industry. We are aware that there are many excellent quality 

females in the UK which would benefi t if mated to Galaxy. 

Therefore in 2005 we shall be offering Galaxy services for the 

fi rst time to other breeders, on a limited basis. 

We continually search for new Studs to improve and widen 

our herd genetics, and this year we have nine new studs in our 


‘Dream Selection’. We are thrilled to be able to offer two solid 

dark fawn Studs, almost identical but unrelated: Neptune from 

the same Fundo in Peru as Galaxy (see our advert), and the 

Colour Champion from Arequipa in 2003, Bozedown Talisman 

(17.4µ, 3.6, 20.6, 0.8). We also have a stunning jet black male 

Thunder, and two fabulous suris in the group. Along with the 

two very fi ne, dense white males in our advert we know that 

this entire group are sure to be in demand for 2005. 

We also keep more recent favourites on our Stud list, as 

they are still in demand. These include several Accoyos. 

And we have up and coming new studs of our own breeding 

of similar quality to our excellent young male Quinton who 

recently sold at auction for £16,800. We shall have some Studs 

on lease for the season again, as well as excellent stud males 

for sale. 

We are offering half shares in some of our top Studs, which 

means you can have a male standing at Stud on your own farm; 

please contact us if this may interest you. 

In using Bozedown Studs you access our success for your 

own herd.

Special Feature Boys and how to choose them 

Jane Vaughan BVSc PhD MACVSc looks at the selection 

of fertile male alpacas 


AND HOW 

TO CHOOSE 

THEM 

Many alpaca breeders have a justifi ed 

fi xation on body conformation and fi bre 

characteristics of males during the 

diffi cult process of selection of suitable stud sires. 

Breeders should also include large testicular size 

in the process to ensure males of high fertility are 

selected. This will ensure males are more able to 

pass on their genetics to more females, sooner and 

thereby minimise generation intervals. 

Male alpacas are usually born with descended 

testes that are small, soft and diffi cult to 

palpate (Sumar 1983, Bravo 1995, Fowler et al. 

1998). Plasma testosterone levels are basal and 

adhesions exist between the penis and prepuce 

at birth. As males mature, the testes enlarge 

and plasma testosterone levels increase (at 

approximately 20 months of age in the majority 

of alpacas; Bravo 1995). Rising concentrations 

of testosterone allow the animal to grow and 

put on body condition, develop secondary sexual 

characteristics and apparently breakdown penopreputial 

adhesions. 

The onset of sexual maturity is often determined 

by the age at which the penile adhesions disappear 

and males become capable of a full erection, rather 

than the time at which viable sperm are produced 

(Smith 1999c). It has been observed in alpacas that 

at one year of age 8–12% of males, at two years 

of age 60–78% of males and at three years of 

age 94–100 % of males have lost peno-preputial 

adhesions ( Bravo et al. 2000). The variation in 

age at which peno-preputial adhesions are lost 

may be partially explained by plane of nutrition 

as there is a correlation between body size and 

mean testicular length and the wide variation 

in testicular size at any one age or body size 

suggests that other factors, probably genetic, are 

also important (Galloway 2000). In South America, 

alpacas are considered to have reached full sexual 

development at fi ve years of age, at approximately 

63kg body weight (Sumar 1983). This is a long time 

to wait for access to genetics and breeders should 

be selecting suitable males to decrease the age 

of puberty in their stud sires and speed up genetic 

gain. 

SEASONALITY 

Spermatogenesis occurs throughout the year in all 

camelids and therefore mature males should be 

fertile all year. 

FERTILITY 

Under conditions of natural mating, pregnancy and 

subsequent parturition rates following a single

mating have been reported as low (Sumar 1985) 

and less effi cient than other farm species (Wiepz 

et al. 1985). However, there have been reports of 

21 out of 28 (75%) female llamas pregnant after 

two matings 4–8 hours apart (Adams et al. 1990), 

a 46% parturition rate in single-mated llamas 

(Condorena et al. 1988) and 34 out of 70 (49%) 

females pregnant 60 days after a single random 

natural mating (Vaughan et al. 2002). These rates 

compare favourably with conception rates in other 

domestic livestock and suggest that unsuitable 

reproductive management, nutritional defi ciencies 

and inbreeding contribute to low fertility (Parraguez 

et al. 1997). The sperm concentration required 

for successful fertilisation and pregnancy is not 

known, but intracornual semen deposition of 

semen during copulation may be an adaptation to 

overcome relatively low sperm concentrations in 

ejaculates (Brown 2000). 

To maximise the number of sperm per ejaculate 

and matings per day, it has been recommended 

to select males with large testicular size on the 

assumption that the direct relationship between 

testis size and sperm production in other domestic 

livestock also occurs in camelids (Sumar 1983, 

Smith 1999c, Brown 2000, Galloway 2000). Mean 

testicular length (the average length of left and 

right testes) is correlated with testicular weight 

(Galloway 2000) and may be used as a simple 

means of assessing testicular size in alpacas. 

Mean testicular length may be used to estimate 

the likelihood of sperm production in alpacas 

(Table 1; Galloway 2000). 

TABLE 1 Development of testicular function 

in alpacas with testicles of different sizes 

(Galloway 2000) 

Mean Proportion % testicular 

testicular of males tissue producing 

length (cm) (%) elongated spermatids* 


MORDEN HALL 

AND LIVANTI 

JOIN FORCES TO 

PRESENT THEIR 

SELECTION OF 

STUD MALES 

For further information, contact: 

Livanti Alpacas 

Telephone 01296 682605 

Email: info@livanti-alpacas.com 

Morden Hall Alpacas 

Telephone 01763 853197 

Email: alpacas@mordenhall.co.uk 


Morden Hall Alpacas and Livanti Alpacas 

started working together in 2003 when 

they discovered their shared not only an 

enormous enthusiasm for their alpacas but also a 

joint desire to offer a wider professional service 

to the alpaca community – without losing that 

personal touch. Every visiting animal to either farm 

is looked after with the same level of care and 

attention as the resident herds. 

Morden Hall Alpacas is situated on the borders 

of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire with Livanti 

Alpacas in Buckinghamshire so by working 

together, the two farms have found that they are 

able to offer their clients a greater choice in all 

aspects of alpaca farming. This has proved to be 

particularly benefi cial when it comes to selecting 

the right covering male. 

Between them, the farms currently offer a total 

of eight excellent males, including: 

2004 BAS National Champion 

There is also a good choice of colours available. 

Clients can choose from a selection of white boys 

as well as light fawn, dark fawn and light brown. 

THE WHITE SELECTION 

Livanti Cloud is the 2004 BAS National Champion 

Alpaca. A proud white male born in August 2002, 

expected to start working in the spring. He has a 

very bright and high frequency crimp. 

Morden Hall Shehan is a white male imported 

from Australia who has a superbly dense even 

fl eece. He won the reserve champion senior male 

at the BAS National show 2004. 

Livanti Brooklyn was the BAS National 2002 

Junior White Male Champion. He was born in 

August 2001 and has been working in 2004. He has 

a wonderfully bright fl eece with defi ned crimp 

Morden Hall Prospero has an incredibly bright, 

white fl eece, with a broader crimp. Prospero won 

reserve champion senior male at both the East of 

England and the Royal Norfolk Shows in 2004 

Morden Hall Bandana is an older white stud, He 

has produced some excellent progeny with soft, 

fi ne fl eeces. He has great presence and is strong 

boned. 

THE COLOURED SELECTION 

Morden Hall Shakespeare is a light fawn stud 

with excellent fi bre statistics. His fl eece has good 

staple length and a fi ne even crimp. He was bred 

at Morden Hall and started working this year. 

Shakespeare was the BAS National coloured 

champion at The Royal Show in 2003. 

Aztec Allure is a three year old stunning dark 

fawn male. His fl eece is incredibly fi ne and has a 

very soft handle and fi ne even crimp. 

Livanti Aries was the British Camelids 2000 

Champion Alpaca. Born in 2000 he is a rich light 

brown and comes from a family of fi ne fi bred 

alpacas, who keep this fi neness for many years. 

Aries has been working since 2003 and has 

progeny to be viewed. 

2004 BAS National Senior Male Reserve Champion 

2003 BAS National Coloured Champion 

2002 BAS National Junior White Male Champion 

Under a joint ownership scheme Wessex Samurai 

(medium fawn) is also available at Morden Hall at 

various times throughout the year. 

Both Morden Hall and Livanti Alpacas are family 

run businesses. Ivan Greenaway and Liz Barlow 

take care of matters at Livanti. Liz was one of 

the fi rst group of alpaca judges to qualify in the 

UK. Morden Hall has been run by Janet and Peter 

Garner since 1997 and their daughter Sally is the 

newly appointed farm manager. 

Both farms will take exceptionally good care 

of any animals left in their care and both offer a 

selection of On Farm, Drive By and Mobile Matings. 

Prices from £400 plus VAT depending on choice of 

male and number of services.


A Small Project 

Andrew Spillane, of Beauvautrait Alpacas, describes his family’s 

entry into alpaca breeding and the other small project that preceded it. 

We took up residence in France about 

seven years ago. Like many others 

we were opting out of the stress and 

demands of international business life to enjoy 

ourselves at a slower pace. Not ready or able to 

retire we bought a rural gite complex constructed 

in a series of old farm buildings in the northwest 

Dordogne. After fi ve successful years we decided 

the time was right to sell the gites and our own 

house too. My thoughts tended towards a small 

slightly isolated cottage a little further south. It 

was around this time in December 2002, having 

sold our gite complex but not our home, that Nicky 

uttered the fateful words ‘We need a small project 

to keep us active.’ 

Initially, in terms of ideas, Nicky’s small project 

appeared similar to my thoughts of a small cottage 

with the addition of a paddock for the dogs to 

run in. Finding such a property at a sensible price 

proved impossible in our local area and we started 

looking further south in the forest of the Double. 

Here, although prices were more reasonable at 

that time, the cottage was inevitably a small farm 

with a signifi cant amount of land. 

At this stage I started to get nervous and 

Nicky more enthusiastic. We had owned a croft 

in Scotland in our youth as a hobby and I recalled 

the hard physical work involved. We visited and 

rejected twenty or more small farms in various 

states of decay and disrepair. One Tuesday 


afternoon, when Nicky was out, I agreed to 

accompany our patient estate agent to yet one 

more farm. This was my undoing. As we drove 

down the lane across the causeway over the large 

lake I knew this was my small project. When I 

entered the house little did realise that this was 

going to be a huge project. I told the agent there 

and then we would buy it and two days later 

signed the initial agreement. 

At this stage Nicky had only seen the property 

from the road at a distance, I managed to prevent 

her entering the house until after the seven day 

cooling off period in French house purchase had 

expired. With some trepidation I then showed her 

round. Downstairs consisted of four large rooms, 

one with an earth fl oor! The owner cooked his 

food over the fi re in one of the two huge stone 

fi replaces in a black hanging kettle. This fi replace 

was therefore completely covered in black soot 

and grease, the other he had painted bright 

blue. He had been born in the house seventy-fi ve 

years earlier and changed virtually nothing in the 

intervening years, the walls were black with damp 

to a metre high. Upstairs was still an unwindowed 

hayloft accessed by a ladder. As we ascended 

Nicky commented on the strong odour of cow. 

Easily explained, we walked to the end attached to 

the barn to watch the cows eat, there was no wall 

between loft and barn. 

Luckily, planning permission in France is simple, 

straightforward and quick. Within ten days of 

completion of purchase we were able to start 

work. By late autumn with the help of many French 

friends the house was totally transformed, if not 

completely fi nished. The fi replaces cleaned back to 

the beautiful old stone, beams exposed along with 

the traditional interior wall surfaces typical of the 

Double farmhouse. Equally important for Nicky the 

new bathrooms and fi ve bedrooms were now free 

of ‘Parfum de Vache’ and the earthen fl oored room 

below boasted a fully fi tted farmhouse kitchen. 

As you may imagine the above had proved a 

somewhat larger project than that which I had fi rst 

contemplated. It had proved very time consuming 

and had blown my budget projections to shreds. On 

the eighty mile round trip each day, our old home 

proving slow to sell, I contemplated what to do 

with the land. I could not escape the conclusion 

that this would also prove to be more than a ‘small 

project’. With the farm we had acquired twenty 

fi ve acres, one of woods, two of lake, and, as the 

estate agent had euphemistically described it, 22 

of permanent pasture. The condition of the fi elds 

and fencing matched the condition of the house. 

My initial idea was to run a small beef suckler 

herd, the previous owner having used the farm to 

fatten store cattle. I soon realised this was not 

going to be a practical option. The land is mostly 

heavy clay and poorly drained, the soil had suffered 

heavily from poaching under the heavy French store 

cattle and much was a quagmire. The fencing was 

in poor condition and several acres were buried 

beneath head high bramble jungles. 

In September 2003 I recalled having been 

interested in acquiring some alpacas prior to 

moving to France. Miraculously I found my old 

notes on the subject and we decided that these 

animals were the answer to our needs. Smaller 

than cattle, gentle and hardy whilst easy to 

herd and handle we decided they would be well 

suited to our small farm. Our initial search in 

France showed that the alpaca industry was at 

the same level as the UK in about 1998, with 

some 500 animals widespread throughout France. 

Interestingly, the Llama is very popular with a 

population of several thousand, being originally 

introduced in the southeast to clear the maquis. 

We visited a breeder with one of the larger herds 

of alpaca but were not impressed with the quality 

of the huacaya or the prices asked. In fairness 

the breeder’s main interest centered on llama and 

suri . The one major consequence of this visit was 

Nicky’s instant falling in love with alpacas. Our real 

‘small project’ was about to begin. 

We concluded that we would have to buy our 

initial stock in the UK and I promptly enlisted our 

daughter Leah’s help in fi nding suitable breeders to 

visit. Like her mother, it was instant love for Leah 

and she entered into the task of fi nding suitable 

animals with enthusiasm. After her initial research 

I visited the UK just to take a quick look at what 

she had found. I returned to France three days later 

in a panic to prepare the paddocks for the starter 

herd I had bought. Leah meanwhile being left to

liaise with the breeders, arrange transport and deal 

with DEFRA and the export/import and quarantine 

formalities. 

Removing the old fencing, clearing the fi elds and 

re-fencing, proved a major task taking six weeks 

for the fi rst phase. Eventually we used over 1400 

posts and over two and a half kilometres of one 

metre twenty sheep netting. This fenced half our 

holding, the remaining land being left for hay. We 

completed this work just in time for the arrival of 

our fi rst huacayas. They descended from the lorry 

after their twenty-four hour journey, ambled into 

the paddocks and immediately settled down to 

graze. It was as though they had always lived here. 

We quickly settled into an easy routine with 

our small herd. At this stage our herd consisted 

of six females, four cria at foot, two stud males 

and two potential geldings. Fortunately Sam, 

a young Frenchman in his early thirties, who 

had undertaken much of the heavy building and 

fencing work on the farm, was also instantly 

captivated by the charm and gentleness of the 

alpaca. His general knowledge of livestock and, 

very importantly, dangerous plants has proved 

invaluable. The alpacas readily adapted to their 

new environment and found the rough permanent 

pasture much to their liking. They have lived up to 

their reputation as hardy and healthy animals that 

are easy to manage. 

Finding a shearer prepared to take on alpaca 

was to prove diffi cult, fortunately by midsummer 

a neighbour found one prepared to have a go. 

Unfortunately, he arrived with his team after 

too good a lunch. Whilst the end result was less 

than aesthetic the animals were shorn without 

stress and much relieved to be out of their heavy 

fl eece. With temperatures frequently above thirty 

in summer the provision of adequate shade and 

shelter is essential if heat stress and its associated 

problems are to be avoided. 

With such small numbers here in France 

commercial spinning has not been practical in 

the past. We have been lucky in fi nding someone 

local to spin our small initial quantity by hand. 

Last month I attended the foundation of our new 

cooperative. The founder, an Australian resident 

in France has located a small commercial mill 

prepared and equipped to accept lots of 10 kilos by 

colour, and a small group spent a tiring and dusty 

day grading and sorting fl eece in readiness for our 

fi rst run. 

I contacted our local vet at an early stage 

to advise him of our plans. Because alpacas 

are a rarity here his initial question was hardly 

surprising. ‘What is an alpaca?’ He has been a 

great help and our only real problem so far has 

been one retention of afterbirth. The vet came 

immediately and after the appropriate injection the 

animal rapidly recovered. The local French reaction 

has been very positive to these newcomers to 

their forest even if their fi rst question is always, 

‘Do you eat them?’ Most weekend afternoons see 

half a dozen cars parked along the road at the end 

of our lane with families happily alpaca watching. 

My dream of an isolated cottage was somewhat 

shattered when the local tourist offi ce rang to 

enquire about the possibility of their weekly 

sightseeing tour passing by on the public road past 

the farm. 

Has our small project been worth it? Well, 

we have made many new friends through these 

animals both locally, and throughout France 

amongst other alpaca breeders. Our herd now 

numbers fi fty making it the largest commercial 

huacaya herd in France and we plan further 

expansion. Oh, and we have a couple more small 

projects in hand. Last year I attended, without 

animals, the seventh French International Camelid 

Show. A small affair compared to English shows 

with just eighty-four alpacas and llamas, but 

enjoyable and enthusiastically supported. I was 

disappointed to discover last month that no show 

was planned for 2005 as nobody had come forward 

to organise and host it. Inevitably we have agreed 

to host next year’s French alpaca show in May. 

Our second small project, Leah has just bought 

a 40 acre farm nearby with house and land to 

renovate with our help and become a partner in the 

expansion of our alpaca herd. 

Beauvautrait Alpacas, Chez Marot, 24410 

Echourgnac. Tel; 0553 80 09 53 

Alpacasoffrance@aol.com 


FELT 

Craft under pressure but Liz Brown 

(www.heartfeltbyliz.com) can cope… 

As a textile artist who works 

mainly with felted fabrics, I am 

always keen to try new fi bres. 

Through a chance meeting with Pam 

Fennell from Alpaca Scotland I was 

intrigued about alpaca fi bre. I visited 

Pam and Richard in Renfrewshire just 

one hour from my studio in Ayrshire. 

I immediately fell in love with these 

beautiful creatures and speaking with 

the couple realized that they felt it 

important to be personally responsible 

for marketing and selling their alpaca 

fi bre. I was impressed at the standard 

of farming. By keeping the paddocks 

and shelters so clean and seed free it 

means the fl eeces I would be working 

with would refl ect the care taken. 

Pam has her own workshop for 

processing the fi bre into clean batts 

for her established customers in the 

Scottish Guild of Spinners, Weavers 

and Dyers. She regularly has guild visits 

to her farm. 

I looked at what I could do as a 

feltmaker to help use and promote the 

use of this local sustainable source of 

fi bre. 

Initially we focused on the fi bre on 


the neck and legs, as the spinners and 

weavers were not using this. 

I was excited at the ‘locks’ they 

varied in colour, crimp and texture just 

perfect for my needs. I experimented 

with the fi bre using many different 

felting techniques and discovered that 

alpaca fi bre needlefelts very well. 

Needlefelting, which stabs the fi bre 

with a triangular barbed needle, is a 

technique used widely in industry on a 

large scale to interlock fi bres. 

I came up with some ideas. The 

Alpaca needlefelting kit, is one of 

these. This gives a photographic step 

by step guide to creating a sculpture of 

an alpaca head. The kit includes carded 

batts and ‘locks’. 

We both used our websites and our 

summer visits to country fairs to launch 

our kit. It was to be the start of a great 

friendship. 

I was keen to see how the fi bre 

would work in my regular feltmaking so 

I created shoes, boots and bags...hats, 

jewelry and scarves. The fi bre 

responded well and had the added 

advantage of making a dense felt which 

could be surface carded to give a long 

fi bre which gave a furry texture. 

In the baby booties where any long 

fi bres are not suitable, I felted silk caps 

to the inner and outer surface making 

them very soft, warm and wearable. 

I submitted some of this work for a 

travelling exhibition by the International 

Feltmakers Assocation called On the 

Map. This exhibition was specifi cally to 

promote local fi bres and the connection 

between artist and grower. My bags 

were chosen for this and they have 

already toured several countries and 

continue to tour well into 2005 (the IFA 

website has details of where this will 

tour next – www.feltmakers.com). 

As a Yurt Keeper for the Scottish 

Storytelling Yurt (a yurt/ger is a wooden 

latticestructure with a felt cover, our 

Yurt travels around the UK and abroad 

teaching fi bre skills and telling stories) 

I have access to a portable needleloom 

machine and a fl atbed feltmaker. The 

yurt group had purchased these for the 

use of feltmakers in Scotland. 

Pam had much success with both 

machines and has made some lovely 

sheets of felt ready to be cut and sewn 

into garments. 

I teach feltmaking in my studio and 

promote the use of alpaca as a fi ne 

fi bre. I also travel and do workshops on 

specifi c aspects of feltmaking around 

the country. 

While researching the use of alpaca 

fi bre in this country, I was disappointed 

to fi nd that apart from a few clothing 

manufactures the only other alpaca 

goods available were from South 

America. Apart from promoting the 

use of local fi bre I feel it is important 

to carry that through and promote the 

artists/crafters who use this wonderful 

medium. •

Search or Advertise 

Alpacas for Sale 

Alpaca Stud Services 

Alpaca Breeders 

Alpaca Auctions 

Web Development Services for Alpaca Breeders 

www.AlpacaSeller.co.uk 

Online Alpaca Advertising at Affordable Prices 


Above: Two shepherdesses 

(from left to right: Collagua 

and Cabana) with their herd 

of alpacas and llamas in the 

Colca Valley Region. Note 

the leading reins (jaquimas) 

that they are carrying and 

with which they handle their 

animals. 


THE 

ALPACA 

LADIES OF 

AREQUIPA’S 

COLCA 

VALLEY 

Arequipa’s Colca Valley is located some ninety miles from 

the city at an average 4500 metres above sea level. The 

terrain is marked by its sharp contrasts from fl at highlands 

to plunging canyons and its ever-present backdrop of the Andes 

mountains. 

The main Colca Canyon is the world’s deepest – it is estimated 

to be almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon – and the 

region has been home to various farming cultures for thousands 

of years. In the words of a well-known fi lm, a river runs through 

it, but, in this case, a river that changes its name fi ve times as it 

runs its course: Paco Paco (source), Chilamaya (for 7 miles), Colca 

(for 155 miles) and Majes (for 37 miles) and Camana (where it 

reaches the coast). 

The land, though fertile in its deep valleys, is a hard 

taskmaster on the high altitude plateaus where conditions 

of extremes prevail. During the day temperatures can soar in 

a cloudless sky up to 90º F and then plummet to 15º F below 

freezing during the night. The high altitude ensures that a 

blistering, unfi ltered sunlight beats down on the people working 

the fi elds branding them with their trademark leathery and 

blotch-marked skin while the same conditions chill them to the 

marrow during the cold nights. 

One of the fi rst people to inhabit the region were the 

Collaguas, a pre-Inca culture that tilled the land and herded 

alpacas and llamas. Their main claim to fame was their habit of 

tightly-binding babies’ heads so that they grew up with pointed 

craniums in a symbolic gesture to the mountain gods (apus) 

where a pointed head represented the peak of the Collaguata 

Volcano from which their culture took its name and from where 

they believed that they were descended. Their capital in the 

Colca Valley was Yanque. 

Whereas both sexes wore traditional costumes, the main 

Francis Rainsford 

cultural identifi cation was demonstrated more visually by the 

ladies with their clothing. Additionally, when the Collaguas were 

conquered by the Incas and forced to form part of their empire 

the practice of forming pointed heads was phased out and, in its 

place, a boater-style hat made from animal hide was adopted by 

the womenfolk. 

Around the time of the Spanish Conquest in 1532 the 

Collaguas were fi ghting against an invasion of their Colca 

territory by a group of people from Puno and the South of Peru 

– the Cabanas. The Cabanas had a similar style of dress to the 

Collaguas with intricately-embroidered dresses but, in their case, 

the embroidered cloth included their headwear. 

Hostilities were waged between the Collaguas and the 

Cabanas which came to an abrupt end when the Inca Empire fell 

to the Spaniards. Once colonisation took place the 

Spanish conquistadors decided to keep the Inca practice 

of making subjugated cultures wear distinctive costumes so 

that they could be easily identifi ed. The Collaguas stopped 

making their hats from animal hide and decided to use straw 

instead – at the same time adding a decorative band for 

extra panache. Alpaca and llama herding continued in the 

region but with the addition of the newly introduced sheep 

which, along with cattle, came with the Spanish Conquest. 

The Spaniard’s well-documented greed for gold and precious 

metals meant that Cayollma in the Colca Valley became very 

important for its mining activities and replaced Yanque as the 

capital. 

Following Peru’s hard-fought independence from Spain in 

1824 the emphasis on mining in the Colca diminished and the 

capital gradually moved over to Chivay where it remains today 

with the political designation for the region being the Province of 

Cayollma.

“The highly decorative costumes that are associated with the ladies of the Colca Valley have evolved over 

time and, using fi bres of alpaca, llama, wool and cotton, have many variations and nuances. The daily 

costumes for both Collaguas and Cabanas alike are essentially practical and designed above all else to give 

maximum protection against the sun in the day and the cold which commences from mid to late afternoon.” 

LADIES’ COSTUMES AND USAGE 

The highly decorative costumes that are associated with the 

ladies of the Colca Valley have evolved over time and, using 

fi bres of alpaca, llama, wool and cotton, have many variations 

and nuances. The daily costumes for both Collaguas and Cabanas 

alike are essentially practical and designed above all else to 

give maximum protection against the sun in the day and the cold 

which commences from mid to late afternoon. Typically, a highnecked 

and long-sleeved blouse is worn with an embroidered 

waistcoat on the upper body whilst up to three layers of skirt 

(depending on the climatic conditions) are worn below. Opentoed 

sandals complete the outfi t. Often the outer skirt has a deep 

frontal pocket in which seeds can be carried at sowing time or 

hand-spinning distaffs and fi bre etc. As always, the headwear is 

either the Collagua banded straw hat or the Cabana embroidered 

cloth model. 

For ‘fi estas’ the same ensemble is worn but with much more 

decoration and embroidery. In all cases the embroidery is unique 

to the individual wearer but always follows the same theme of 

pictorial representation of the fauna and fl ora of the Colca Valley. 

These days there is a tendency to mix the two cultures where 

a Collagua may wear the costume of a Cabana and vice versa 

but one thing remains sacred and that is each one’s respective 

headwear which is never interchanged. 

ALPACA TEXTILE TRADITIONS 

The many millennia of alpaca and llama farming in the region 

have pervaded the daily routine of the womenfolk from raising 

the animals to crafting textiles from their fi bre which still 

dominates the greater part of their lives today. Being mainly 

Quechua speakers, the textile terminology that they use 

today to describe their art is a mix of both the Quechua and 

Spanish languages (a sort of ‘Tex-Mex’). The clothing that 

they produce is mainly woven, as opposed to knitted, and 

employs hand-spun yarns and I list below a glossary of the 

most common processes/products: 

Hand-spinner Phuscadora 

Hand-weaver Awadora 

Narrow Tape/Braid Weaver Simpadora 

Hand-plaited Alpaca/Llama Leading Reins Jaquimas 

The skills that are passed on from generation to generation are 

so highly-prized that it is not uncommon for contests to be arranged 

in order that ‘champions’ may emerge from demonstrating their 

talents in competition. These generally take place at important 

feast days throughout the Colca Region and are not only confi ned to 

women as men may be challenged to compete with them as well. 

Likewise, contestants from regions outside of the Colca – such as 

Cusco, Juliaca and Puno – are often invited to participate. 

Whereas the way of life of the alpaca and llama farmers and their 

families has changed very little during the past four hundred years 

since the Spanish Conquest, there is growing evidence that the pace 

of change has been accelerating during the most recent ten years. 

Although the region is somewhat cut-off geographically 

from mainstream Peru, improved roads and land-line telephone 

connections are bringing the modern world to the Colca Valley’s 

doorstep. Naturally, with these developments comes tourism 

where the number of visitors is increasing every year and which 

is an important incentive for the alpaca ladies to maintain their 

traditional costumes and increase the production of their textile 

handcrafts to serve this relatively new and steadily-growing 

market demand. • 

Middle above: Hand-spinners 

(phuscadoras) competing in a 

contest in Chivay. 

Above right: From left to 

right are Deyanira Rodriguez, 

Amparo Lopez and Maria 

Luisa Huarca dressed in 

traditional ‘fi esta’ costumes of 

the Colca Valley. 


Nutrition 

Feeding alpacas to maximise their reproductive potential. Part One. 

Alpacas have evolved on high fi bre diets and green 

pasture mostly contains everything a camelid needs. 

Australian veterinarian Jane Vaughan, an expert 

on ruminant nutrition, talks us through the alpaca’s 

digestive system and the all important microbes 

which provide protein for the alpaca whilst the 

alpaca provides them with fuel. 

Digestion is the process by which 

large insoluble food molecules are 

broken down into smaller soluble 

compounds that are then able to cross 

the gastrointestinal lining and enter blood 

and lymphatic vessels and provide the 

animal with energy, protein, fats, vitamins 

and minerals, which allows them to grow, 

reproduce, and produce wool and milk. 

Camelids mainly eat grasses, legumes and 

shrubs which contain sugars, proteins 

and fats along with variable amounts of 

fi bre (provides plant structure in the form 

of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) that 

cannot be broken down by mammalian 

digestive enzymes. The digestive tract 

in camelids has adapted to facilitate 


plant digestion by setting up a symbiotic 

relationship with billions of microbes in the 

forestomach. 

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 

ALPACAS AND MICROBES 

The microbes in the forestomach are very 

small (microscopic) organisms, and include 

fungi, bacteria and protozoa. All microbes 

contribute to the anaerobic breakdown 

of plant matter in the stomach. Different 

microbes perform different functions. For 

example, fungi are the fi rst organisms to 

colonise plants in the stomach and initiate 

plant breakdown. The smaller bacteria and 

protozoa are then able to attach and continue 

plant breakdown. 

As part of the digestive symbiosis, camelids 

provide the microbes with: 

❍ Suitable site for the microbes to live = 

forestomach. 

❍ Continual supply of substrate: grass and 

water. 

❍ Mechanical breakdown of substrate so 

that it is easier for the microbes to attach 

to food particles. 

❍ Continual mixing of feed. 

❍ Chemical breakdown. 

❍ Continual removal of fermentation 

products to maintain a healthy microbe 

population. 

The provision of such a suitable environment 

for the microbes to live allows the microbes

to colonise and breakdown plant material that 

mammals cannot (such as cellulose and urea) 

and combine them with other nutrients in the 

forestomach to reproduce themselves. In doing so, 

the microbes then provide the camelids with: 

❍ Energy in the form of weak acids, called 

volatile fatty acids (VFA). 

❍ Protein. The microbes themselves are made up 

of about 65 % highly digestible protein. 

❍ Vitamins. As the microbes multiply, they 

produce the many B vitamins. 

❍ Gas. 

Camelid digestive anatomy has evolved to 

nurture those microbes that can breakdown 

plant fi bre, which in turn provide nutrients to the 

camelid. The forestomach of camelids consist of 

three compartments, C1 (makes up 10–15 % of 

BW), C2 and C3. They are not analogous to the 

ruminant forestomach anatomically. The motility 

of the forestomach is critical for continual 

fermentation. 

Coarse feed particles are moved from C1–2 

back up to the mouth for further chewing, in a 

process known as rumination. Rumination makes 

feed particles smaller so the microbes may 

colonise more easily, further addition of saliva 

(lubrication, buffering etc) and further stimulation 

of C1–2 motility. The bolus of re- chewed food 

is then swallowed again. Rumination occurs in a 

sleep-like state for approximately 8 hours a day, 

mostly during daylight hours. Rumination time 

increases with increasing fi bre in the diet. Pain, 

pyrexia, low C1–2 pH, low blood calcium and 

bloat all reduce/inhibit rumination. 

IMPORTANCE OF THE SYMBIOTIC 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAMELIDS AND 

MICROBES 

❍ When you feed an alpaca, you also feed the 

microbes. 

❍ Look after the microbes and the microbes will 

look after the alpaca. 

❍ Different rations favour different microbes so 

change feeds slowly to allow the microbes to 

adjust to the new nutrients. 

DIGESTIVE ADAPTATIONS TO HIGH FIBRE 

DIETS 

Camelid digestion is more effi cient than that of 

ruminants such as sheep and cattle, when fed 

poor quality feed. Camelids consume 20–40 % 

less feed per unit of metabolic body weight than 

sheep and goats when on similar diets. On better 

feed they lose their superiority. Remember that 

although camelids are adapted to poor quality 

feeds (native forages are sparse and low quality 

with high cell walls and low protein), sub-optimal 

nutrition has negative effects on reproductive 

performance (fertility rates decline) and poor cria 

survival (30–50 % cria mortality) and low body 

weight gains in their fi rst year leading to delayed 

onset of puberty so that all contribute to slow 

population growth. 

❍ Greater volume of saliva production in relation 

to foregut volume compared with sheep. 

❍ The pH of C1–2 is closer to neutral, which 

favours cellulolytic microbes and enhances 

fi bre digestion. 

❍ Blood nitrogen (in the form of urea) is extracted 

from the kidneys and used more effi ciently in 

camelids. 

❍ Faster liquid passage time through the gut. 

❍ Longer particulate retention time in C1–2 

allows greater exposure for microbial attack of 

fi bre. 

❍ Camelids are well adapted to arid conditions. 

EATING BEHAVIOUR OF CAMELIDS 

❍ Alpacas in groups are contented, more 

productive and healthier. 

❍ They tend to be active at dawn and dusk. 

❍ They eat for 5–6 hours per day, hot weather 

can reduce grazing time. 

❍ They ruminate for 8–9 hours per day, longer on 

higher fi bre diets. 

❍ They rest for 7–8 hours per day. 

❍ They urinate/defaecate/interact for 3 hours 

per day. 

Avoid competitive feeding situations when 

supplementing your alpacas by allowing adequate 

trough space. Dominant alpacas will eat more than 

the shy feeders if inadequate space is provided. 

ENERGY, PROTEIN, FIBRE AND WATER 

Very little data is available regarding the nutrient 

requirements for alpacas. Information has 

mostly been extrapolated from the many studies 

performed in other foregut-fermenting species 

such as cattle, sheep and goats by bodies such as 

the Standing Committee on Agriculture (Australia), 

the National Research Council (NRC) and the 

Agricultural and Food Research Council (Britain). 

Some information has been sourced from research 

in camels. 

The basic requirements for alpacas are water, 

energy, protein, fi bre, vitamins and minerals. It is 

essential that the requirements of the fi rst four 

essentials (water, energy, protein and fi bre) are 

satisfi ed before assessing vitamin and mineral 

status. 

Much of the information in the following 

sections applies to an adult alpaca that is nonpregnant, 

non-lactating and maintaining body 

weight. Requirements for growth, pregnancy and 

lactation follow. 

WATER 

Water is the most essential nutrient. Alpacas are 

made up of 70% water and require it to regulate 

body temperature, for digestion, metabolism 

and nutrient transfer, to maintain blood osmotic 

pressure and structure in cells, and for waste 

removal. Dry matter intake and free water intake 

are closely related for the maintenance of the 

physiological balance of water and dry matter 

in C1. 

The daily requirement of water is 50–80 mL/kg 

body weight per day (5–8% BW/day). So a 70kg 

alpaca requires 3.5–5.6 litres water per day. The 

amount of water drunk is lower when grazing green 

pasture (20% DM) compared with hay (90% DM). 

More water is required in hot weather (10–15% 

BW/day), during growth, late gestation, lactation 

(1 litre water per litre of milk produced as milk 

is 87% water), high level of activity and when 

on salty water or feed. Remember that water is 

required for normal C1 development and function 

so even young crias require access to water at all 

times (ensure they can reach troughs). 

An abundant, fresh, clean, high quality source 

should be available for the alpacas in your herd at 

all times. Ensure water troughs are maintained in 

good working order and cleaned regularly. Consider 

the source (bore/river/rain), colour, odour, taste, 

temperature, pH, salinity, mineral content and 

microbial content. Would you drink it? 

DRY MATTER INTAKE 

When discussing the nutrient requirements of 

alpacas, all components are described in terms 

of dry matter (DM) content because water does 

not provide any energy, protein or fi bre. Feeds 

are weighed before and after drying in an oven 

and the moisture and dry matter percentages 

are calculated. This allows for consistency when 

comparing nutritive values of different feeds. 

DM% = dry weight of feed/wet weight of feed x 100 

NUTRIENT SPECIFICATIONS 

Nutrient metabolism depends on body weight 

and body surface area and is best described 

as metabolic body size, represented as body 

weight raised to the power 0.75 (BW [in kg] 

0.75). The implication being that smaller animals 

usually have a higher nutrient requirement per 

unit of body weight than larger animals. This is 

important to understand when calculating nutrient 

requirements, but as you will see, there are simple 

rules of thumb that make guestimates easier and 

remove the necessity for complex calculations. 

PROTEIN 

Protein is required by all animals for growth 

(muscle formation), tissue repair, blood formation, 

biological processes, foetal development, 

milk production and wool growth. The protein 

requirements of alpacas can be met by ensuring 

that the microbes in C1–2 are growing well, then 

passing down into C3 for digestion and absorption. 

Crude protein (CP) is calculated in feeds by 

measuring the amount of nitrogen and multiplying 

by 6.25 (as protein is approx. 16% N). The 

dietary protein that is broken down and used 

in the forestomach by the microbes is called 

rumen-degradable protein (RDP). These nitrogencontaining 

compounds include proteins and some 

non-protein nitrogen compounds (such as urea) 

and are highly soluble and easily degradable. The 

dietary protein that is >> Continued on page 35 



Functional 

Complementary 

Feeding for 

Camelids 

Gro-well Feeds suggest that 

camelids benefi t when their natural 

digestive function is complemented 

to maintain foregut microfl ora. 


Camelids are viewed as pseudo 

ruminants or cranial digestors. The 

three, compartmental foregut is the 

‘Fermentation Vat’ of the animal, which houses 

the means of extracting nutrients from forage. It 

is the process of fermentation involving billions 

and billions of bacteria that achieve this. It is 

estimated that one millilitre of ‘fermenter’ fl uid 

can contain 10 to 50 billion bacteria, protozoa, 

yeasts and fungi. Maintaining the status of this 

microbial soup is crucial for the well being of the 

camelid. 

Functional feeding is the incorporation of 

‘nutricines’ i.e.nutritional elements that also 

convey health benefi ts, into feedingstuffs that 

are complimentary to the physiology and natural 

state of the animal being fed. These ‘nutricines’ 

include prebiotics, galactolipids, polar lipids, 

antioxidants, yeast cultures and beta glucans. 

To maintain natural digestive functioning in 

the Camelid is to compliment the status of the 

foregut microfl ora and to provide only positive 

nutrition in terms of encouraging microbial 

digestion through selected feedsources, 

environmental stabilizers and the exclusion of 

antagonists. Prebiotics are energy sources for 

benefi cial bacteria. Yeast cultures, antioxidants 

and polar lipids provide environmental stability, 

regeneration of the gut wall and protection to 

the mucosal lining of the gut. Galactolipids act 

as natural emulsifi ers for both aiding digestion 

and the absorption of the products of digestion. 

Beta glucans act as immune stimulators, feed 

for bacteria and a vehicle to carry alien bodies 

like mycotoxins and viruses harmlessly out of 

the body. 

The normal foregut of the camelid is 

adapted to ‘Trickle feeding’ whereby forage 

is ingested on a little and often basis with 

the production of large quantities of saliva 

caused by constant chewing. The saliva is 

necessary to help maintain pH in the foregut 

while a steady input of feed coordinates with 

the contractual movements of digestion. The 

feeding of heavily molassed, starchy feeds 

is a treble negative because it causes rapid 

intake of feed, low production of saliva and the 

introduction of starch, which will be converted 

to copious quantities of lactic acid. A drop 

in pH in the foregut can severely inhibit the 

benefi cial bacteria population, which could 

reduce digestive capacity and the production of 

microbial protein that is available for digestion 

in the small intestine. A more acid environment 

can also predispose digestive ailments like 

ulcers. 

The key to nutritional sense when feeding 

Alpacas and Llamas – look at the animal, 

understand its physiology and compliment its 

natural state.

40% NDF, or 25% CF, of 

which 25% is long-stemmed (> 4 cm long) to 


Special Feature Nutrition 

provide adequate ‘scratch factor’. 75% of NDF 

should come from forage (pasture, hay) rather than 

concentrates (grains, pellets). 

Animals can only physically eat 1% of their 

body weight as forage NDF as digestibility 

decreases as fi bre content increases. e.g. 70kg 

alpaca eating hay with NDF of 50% will only be 

able physically to consume 1.4 kg of the hay. Any 

further nutrition (eg if lactating) can be given by 

concentrates. 

Dry matter intake increases with feed quality 

(digestibility) because feed is easier to digest: 

There is more protein so microbes can grow. 

There is lower feed retention time so alpaca can fi t 

more in C1–2. 

ENOUGH FIBRE IN RATION? 

Observe your alpacas to see if there is enough fi bre 

in the diet: 

❍ > 50% of recumbent alpacas should be 

chewing their cud 

❍ body condition score - adequate fi bre in the 

diet is required for fat deposition 

❍ faecal consistency – % fi bre vs % DM in diet. 

A rough estimate of plant fi bre content may be 

gained by manually testing the breaking strength 

of plant matter – more mature plants contain more 

fi bre (thicker cell walls, more lignin) and are more 

diffi cult to break and less digestible. 


Crude fi bre contents of commonly 

available feeds 

Neutral Crude Fibre 

Detergent 

Fibre (%DM) 

(%DM) 

Spring pasture 38 23 

Dry pasture feed 70–80 40–60 

Clovery pasture hay 42 28 

Grassy pasture hay 49 28 

Good cereal hay 56 32 

Late cut cereal hay 65 40 

Straws 80 50–70 

Lucerne hay 49 24 

Leafy Pasture Silage 45 29 

Mature Pasture Silage 58 35 

Oats 26–35 12 

Wheat, barley, corn 12–20 2–5 

Lupins 24 15 

PASTURE PROVIDES ENERGY, PROTEIN AND 

FIBRE 

Pasture mostly contains the nutrient requirements 

of camelids: 

❍ Protein 

❍ Energy = non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) = 

sugars 

❍ Fibre = structural carbohydrates = 

hemicellulose, cellulose 

❍ Fats 

❍ Vitamins and minerals 

Part Two of Jane Vaughan’s 

Nutrition article follows in the 

Spring issue of Alpaca World 

magazine. 

ALPACA SHEARING 

Telephone Colin for a friendly and 

professional local service with 

competitive rates. 

01884 38782 or 

07773 440354 

Email: tango@aligoff.eurobell.co.uk 

Recommended by Ian and Rachel 

Waldron of Langaton Alpacas

THE FEED 

FOR SHOW 

CHAMPIONS 

Bob Rawlins of Wellground Alpacas 

recently told Carrs Billington, 

‘Wellground Farleigh won Supreme 

Champion at the Royal Bath and 

West Show in 2004, fed exclusively 

on Camelid Care Coarse Mix. We 

use, stock and recommend Carrs 

Billington Camelid Care Coarse mix 

for all alpacas – including Supreme 

Champions!’ 

CARRS BILLINGTON 

AGRICULTURE LTD 

CAMELID CARE COARSE MIX 

Outstanding amongst our competitors, Carrs Camelid 

Care Coarse Mix has been specifi cally designed to fi ll 

the gap between Alpaca’s and Llama’s nutritional 

requirements and the known 

defi ciencies in U.K. forages. 

Our customers report 

reduced incidence of skin 

lesions, improved conception 

rates and generally good 

overall herd health. 

For more information on this and other Camelid Care 

products, or details of your local supplier, 

contact Ian Powley on 01900 824105. 

It is always pleasing to receive a compliment! 

To do so from satisfi ed customers is particularly 

valued. Sandy Percy and Adrian Armstrong of 

Thistledown Alpacas wrote to Carrs Billington 

saying: ‘We believe the quality of our males is 

down to the fact we feed them Camelid Care 

Coarse Mix. Our two males are now Show 

Champions. Our Rose Grey boy won over all the 

fawns and whites to become a champion, which is 

the fi rst time this has happened in the UK.’ 

Camelid Care Coarse Mix has been specifi cally 

formulated to meet the needs of growing and adult 

camelids fed forage rich diets. But because there 

are no nutrient tables for alpacas, most feeding 

guidelines come from hard earned experience of a 

few enthusiastic breeders. It was for this reason 

that Carrs Billington held discussions with key 

local breeders such as Anne Young (Alpacas of 

The Lakes) to develop the formulation and conduct 

feeding trials. 

Camelids are known to have a more effi cient 

digestive system than cattle or sheep, due to the 

longer retention time of digesta in the forestomach. 

Camelid digestive anatomy has evolved particularly 

well to nurture the microbes that can breakdown 

plant fi bre, which in turn provides nutrients to the 

host animal. 

Practical experience from breeders such as 

Anne, tells us that good quality forages, either 

as grazed grass or conserved winter forage, 

can provide the bulk of the nutrients needed by 

camelids on a daily basis. But additional minerals, 

trace elements and vitamins will be needed to 

optimise health and performance. How do we know? 


Each year Carrs undertake detailed mineral and 

trace element profi les on several hundred forage 

samples, including grass, hay, grass silages and 

wholecrop cereals. The results have shown some 

remarkable consistencies. 

Over 90% of forages are defi cient in the 

essential trace elements, zinc, iodine, copper, 

cobalt and selenium. So what? Many trace 

elements (and some major minerals) act as 

enzyme activators, catalysing key reactions, 

which allow feed to be digested (either by the 

forestomach microbes or the camelid itself). 

But when the trace elements are defi cient, they 

can’t catalyse any reactions because they are not 

there to do it. So animal performance and health 

suffers. 

Anne’s enthusiastic support and experience 

in the development of Camelid Care Coarse Mix, 

with its high mineral, vitamin and trace element 

content, has allowed Anne to see ‘Overall improved 

health in the herd… with improved conception and 

increased performance of stud males.’ Sandy and 

Adrian now echo this experience! 

Bob Rawlins of Wellground Alpacas recently 

told us: ‘Wellground Farleigh won Supreme 

Champion at the Royal Bath and West Show in 

2004, fed exclusively on Camelid Care Coarse Mix. 

We use, stock and recommend Carrs Billington 

Camelid Care Coarse mix for all alpacas – including 

Supreme Champions!’ 

It is very rewarding when expertise from 

different sides of the agricultural fence can work 

together to develop products for the benefi t of 

others in the industry! 

LIST OF SUPPLIERS 

Breeder Contact Name Location Telephone 

Alpaca Breeding & Stud Farm David Wiltshire Wiltshire 01454 315290 

Alpacas of Norfolk Sheila Curl Norfolk 01263 861541 

Ashcroft Alpacas Ben Harford Gloucestershire 01453 860227 

Black Mountain Alpacas Sheila Cowling Powys 01874 638102 

Blenheim Alpacas Mike Coghlan Oxon 01491 641212 

Bryn Dulas Alpacas Mrs Rae Conwy North Wales 01492 517501 

Glascoed Alpacas Miss Sainsbury Monmouthshire 01495 785243 

Great House Alpacas Mrs Wills Oxon 01844 279805 

LandskerLlamas Liz Ford Dyfed 01994 240906 

Lowroy Alpacas Norma Miller Lancashire 01616 246798 

Marshwood Vale Alpacas Geoff Bugler Dorset 01297 678181 

Mile End Alpacas Chas Brooke Devon 01884 243514 

Spring Farm Partnership Vicky Agar East Sussex 01825 790885 

Wellground Alpacas Bob Rawlings Wiltshire 01380 830431 

Also available from all our Branches, for details please visit or website at 

www.carrs-billington.com 


STAY 

WELL 

Guidelines for medical 

success in camelid herds from 

Christopher Cebra VMD, MA, 

MS, DACVIM-LA. Chris is Associate 

Professor, Large Animal Internal 

Medicine at Oregon State 

University College of Veterinary 

Medicine 


Veterinarians commonly attend to camelids 

for the fi rst time when the camelids are 

in the end stages of a disease process. 

Predictably, treatment is often unsuccessful and 

both the owner and the veterinarian become 

frustrated. The lack of success has lead to a variety 

of negative mantras, like ‘all sick camelids die’ 

or ‘a down camelid is a dead camelid.’ Though 

I cannot deny the inevitability of death with 

many advanced diseases, treatment success and 

satisfaction of the people involved can be markedly 

improved by following a few simple guidelines. 

ASSESS YOUR ANIMALS OFTEN, 

SUBJECTIVELY AND OBJECTIVELY 

Regular, systematic assessment results in earlier 

identifi cation of abnormalities, and thereby the 

possibility for earlier medical intervention. This in 

turn leads to greater patient survival. 

Subjective assessments include how bright the 

animal appears, whether it is maintaining itself 

with the herd and in its normal spot in the social 

hierarchy, and whether it spends adequate time 

at the feed bunk, dung pile, or chewing its cud. 

Every camelid is unique in how it acts in these 

respects, thus knowing individual behaviour 

is helpful. In general, I recommend seeing 

each camelid eat and/or chew its cud 

at least twice a day (once in the 

morning and once in the evening). 

Elimination behaviour (urination and defecation) is 

less fun to watch, and usually only noteworthy if 

the camelid is under surveillance for other concerns 

or if it spends too much time trying to complete the 

process. 

The most common objective assessments are 

body weights and body condition scoring. These 

are important because camelids’ fi bre coat can 

conceal many changes in body condition. Alpacas 

are especially vulnerable to misassessment. A 

general rule of thumb is that a 5% reduction of 

body weight (about half a condition score) means 

the animal should be observed closely for the next 

interval, with special attention to feed intake, 

attitude, and general physical activity. A 10% 

reduction warrants veterinary attention, and a 20% 

reduction (a drop of 2 condition scores) warrants 

immediate action. Fleece weight and weight 

changes associated with pregnancy or parturition 

must be considered when assessing body weight. 

Weights are also an important consideration 

when calculating necessary food and dosages of 

medications. Estimation can be dangerous in these 

regards. 

The saying ‘the dullest pencil is better than the 

sharpest memory’ comes into play here: record 

your fi ndings (more often on computers than paper 

nowadays), do not expect to remember them. 

Assume that abnormal animals are sicker than 

they appear. 

Camelids have a reputation for being stoic. This 

is partially true. Like most prey species, they try 

to hide injuries and illnesses. However, we have 

many tools available to us that are not available to 

most predators, such as scales, blood analysers, 

ultrasound machines, the internet, and opposable 

thumbs. We can use these advantages as well 

as careful monitoring to identify camelids in the 

earlier stages of illnesses and injury. 

Refusal to eat and inability to stand are 

common reasons for seeking veterinary attention 

Regular, systematic 

assessment results in 

earlier identifi cation of 

abnormalities, and thereby 

the possibility for earlier 

medical intervention. This in 

turn leads to greater patient 

survival. 

in camelids. These are common endpoints from a 

variety of disorders, many of which presumably 

had some earlier manifestation, and also bear 

with them their own complications: weakness, 

debilitation, and mobilisation of fat reserves 

with feed refusal and pressure sores and muscle 

damage with recumbency. 

Contributors to why camelids are fi rst seen 

at these endpoints include stoicism and lack 

of monitoring, but they also include people not 

responding to the earlier manifestations, such as 

an abnormal gait or diffi culty rising (preludes to full 

recumbency) or a loss of weight or partial decrease 

in appetite (prior to complete feed refusal). 

We need to see and react to these earlier 

signs. In some ways, we even need to over-react 

compared to what we do in other species. In 

addition to showing subtle signs, we need to 

acknowledge that camelids seldom have illnesses 

that respond well to simple, short-term medication 

(like pain medications to a colic horse or a single 

dose of a long acting antibiotic in a coughing 

cow) – camelids take care of those minor issues 

themselves without any demonstrable signs. 

LEARN TO RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF 

ABNORMALITY 

Knowing signs is very important, both for the 

owner and the veterinarian. Various specifi c signs 

include the postures of abdominal pain (legs kicked 

out to the side, animal laying on its side, rolling), 

signs of fl uid or feed accumulation in the abdomen 

(distended abdominal contour), signs of irritation or 

blockage of the aesophagus (vomiting, salivation, 

gurgling, retching), signs of straining to urinate or

defecate. The list is long, the message is short: 

know what is normal and what is not. 

Learn to hit the jugular vein quickly and 

atraumatically. 

This is more for veterinarians than owners, but 

still an important point. Complications associated 

with drawing blood from the jugular vein are 

relatively uncommon in most large animal species, 

and can range from minor hematomas to more 

serious deep infections. In contrast, complications 

in camelids are common and can be fatal. These 

complications can be completely avoided through 

practice and skill. 

DO BLOOD WORK 

This relates to animals’ being sicker than they 

appear (stoicism) and also to the fact that many 

of the illnesses we see are of an internal nature 

and poorly refl ected by clinical signs. We are 

often surprised by blood work: some camelids 

have severe, unforeseen abnormalities (such as 

evidence of infections, kidney failure, or acid-base 

disturbances) that warrant aggressive, specifi c 

treatment. Others have no abnormalities in spite 

of severe clinical signs. In some cases of the latter, 

the lack of abnormalities are because we are 

running the wrong tests. 

TREAT WITH FLUIDS, THE RIGHT FLUIDS, AND 

NOT EXCESSIVE FLUIDS 

Although camelids showing illness often are 

suffering some degree of dehydration, experience 

has showed us that we frequently administer 

either too little or too much fl uids. Too little is 

the result of not recognizing the severity of the 

illness or not running blood work. Too much comes 

from our conventions and formulae from other 

species. Camelids often tolerate high volumes of 

fl uid poorly, because they frequently also have 

insuffi cient blood protein when they are sick. 

PLASMA IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SICK 

CAMELID TREATMENT 

This point is defi nitely for the veterinarians. Plasma 

is necessary for advanced medical treatment of 

camelids. Neonates with failure of passive transfer 

will benefi t from the immunoglobulin in plasma 

and adult camelids, approximately 50% of which 

at our clinic have some degree of hypoproteinemia, 

will benefi t from all the proteins. Protein/plasma 

administration is especially important if you follow 

the next point. 

DO NOT SURPASS THE ANIMAL’S STRESS 

THRESHOLD 

Overhydration and stressing camelids to death 

are probably the two leading causes of death 

of camelids in veterinary hands, superseding 

even euthanasia. Stress may also come from 

interactions with other animals, particularly 

dominant camelids or predators. The results can 

be worsening of their previous condition and even 

death. 

Signs of stress include struggling, openmouth, 

laboured breathing, rapid oscillations of 

the eyes, and the head bending over the back. 

Although instinct often tells us to do more in these 

situations, the correct response is often to do less, 

to back off and let the camelid recover its facilities. 

Once the camelid has recovered, procedures may 

be done in a measured fashion. 

USE ADEQUATE RESTRAINT, PHYSICAL OR 

PHARMACEUTICAL 

Adequate restraint of the camelid during 

procedures is safer for the camelid and all humans 

involved. Rapid movement or struggling can lead 

to a variety of injuries, some of which are life 

threatening. Ropes, chutes, manual restraint 

and sedatives all can aid in examination and 

procedures. 

LEARN WHAT IS COMMON AND WHAT IS NOT 

Unlike twenty years ago, there is now a lot of 

reference material available concerning camelids, 

some in the lay literature, some in the scientifi c 

literature, and some in other places, such as the 

minds of colleagues or their web sites. Some of 

this information is even accurate. 

There is a saying in medicine: ‘common things 

occur commonly.’ Pretty straight forward and about 

as true as anything I have ever heard, however, it 

has only been with the compiling of our years of 

experience that we have truly been able to judge 

what is common and what is not in camelids. 

Geography and other factors certainly affect these 

lists too. The more we know and the more we 

exchange ideas, the better prepared we are to 

prevent and confront adversity. 


What exactly are we showing 

when our alpacas parade 

around a ring? Obviously we 

are showing the animals to the judge 

to learn about the conformation and 

fl eece so that we may improve our 

breeding programmes. We are actually 

showing a lot more than that! We are 

also showing the uninitiated how much 

fun it is to work with an alpaca, how 

interesting the process of breeding 

fl eece animals is and how in the midst 

of a competition we are good sports. 

In short, we are also showing future 

alpaca owners our animals and our 

industry. Depending on how it is done 

we could be showing off our huggable 

investment or a right rodeo. 

Much time and effort is expended 

getting the general public to our shows. 

You have to wonder what John Q 

must be thinking when alpacas are 

upended and tackled for nothing more 

complicated than a look at their fl eece. 

It is clearly in the long-term interest of 

the alpaca industry for the animals to 

be shown to the judge and to the public 

to their best advantage. We want the 


Don’t let the fear of unruly alpaca behaviour put 

you off from entering some shows this season. In 

the fi rst of two instalments Marty McGee talks 

us through the fundamentals of getting the best 

out of man and beast that even some of the most 

experienced handlers can sometimes overlook. 

public to see beautiful animals that 

behave beautifully. In my opinion there 

is more to successful showing than 

good preparation at home. Showing an 

alpaca off requires the cooperation of 

not only the animal but the entire show 

team including judges, ring stewards, 

show organisers and exhibitors. 

Animals that are normally very 

tractable can be made to behave badly 

by well intentioned but uninformed ring 

stewards and a lack of coordination 

between handler, steward and judge. 

Animals, like people, only have so much 

tolerance – using it all up before the 

show starts is a recipe for bad alpaca 

and human behaviour. 

When it comes to the issue of shows 

I am in a unique position – I don’t own 

alpacas or show them but I do spend 

my professional life helping people, 

many of whom are new to the camelid 

industry, learn to handle their animals. 

I don’t want to win, I want everyone, 

two and four-legged, to win. When it 

comes to the show ring I am behind 

the scenes, I hear the enthusiasm and 

excitement; I also hear the frustration, 

disappointment and disillusionment. 

Showing is a choice. Enter the ring 

and you have made an agreement to 

abide by both the ring procedures and 

the decision of that particular judge. 

When you choose to take your alpaca 

to a show it will necessarily involve 

some boredom, annoyance and some 

new sights and sounds – nothing 

unreasonable. There is no point in 

making it more diffi cult that it needs 

to be. I have seen alpacas that are 

miserable at a show and ensure that 

their owners are too. 

It is my observation that with very 

little effort we could make the process 

of getting ready to show and the act of 

showing much easier for all concerned. 

I offer this article as food for thought 

for judges, ring stewards organisers 

and exhibitors. 

This article is organised into two parts. 

Part One; suggestions for handlers, ring 

stewards, judges and organisers. Part 

Two; getting your alpaca ready to show, 

problem solving, retraining animals who 

have become impossible to show. 

There are certain general principals 

of animal handling that determine 

the likely behaviour of an alpaca in 

any given circumstance, I call these 

principals the Laws of Camelidynamics. 

I have organised this article using these 

laws and how knowledge of them can 

be used to help with the specifi c issues 

faced in showing.

LAW OF CAMELIDYNAMICS: 

When an alpaca is afraid it wants 

to run away. When prevented 

from running it will fi ght. 

Alpacas can think but they are largely 

creatures of instinct, particularly 

when they fi nd themselves in new 

and strange situations – like a show. 

Instinctive responses to danger are the 

fl ight, fi ght and freeze responses. The 

alpaca’s fi rst response to danger is the 

fl ight response and is the most heavily 

relied upon. When confronted with 

something frightening an alpaca wants 

to run away from it. Prevent the alpaca 

from running away and he will have 

no choice but to fi ght. Techniques that 

help to make your alpaca feel safe with 

you and safe in his environment will 

reduce if not eliminate unpredictable 

instinctive behaviours. 


Containment works better than 

restraint for controlling the fl ight 

response. 

❍ Containment: Limiting the space in 

which the animal can move. 

❍ Restraint: Physically holding or 

tying an animal with the aim of 

preventing movement. 

Instinctive responses are muted 

when animals are worked in a 

container. The smaller the container 

the more muted the response. Nine 

by nine or ten by ten foot spaces work 

fabulously for most show chores and 

are always handy since they are the 

same kind of panels used to house 

the animals at the show. Allowing 

movement inside a small container 

offers the alpaca the opportunity 

to realise that the situation is not 

dangerous and begin to relax. 

When alpacas are restrained they are 

left with the fi ght or freeze response 

to danger or some unpredictable 

combination of both. When we know 

that many animals are going to be at 

least a bit frightened and unsure of 

themselves for both the vet check and 

the colour check and we can plan in 

advance to provide a container. The 

animals will be more cooperative about 

both of these pre-show chores inside 

a pen and the time spent opening a 

gate and walking an animal into the 

catch pen will be more than made up 

for with more cooperative animals. 

It is always a smart idea to minimise 

opportunities for negative behaviour. 

If your alpaca can practice standing 

quietly in a catch pen for both the vet 

check and the colour check, he has just 

had two opportunities to learn how to 

stand when handled. This practice will 

defi nitely help in the show ring when 

you don’t have the luxury of a catch 

pen. 

In the show ring judges have 

different ways of checking the fl eece 

(more on this later) if the colour checker 

mimics the method of fl eece checking 

that the judge will use, the process 

can serve as a bit of a dress rehearsal 

for the fl eece check in the show ring. 

Colour checking is informal and doesn’t 

happen with an audience; perhaps 

exhibitors with diffi cult animals could 

be encouraged to bring a bit of grain 

with them to help the alpaca remain 

calm. In any case setting up both the 

colour check and vet check so that 

it is easy for the animal lays a good 

foundation for the show ring. 


Animal feel safer and are less 

likely to fi ght when they are 

allowed to have some distance 

from humans and when they are 

standing in balance. 

My personal preference for checking 

fl eece is to stand on the left side of 

the animal and reach over the back 

checking the fl eece on the animal’s 

right side. When the alpacas moves it 

will be to move away from the contact 

with my hands and move into my body. 

In this way I can keep the animal in 

balance between my hands and my 

body. If the animal kicks it will likely 

be on the side that I am checking – the 

side away from my body; that is always 

a good thing! Checking fl eece on the 

same side of the animal you stand on 

does not give you the opportunity to 

control movement between your hands 

and your body. The animal moves away 

from the contact with your hands and 

also moves away from you. This means 

using some sort of restraint unless of 

course you are in a catch pen. Colour 

checkers who prefer to check fl eece on 

the same side they stand on can use 

a side of the catch pen as the other 

boundary. Simply line the alpaca up 

parallel to one of the four panels (the 

handler behaves as described below 

regardless of which method the checker 

employs.) 

The following is the procedure for 

checking fl eece inside a catch pen with 

one handler and the colour checker 

standing on the left checking on the 

right. (Later in this article I will offer 

tips for fl eece checking in the show 

ring without a catch pen.) The handler 

stands the animal in a corner with 

the body parallel to a panel (see title 

photo). The handler stands on the 

animal’s left slightly ahead of the eye 

about a foot and a half away from the 

alpaca, with the right hand on the lead 

rope very close to the halter and the 

fi ngers of the left hand resting lightly 

on the neck (see photo below). The 

colour checker stands on the left and 

leans over the body to check fl eece on 

the animal’s right side (see photo) The 

colour checker is safer and can control 

the movement of the body more easily 

when standing close to the alpaca. 

It is much better to part the fl eece 

with a very defi nite motion using the 

sides of the hands or by pushing the 

fi ngertips into the fl eece and opening 

the fi ngers (see photos below). Gently 

sorting through the fi bre tickles and will 

usually provoke a negative reaction. The 

handler uses the lead rope to attempt 

to keep the animal’s weight evenly 

distributed over both front feet. The 

handler does not use the lead rope to 

hold the animal back or hold him still. 

With the handler’s hands positioned 

as described above he can move the 

balance to the animal’s right or left and 

can also feel the alpaca’s intention to 

move with the fi ngers of your left hand 

on the neck. Should the animal begin to 

fuss and indicate a desire to move the 

handler allows the animal to move up to 

the next corner and the checker follows. 

Balancing an animal involves using 

intermittent signals on the lead to shift 

the weight in the desired direction 

followed by a release when the animal 

comes into balance. When I use the 

word release I do not mean letting 

go of the lead rope or loosening your 

connection with the animal – only 

releasing pressure on the head. Steady 

pressure on the lead rope will push 

the panic button and cause the alpaca 

to begin to fi ght. With a few minor 

changes your job as the handler will be 

the same in the show ring. 

The trick to fl eece checking in the 

show ring without a catch pen is to 

build one with people. Alpacas primarily 

think of escape as a forward event. 

They go where they can see. Since you 

have a lead rope on the alpaca and the 

ability to steer, you can contain your 

alpaca quite handily with three people, 

the judge the ring steward and the 

handler. 

Let’s assume that the judge wants 

to check fl eece in the way I described 

earlier – that is, on the right by standing 

on the left and reaching over the back.* 

In this case the judge is going to provide 

the left side of the catch pen. The ring 


Health and Welfare Showing Off 

steward knows that the movement will 

likely be away from the judge’s body 

so he assumes a position on the right 

side of the animal. The handler forms 

the third side by standing directly in 

front of the alpaca about a foot away 

from the nose – right hand on the lead 

close to the halter fi ngers of the left 

hand lightly on the neck (see photo 

below) The handler focuses on the feet 

and works to keep the animal’s weight 

evenly distributed over both front feet. 

Remembering to release when the 

animal is in balance. Balancing can 

always be ‘Plan A’. If it is obvious that 

the animal needs more support the 

handler and ring steward are both in 

a position to move to ‘Plan B’ and add 

more restraint but remember… 


Alpacas get better at what they 

practice. Fight with your alpaca 

and he will get better at escape 

and evasion! 

Alpacas generally fi ght restraint to 

one degree or another. Try to hold an 

animal still and his fi rst response is to 

fi ght that restraint. There are generally 

two kinds of alpacas; the kind that 

give in easily to restraint and the kind 

that don’t. The kind of alpaca that 

gives in easily really doesn’t need to 

be restrained and will quite happily 

stand in balance when he learns that 

he can. The kind of alpaca that won’t 

give in just gets worse and becomes 

more and more determined to fi ght 

his way out of what he sees as a 

dangerous situation. I have seen big 

strong athletic people end up on their 

keister in the ring when they tried to 

fi ght one of these alpacas. Not only 

does this look unprofessional but it 


can also result in injury to animal, 

handler or both and renders the animal 

unshowable by all but the strongest 

of handlers. The good news is that a 

majority of the animals that fi ght the 

hardest when restrained, respond 

the most positively when given an 

opportunity to stand without restraint. 

The trick is that most people do not 

know how to fully release pressure on 

a lead and put an animal in balance. † 

Most handlers feel more secure with 

pressure on the lead and that pressure 

is what pushes the panic button and 

actually causes the problem. 

I want to leave you with just a 

couple of examples of how the 

principals of balance and containment 

can help problem solve for ring 

stewards and handlers. 

Scenario 1: An exhibitor is having 

trouble showing the animal’s bite. The 

animal rears and twists away from the 

handler before he can show the bite. 

In my experience the handler is 

likely taking the animal out of balance 

by pulling the animal into his body 

thereby causing the animal to carry all 

the weight on the left front leg. This 

pushes the fi ght button. This problem 

happens to lots of people but is really 

common with shorter handlers. 

Solving the problem. The handler 

concentrates on lifting the elbow of 

the right arm so that it is higher on 

the neck as he shows the bite. With 

the arm up high the handler has more 

leverage and control over the head. 

The handler also concentrates on 

putting more weight on the animal’s 

right leg. The ring steward can also 

help out by moving up next to the 

right side of the alpaca near the front 

of the animal. This builds the catch 

pen-handler on the left, ring steward 

on the right and judge in front looking 

at the bite (see photo right). 

Scenario 2: the alpaca swings his 

body away as the judge approaches 

on the left to fl eece check. 

In my experience this is often 

caused by the handler applying steady 

pressure on the lead rope. An alpaca 

pivots around his front legs where 

most of his weight is naturally borne. 

Holding steadily on the lead while 

standing on the animal’s left the 

natural tendency is for the alpaca’s 

butt to swing in the opposite direction. 

Solving the problem: As the judge 

approaches the animal from the left 

the handler uses his lead rope to 

move the animals weight to the right 

front leg and moves to the front of 

the animal. This will help prevent the 

alpaca from swinging his butt to the 

right and closes the ‘front door’, the 

ring steward moves to the animal’s 

right side to form the third side of the 

catch pen as the judge walks up on 

the left. 

Notice in both of these examples 

the ring steward can help immensely 

without touching the animal. Many 

people object to the ring steward 

grabbing their animal. The job of ring 

steward is a tough one. The judge 

expects the ring steward to help him 

inspect the fl eece the exhibitor quite 

often wants and needs help. A ring 

steward that learns where to stand 

without reaching for restraint fi rst off, 

can do a good job of helping both the 

judge and the exhibitor – a win-win! 

What more could you want at a show! 

* You can just as easily use these 

techniques standing on the right side 

of the animal checking the fl eece 

on the left just remember the ring 

steward will always stand on the side 

opposite the judge. 

† Learning to balance an animal is a 

handling skill that requires practice. 

I have written many articles about 

the concept of balance and my book 

“The Camelid Companion” has 

entire sections devoted to the topic. 

Reading this material and practising 

the exercises will help you learn the 

technique. 

Part Two of Marty 

McGee’s Showing Off! 

follows in the Spring 

issue of Alpaca World 

Magazine


THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW 

YOUR 

ATV 

COULD DO 

Howard Dobson shows you how to make your 

ATV multi-task by hitching-up to some of the many 

attachments now available 


Getting from A to B on the 

farm is so much easier with a 

quad bike, and with a trailer 

or rack, feeding livestock is a piece 

of cake, too. You know this already 

of course but what you may not 

realise is how much spare capacity 

your ATV has; it probably ranks 

alongside your computer as one of 

your most under-utilised assets. 

You can get more for your 

money by augmenting your ATV 

with sensibly chosen attachments 

and accessories – and once it is 

pulling its weight more it is a much 

healthier investment, especially on 

a smaller farm. 

Thought by many to be the king 

of the ATV due to its role in their 

development, Honda makes some 

marques’ list of attachments look 

like a starter-kit, but it is certainly 

not the only company of repute out 

there worth investigating, as quality 

products are manufactured by 

Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, 

Bombardier, Jordan, Motortek, 

and Massey Ferguson; that’s not 

including companies that specialise 

in attachments and accessories, 

such as Logic, Cycle Country, 

Port Agric, C-DAX, European Golf 

Machinery and Waste Warrior. 

Amassing brochures from 

manufacturers without further 

analysis of what your ATV can do 

could confuse and would be unwise, 

not to mention time-consuming, so 

fi rst sit back for a couple of minutes 

and analyse our top ten uses for an 

ATV on your farm. 

Obvious though it may seem, a 

road legal kit upgrades your quad 

bike with lights and other essentials 

so it can be driven on public roads. 

This means you can travel between 

areas of land separated by stretches 

of road on your ATV rather than 

having to take the car or 4WD, and 

you could even drop over to the 

nearest village on it if you wanted 

to. For convenience, why not also fi t 

a windshield and rack extension. 

At number two in our chart, a 

mobile livestock feeder can bring 

a miscellany of practical and timesaving 

advantages – and the one 

shown alongside is the SNACKA 

from Port Agric. Mechanically driven 

by a land wheel, a rotating drum 

dumps measured feed at regular 

intervals so there is suffi cient room 

between heaps for alpacas to feed 

head to head without soiling the 

next heap; this promotes better 

feeding without pushing and barging 

and allows shy feeders to come up 

to get feed, which can be spread 

over a greater area, and of course 

the feed area can be moved to a 

fresh spot each day. 

And if you thought that was 

clever, wait until you see your ATV 

working as a paddock-cleaner; by 

attaching a Waste Warrior Crusader 

II for example, featuring pneumatic 

tipping and a centrifugal clutch 

drive, you can clear a paddock 

quickly and easily even when the 

muck is very heavy because of rainy 

weather. 

Cleaning up is carried through 

to the fourth item on our list, as 

your ATV can also become a power 

broom by attaching, for instance, 

a Kawasaki KVF750 broom kit – a 

double brush set which can be fi tted 

within a few second by means of an 

adaptor and which can be operated 

from the driver’s seat and adjusted 

laterally. 

Anyone living in a remote part 

of the UK will know all too well 

how their localised weather map 

can promise snow for weeks at a 

time – in which case the sweeper 

you need is a snow plough, such as 

the Logic product featured in the 

screengrab, ideal for farmyards, 

roads, car parks, footpaths and soft 

surfaces. 

These days of course a lot of 

farmers combine breeding livestock 

with diversifi cation projects and 

other business enterprises, in 

which case health and safety 

considerations are a priority. As 

the cruel winds of winter blow, a 

Logic GDS200 Ground Drive Multi- 

Spreader is the ideal attachment 

for spreading salt on footpaths, 

business parks, farm shop car parks, 

drives, etc – although as with a 

number of attachments it may not 

be suitable for use with all ATVs. 

Still on the theme of 

diversifi cation, your ATV could 

become a hire vehicle for visitors 

wishing to see more of the local 

beauty spots by land, whether 

they’re staying on your farm or not; 

in which case the only attachments 

you may need are a carrier, perhaps 

from Wydale ATV, safety gear and 

an ATV cover, although it would 

obviously be necessary to obtain 

the appropriate insurance for such 

a venture.

One point worth mentioning 

is that if you have a need to tow 

something that’s not too heavy, 

such as a dinghy trailer or sprayer, 

a universal tow ball would be a 

sound investment and can be fi tted 

quickly and easily by your nearest 

dealership. 

Another extremely useful 

one-size-fi ts-all attachment for 

contractors, fencers, drystonewallers, 

indeed most people 

working outdoors, is a fl oodlight, 

and if it plugs into your quad bike 

you don’t have to worry about where 

it stands. 

One last use for your ATV in 

our top ten is not agriculture or 

even diversifi cation-related as 

such but it may be of interest, as 

by approaching companies like 

European Golf Machinery you could 

give your ATV the ‘drive’ it needs 

for use on golf ranges or practice 

grounds; a petrol Kawasaki Mule 

3000 two-wheel drive model would 

be ideal for doubling up as a golf car. 

All of these ideas sound tempting 

and labour-saving – but aren’t 

some attachments too pricey to 

bring about a net saving you ask, 

especially if you’re only going to 

use them once in a while? That’s 

a relevant point, which is why it 

can be worth investigating the 

second-hand market-place or even 

hiring from an ATV dealership or 

machinery ring. 

And don’t forget you can pick up 

more than you think for less than 

you think from the Internet auction 

site Ebay; in fact a quick search in 

early December found a Logic snow 

plough attachment bearing a price 

of £145. 

This rundown has listed ten of 

the many options for ATV upgrades; 

other product genres are available, 

and now you have an idea of the 

potential, go ahead and request 

further information, or take a look at 

our list of recommended websites. 

Below Versatile rack systems for safe carriage of tools and materials. Bottom The SNACKA 

BOMBARDIER ATV 

www.bombardier-atv.com 

C-DAX 

www.c-dax.com 

CYCLE COUNTRY 

www.cyclecountry.com 

EUROPEAN GOLF MACHINERY 

www.golfmachinery.com 

HONDA ATV 

www.honda.co.uk/atv 

JORDAN ATV 

www.jordan-motors.com 

KAWASAKI ATV 

www.kawasaki.co.uk 

LOGIC 

www.logic.gb.com 

MASSEY FERGUSSON 

www.masseyferguson.co.uk 

MOTORTEK ATV 

www.reinmech.com 

POLARIS ATV 

www.polarisindustries.com 

PORT AGRIC 

www.portagric.co.uk 

SUZUKI ATV 

www.quadrunner.co.uk 

WASTE WARRIOR 

www.waste-warrior.co.uk 

WYDALE ATV 

http://wadsworthquads.co.uk/Attach/wydale.htm 

YAMAHA ATV 

www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/atv/index.jsp 

EBAY 

www.ebay.co.uk 

WEBSITES 


CURVATURE 

Is it Crimp or 

Something Else? 

Eric Hoffman feels that his comments 

regarding crimp have been misrepresented and 

takes this opportunity to clarify his position and 

to examine, once again, some of the facts that 

underlay the debate. 

FIGURE 10:22 UNPROCESSED SPECIALTY FIBER CHART 

Fiber Fineness Fiber Length Price Tag Source 

Fine wool 21µ 58mm $6 Roberto Fuchs 

Alpaca 20–28µ 4cm $12–$28 Wool Record, Prosur IAA 

Cape mohair 25um (kid) Annual length $24–$28 Wool Record 

Chinese cashmere 13–15µ 32mm $74–$84 Wool Record 

Guanaco 14–18µ 35mm $2009 (not Dhd) European processors 

$400 Dhd 

Vicuna 12–14µ 35 mm $400–$600 European processors 

Notes All monetary amounts in US dollars. One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds. Prices are 

for raw fl eeces. These prices are 1999 international market approximations. Prices often 

fl uctuate rapidly, but for comparative purposes these prices represent ranking of speciality 

fi bre animals, with sheep’s wool the standard to which all fi bre is held. There may be sidebar 

markets and information that are not included in these estimates. 

Sources Thanks to Adriana McGuire and Proyecto ‘Ganaderia Extensiva y Sustenable del 

Guanaco/Llama’ Del Fundcacion Habitat; International Alpaca Association (IAA) in Peru, 

Grupo Prosur (Sarfaty) in Peru; The Wool Record, and Roberto Fuchs for information found in 

this chart. 


I 

read Mike Safl ey’s article The Case 

for Crimp, Autumn 2004 Alpaca World 

Magazine, with great interest. Mike 

introduced a fresh topic: fi bre curvature, 

he included graphs and close-ups of 

fi bre samples and an antagonist to his 

crimp theory. As the person named as 

the antagonist in his story, I’m grateful to 

Alpaca World for allowing me to respond. 

In many cross-species fi bre studies, 

including alpacas, fi neness (AFD), and 

low variability (SD/CV), are the two most 

important properties for processing. 

We are just beginning the study of 

fi bre curvature, there is much that is not 

known. I would like to expand on the 

concepts in Mike’s article by addressing 

the following areas: 

❍ What have fi bre scientists and large 

alpaca fi bre processors said about 

crimp, curvature and the correlative 

data in this relatively new area of 

study on alpaca fi bre? 

❍ What is the difference between 

hearsay and verifi able data? 

❍ What constitutes peer review and 

a bonafi de scientifi c study? m. Are 

curvature and crimp the same thing? 

❍ What correlative data actually exists 

about crimp or curvature and other 

characteristics? 

❍ What does the highest frequency of 

curvature actually look like? 

❍ Are there fi bre studies correlating 

qualities in alpaca fi bre that include 

crimp? And lastly… 

❍ What new tools have been added to 

histogram measurements that will 

help breeders get a fi x on correlative 

factors such as low microns, standard 

deviation, microns over 30, curvature 

and medullation? 

Before we get started on a discussion of 

curvature in fi bre, I’d like to free myself 

from the anti-crimp role that Mike has 

assigned me. He offers the following 

quote from my book, The Complete Alpaca 

Book, as evidence of my bad attitude 

towards crimp: 

‘Huacaya as a breed has some 

amount of curvature in the fi bres, in 

other words crimp or crinkle. In some 

alpaca show systems, the various types 

of crimp are assigned different values. 

Such hair splitting distinctions between 

styles of crimp may serve the purpose of 

identifying differences between individual 

animals in high-stakes alpaca shows, but 

commercial processors in Peru who move 

tons of fl eeces through their scouring 

vats based on handle classing (with some 

recently introduced micron sampling) are 

not making such distinctions in the fl eece 

used to create their high-fashion endproducts 

found in the top salons in Milan, 

Paris, and Geneva…’ 

This is just a statement about the 

reality of the milling process in Peru. It 

is not a condemnation of crimp. Their 

processing criterion for excellence is 

different than current show standards. 

Mike continues, ‘Eric’s (Hoffman) primary 

argument is based on the fact that 

producers do not pay a premium for fi bre 

with superior expression of crimp.’ This 

is silly. There is and was no argument 

by me, or any of the other nine authors 

contributing to the The Complete Alpaca 

Book about crimp’s value or lack of it. To 

apply Mike’s logic is to say we are also 

against handle, average fi bre diameter, 

standard deviation, microns over 30µ, 

yield, medullation, dietary infl uences, 

colour, luster, density, strength, cuticle 

scale structure, fl eece regeneration, 

dyeing and numerous other fi bre 

properties because we don’t mention 

paying a premium for any of these 

individually either! 

The Complete Alpaca Book’s narrative 

style offers footnoted text with clear 

language and closure on topics where 

good scientifi c data supports it. There are 

fi ve chapters addressing some aspect of 

fi bre, and three solely focused on fi bre. All 

of the fi bre chapters were peer reviewed; 

high-ranking offi cials at Michell & CIA 

reviewed the one Mike quotes. Where 

data is sketchy on a topic or contradictory 

and agreement doesn’t exist, the 

text presents different viewpoints. 

Contradicting data is put forth so the 

reader can understand the discussion 

that is underway. In some areas, such 

as identifying a species standard for the 

optimum fl eece weight with desirably 

low microns, we published new material. 

In other areas such as follicle density 

studies we did not fi nd enough large-scale 

studies to ‘declare’ a species parameter, 

so we published what had been reported 

and didn’t offer a conclusion. Objective 

data on fi neness, standard deviation, 

coeffi cient of variation, fl eece weight, 

staple regeneration, strength, milling 

standards and practices were obtainable 

and reported. In general there was 

widespread agreement around the world 

that fi neness, little or no medullation, and 

the lowest possible coeffi cient of variation 

encompassed the most essential qualities 

for the fi bre’s performance and value. 

At the time the text was developed 

(2001–2003), the role of crimp had 

attracted more than one viewpoint. 

Even the defi nition of the word crimp 

was debatable and still is. For example, 

Dr Tumen Wuliji, a fi bre scientist 

who worked with Agresearch in New 

Zealand’s Tara Hills alpaca herd assigned 

crimp a secondary importance, less 

important than fi neness, little or no 

medullation, length, yield and colour. 

On the other hand, Dr Jim Watts, a 

fi bre scientist in Australia working from 

a Merino sheep model, emphasized 

eliminating medullation and creating

Violet is a two-year-old 

alpaca with a desirably 1 low mean fi ber diameter 

and overall histogram. Note 

her mean curvature of 45.1. 

According to the study done by 

Christopher Lupton PhD of Texas 

A&M University, Bob Stobart 

PhD of University of Wyoming 

and Angus McColl of Yocom- 

McColl Testing Laboratories, 

Inc., of 606 huacayas from 

throughout the United States, 

the mean curvature was 33.2 

deg/mm, with a minimum 

of 15.4 deg/mm and a maximum of 52.5 deg/mm. Violet’s fl eece is in the upper-mid range for curvature 

and has a ‘crinkly’ look, i.e., more like cotton than the familiar corrugated look many alpacas have. The 

relationship between Violet’s curvature and micron count does not coincide with the data in Table 1 in the 

‘Case for Crimp’ article cited in the text. 

high-density fl eeces, which he believes, 

can be identifi ed by long thin staples 

(bundling) of high amplitude (deep crimp) 

and low crimp frequency (bold crimp). He 

sees deep and bold crimp as an indicator 

of other important qualities in fl eece such 

as increased density, fi bre regeneration, 

and fi neness. 

It is irrefutable that fi neness and 

density can occur without readily visible 

crimp – as is the case with the alpaca 

progenitor, the vicuña. Vicuña is very 

fi ne (12–14µ) with approximately 95 

follicles per square millimeter. This is 

much denser than most alpacas, but 

is an achievable density for alpacas. 

There have been a few reports of alpaca 

densities in the 90 follicle per square 

millimeter range. 

Interviews with the people running 

the large fi bre mills in Peru produced 

a uniform response with regard to 

handle, fi neness, little or no medullation, 

density, and lustre, being assigned 

premium importance. At the time The 

Complete Alpaca Book was published, 

most of the research in which crimp 

was mentioned had been conducted on 

small groups of alpacas, rarely more 

than 200. No studies existed that I felt 

could be called representative of the 

diverse herds spread throughout the 

Andes. In a recent phone call with Luis 

Chavez, the innovative mill boss at Inca 

Tops in Arequipa, he told me that he 

commissioned the study reported in 

Mike’s Case for Crimp article. The study 

was of only 100 show winning alpacas, 

ten guanacos and a few dozen vicuñas, a 

miniscule sample of the larger population. 

The study was done to study prickle 

factor in garments. Such a small selective 

group can hardly be considered defi nitive 

in the discussion of crimp. 

There was universal agreement that 

low microns, with little or no medullation, 

good staple regeneration and density 

were always desirable qualities in a 

fl eece. What this could mean in terms of 

a fl eece’s appearance was approached 

pictorially in The Complete Alpaca Book. 

On page 261, photographic cutaways 

of high quality fl eeces are shown along 

with the fl eece’s histogram, age of the 

2 

Chimu is a two-year old 

alpaca with a desirable 

histogram in his mean 

fi ber diameter but he is not 

as impressive in standard 

deviation, coeffi cient of 

variation and fi bers greater 

than 30 microns. Still Chimu 

has a spin fi neness of l9 

microns, which is very good. 

Chimu’s mean curvature of 53.0 

deg/mm is at the upper range 

for alpacas. In this case the 

fl eece is ‘crinkly’ in appearance. 

This animal comes close to 

approximating the correlative data supplied by Luis Chavez’s study from Peru that is referred in the text. In 

general alpacas have less crimp than most sheep breeds. 

animal, growth period, and shearing 

weights. There are six photographs, each 

of a different fi bre sample. Four of the 

photos were from alpacas living today; 

one photo was a vicuña and one from a 

sample from an ancient El Yaral alpaca 

mummy (1000 years old). Below each 

photo is a LaserScan histogram and raw 

yield (fl eece weight). Two of the animals 

have fl eeces characterised by classic, 

easy-to-see crimp (one high frequency 

low amplitude at 16.4µ at two years of 

age, another is characterized by high 

amplitude and low frequency crimp with 

bundling. The animal is only 18 months 

old but it possessed a 17.5µ micron 

count and impressive fl eece weight. Both 

animals had very low standard deviations. 

Two other fl eece samples on this page 

looked different from the fi rst two. One 

was characterised with crinkle (curvature 

of individual fi bres but not with the 

uniform corrugated manner associated 

with crimp). This fl eece was 17.5µ, 

with a low standard deviation and good 

fl eece weight. It was also characterized 

by density and loft (fl uffi ness) and did 

not lie down. The fourth alpaca was a 

six year old with a 21µ fl eece with the 

amazing yield of 13.5 lbs (6.1kg). The 

yield occurred in a twelve month period. 

This older animal possessed faint uniform 

crimp. (We have since learned crimp 

dissipates with time in alpacas and this 

animal’s fl eece appearance may have 

been entirely different when it was 

younger.) The point of showing slightly 

different looking fl eeces is that all of 

them would have been assigned the top 

classing in the Peruvian system, but they 

looked different from one another. The 

other two photos on page 261 were of 

a vicuña, the alpaca’s wild progenitor. 

The El Yaral fl eece was 17.9µ with an 

incredible SD of 1 and characterised 

by crinkly lock structure. Obviously its 

weight and regeneration could only be 

guessed. The close up of the vicuña also 

looked different from the other fl eeces. 

Curvature studies in alpacas weren’t 

available in 2003. 

Financial value and alpaca fl eece is 

mentioned only once, as comparative 

pricing based on fi bre fi neness (fi bre 


Fibre Curvature 

fi neness being the most universally 

accepted valuation of animal fi bre), in 

the international market is based on 

1999 prices. Figure 10:22 (see title page) 

will have more signifi cance later in this 

article. 

IS CURVATURE THE SAME AS CRIMP 

OR CRINKLE OR IS IT SOMETHING 

ELSE? 

Are crimp and curvature synonymous 

terms? To many alpaca owners crimp is 

the easily visible, attractive, uniform, 

corrugated look they may see when 

they part a huacaya’s fl eece. This is a 

commonly accepted defi nition in the 

United States, Australia and England. It is 

a common alpaca fl eece characteristic and 

was often present in entire populations 

of alpacas that I screened in the Andes. If 

someone handling an alpaca and parting 

its fl eece looks closely they will see that 

the uniform undulations in one animal’s 

fl eece are often slightly (or markedly) 

different from the next. Crimp may appear 

in high frequency (many undulations 

per centimeter) or in low frequency 

(fewer undulations per centimeter) and 

it may appear in different amplitudes. 

Deep crimp has high amplitude (deeper 

undulations), and shallow crimp has 

low amplitude (lower undulations). The 

curvature measurements for different 

types of crimp can range greatly. 

Crinkle is a term used to describe a 

type of crimp. When an alpaca’s fl eece 

is parted not all of them have the crimpy 

corrugated look, some possess fl eeces 

characterized by a soft cotton-like look. 

These crinkly fl eeces may have a great 

deal of fl uffi ness and curvature in the 

individual fi bres while other crinkly 

fl eeces are fl at, coarse and undesirable. It 

is well documented that as fi bre coarsens 

Chaku is a two-year-old 

alpaca with a good overall 3 histogram. In this histogram 

we see the usual measurements: 

mean fi ber diameter (MFD), 

standard deviation (SD), 

coeffi cient of variation (CV), 

and fi bers greater than 30. For 

Chaku all of these measurements 

add up to a pretty nice fl eece. 

A thanks to Yocom-McColl 

Testing Laboratories, which has 

expanded its testing capability 

this histogram also includes 

information on a wide range of 

other useful measurements to the breeder. There are two fi ber diameter profi les. The fi rst one is the mean 

fi ber diameter (MFD) the second one (darker) identifi es medullation in the sample. Medullation can only be 

assessed in light fl eeces. In general medullation studies show alpacas have more medullation (hollow core, or 

partially hollow core) than other animals of comparable micron ranges. Medulla (hollowness) in alpacas can 

occur in fi bers as low as 18 microns. Chaku has an impressive spin fi neness of 20.3 microns. His curvature of 

32.7 deg/mm is at the mean range for alpacas. Chaku’s fl eece appearance shows a uniform waviness known 

commonly as crimp, in this case low frequency and fairly low amplitude. His curvature/micron relationship 

does not coincide with Table 1 in the Case for Crimp article cited in the text. 


it loses curvature. Loss of curvature is the 

usual consequence of aging, even when 

coarsening is not pronounced. Huacayas 

with the cotton-candy look fl eece type are 

often said to have crinkle instead of crimp. 

Another defi nition of crimp does not 

distinguish between crinkle and crimp. 

This defi nition views all curvature of 

any kind regardless if it has uniform 

undulations or not. Many fi bre scientists 

refer to all curvature as crimp while many 

breeders distinguish between crimp 

and crinkle. In The Complete Alpaca 

Book examples of several types of crimp 

and crinkle are presented in close up 

photographs mentioned earlier and 

in places medullation and density are 

discussed. Vicuña falls into the crinkly 

category because its fl eece doesn’t 

appear to have uniform undulations 

common to many alpacas. Many alpacas 

also have crinkly fl eeces. The results may 

4 

surprise you when you test your fl eeces 

for curvature (a test that can be added to 

ahistogram with some testing labs). 

Taking two-millimetre snippets and 

measuring the angle (or degrees) per 

millimetre determines average Fibre 

Curvature (AFC). The greater the frequency 

of degrees (or angle) per millimetre the 

fi ner the crimp (defi ned as any type of 

curvature i.e., crimp or crinkle). There 

is a complicated formula that converts 

degrees to millimeter (deg/mm) to crimps 

per linear measurement. With most 

animal fi bre the fi ner the fl eece the more 

crimps, but this is not always true. 

HIGH CURVATURE FLEECES MAY NOT 

ALL LOOK THE SAME 

The argument for crimp style goes 

something like this: open the fl eece and if 

it has a certain look it will guarantee all 

other things: density, fi neness, length etc. 

Chiki is a two-year old 

alpaca with a generally 

impressive standard 

histogram, represented in the 

mean diameter (MFD), standard 

deviation (SD), coeffi cient of 

variation (CV), and spin fi neness 

(SP). Medullated Fibers (MF) 

make up a small portion of 

the fl eece but the medullated 

profi le probably indicates 

this animal’s fl eece will 

coarsen with time (dark profi le 

shows micron range where 

medullation currently occurs). 

This animal’s deg/mm is marginally above the mean for alpacas. Chiki’s fl eece appearance shows bundling 

and fairly high frequency with medium amplitude crimp.



5 

King Richard is a coarse 

alpaca, especially for a 

two year old. There is no 

data in King Richard’s standard 

histogram that is impressive. 

His fi ber curvature is fairly low 

at 25 deg/mm, which coincides 

with the undesirably high MFD. 

This general profi le coincides 

with Table 1 in the Case for 

Crimp article referred to in the 

text. The fl eece appearance is 

fl at with low frequency and low 

amplitude crimp. For processing 

purposes this is the least 

desirable fl eece of this group. 

The identifi cation of a certain look will 

aid in culling and selecting for breeding. 

But, what if a percentage of the fl eeces 

that don’t ‘look right’ actually have all the 

qualities desirable for processing? We 

need to keep in mind only about 10% of 

the fl eeces going through the mills in Peru 

are baby or better (20–22µ). Interestingly 

a recent nationwide study in the US came 

up with a similarly low percentage. The 

challenge is to identify fi ne fl eeces with 

little or no medullation. 

In the Case for Crimp article there are 

two separate pictures of crimp on page 

44. One picture shows a high amplitude 

(deep) crimp and bold crimp (fewer crimps 

per linear measurement). The other 

sample displays a higher frequency (more 

crimps per linear measurement) that is 

low amplitude. Both these samples are 

of the classic corrugated undulations we 

have all learned to appreciate as crimp 

in alpacas. The impression that could 


be drawn from these two pictures is 

that these types of crimp represent the 

breadth of what constitutes curvature in 

alpacas. Not so, the story doesn’t end 

here. When we look at Table 1 in the 

same article (page 43) we see vicuña 

(12–14µ and a curvature of 88.00 (many 

small crimps per cm) and guanaco 

(15–18µ with a curvature of 81 (similar 

to vicuña). The same table assigns Royal 

alpaca (19.5µ at 56.00 curvature), Baby 

(22µ at 54.1) superfi ne (26µ at 46.00 

curvature) and so on. The idea is the 

higher the microns the greater the crimp 

– but what kind of crimp? There is an 

important point here worth absorbing. 

To the naked eye vicuña and guanaco, 

which have the most curvature per linear 

measurement of the South American 

camelids, don’t look like the two samples 

shown on page 44. Instead, in the wild 

camelid species fl eeces are characterised 

by a crinkly look (see photo 1A). There 

Group 2 – No. 4 is an 

adult paco vicuna of an 6 unknown age. The animal’s 

overall histogram is impressive. 

Note the mean curvature of 55.4 

deg/mm, which is at the upper 

range for alpacas. Vicunas have 

even greater curvature than 

alpacas, usually between 60 

and 80 deg/mm. The fl eece of 

this paco vicuna and vicunas 

are characterized by a very fi ne 

and crinkly look. Even though 

the curvature is great it is 

diffi cult for the casual observer 

to assess. 

is curvature and a great deal of it (high 

frequency and very low amplitude) 

but it is nearly microscopic in nature 

(detectable with very close inspection or 

a magnifying glass) and easily missed by 

the casual examiner. Are there alpacas 

with this kind of curvature and look? It 

would make sense that there are since 

vicuñas are the wild ancestor of the 

alpaca. In my travels as a screener of 

some 12,000 alpacas throughout the 

Andes, Australia, and Europe I have seen 

many, many fi ne, uniform fl eeces that 

could be characterized as well crimped 

and displaying bundling. This style of 

fl eece is common in many areas. There 

are also populations with a more vicuñalike 

appearance that are just as fi ne and 

uniform. 

Figures 1 through 3 show the 

appearances of several fl eeces and 

their histograms including curvature. 

In a small sampling of 15 randomly 

selected alpacas tested at Yocom-McColl 

Testing Laboratory I found some of the 

samples didn’t fi t the profi les provided 

in the Case for Crimp article. A phone 

call to the originators of the study in 

Peru revealed not only that just 100 

alpacas were involved, but also that 

the graphs that correlate a specifi c 

micron count to a specifi c curvature 

test result are approximations based 

on this small sample. According to Luis 

Chavez, who commissioned it, this is 

only a preliminary study with a much 

larger one in the works. Chavez, who is 

known as a forward thinking processor, 

says the study and other ones stimulated 

by discussions around the world are 

aimed at understanding fi bre to improve 

the comfort factor in the garments he 

manufactures. Some low micron fl eeces 

(20–22 microns) have much lower 

curvature than the table indicates they 

should have. Violet (Figure 1) typifi es a

crinkly type fl eece with high curvature (56 

in her case) but there is no classic crimp. 

Luis Chavez’s study of curvature makes 

it clear that crimp can have several 

appearances and still be associated with 

fi neness. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING 

THE PARAMETERS OF ALPACA FIBRE 

CHARACTERISTICS 

In the summer of 2004 North American 

fi bre scientists Christopher Lupton PhD, 

Robert Stobart PhD and Angus McColl, 

fi nished work on their Alpaca Research 

Foundation Grant that was a fi rst of its 

kind study of alpaca fi bre. They sampled 

606 huacayas from throughout the United 

States. This study was unique in that 

it is one of the fi rst large studies that 

attempted to identify the parameters of 

common fi bre properties and record both 

the positive and negative correlations 

between important fi bre characteristics. 

For example, one of the study’s many 

conclusions was ‘The intrinsic resistance 

to compression of alpaca is low because 

of the relatively low levels of crimp. Thus, 

alpaca is not suited to end-uses that 

require high resistance to compression 

or bulk.’ It turned out that alpaca ranged 

between 15.4 and 52.5 curvature 

(deg/mm) and curvature decreased with 

age. A low curvature in Merino sheep 

is 50 deg/mm. When it comes to crimp, 

sheep’s wool starts where alpaca stops, 

so the species parameters are different 

for each. This study established base line 

data on age, body weight, sex, colour, 

and last shearing date. This is important 

base line data because it allowed these 

researchers to assess the changes in 

fl eece characteristic based on age, 

weight, and region (which could be a 

general indicator of infl uences of gross 

diet). 

CONCLUSIONS AND MAKING USE 

OF SOPHISTICATED HISTOGRAMS 

The study mentioned above has provided 

valuable information for new areas 

of inquiry and developed expanded 

types of histograms that will allow 

breeders to get directly involved in 

their own correlations of objective fi bre 

measurement. The fi rst version of the 

article ran in the Summer 2004 issue 

of Alpacas Magazine. The original 

article has been revised and is awaiting 

publication in the Small Ruminant 

Research Journal. Here are some 

conclusions from the study: 

❍ Alpaca as a species has low 

curvature compared to sheep breeds. 

In alpacas the range in curvature in 

the US was between 15.4 and 52.4 

deg/mm, possibly meaning holding 

alpaca to the same standard as 

sheep may be counterproductive if 

other desired qualities of alpaca fi bre 

are compromised. 

❍ For both worsted and woollen 

spinning, AFD (micron), and 

CV (coeffi cient of variation) 

measurements are by far the most 

important fi bre properties infl uencing 

spinning performance… 

❍ Average fi bre diameter (AFD) is 

positively correlated with age, body 

weight, clean yield, and staple 

strength and negatively correlated 

with average curvature and staple 

length. 

❍ Compared to wool of similar 

fi neness, alpaca was shown to be 

much higher yielding, more heavily 

medullated, longer and considerably 

stronger. 

❍ Average level of fi bre curvature in 

alpacas is quite low compared to 

cashmere and fi ne wool. Average 

curvature is negatively correlated to 

age, body weight, fi bre diameter, and 

clean yield and positively correlated 

with staple length and resistance to 

compression. 

❍ Staple length: longer fi bres produce 

more uniform heavier yarns that 

have greater resistance to abrasion. 

The mean staple length was 4.6 

inches (12.4 cm), which is more than 

adequate for processing. 

❍ Most alpaca is medullated to varying 

degrees. White and light colored 

fi bres having a medulla greater than 

60% of the width of the fi bre are 

chalky in appearance and also appear 

not to accept dyes readily. These are 

referred to as objectionable fi bres. 

(Only fi bre from white and light 

fawn/beige animals can be tested for 

medullation at this point in time. See 

Figure 4). 

❍ Ageing correlates to changes in fi bre 

characteristics. Body weight, fi bre 

diameter, staple strength, percentage 

of medulla increase while curvature 

and staple length decrease. 

❍ Low AFD negatively corresponds 

with staple length regeneration, 

which is different than most sheep 

breeds. 

❍ Truly fi ne wool tends to have more 

crimp than alpaca of the same 

fi neness. 

❍ Fine fi bres in alpaca tend to have 

more crimp that results in positive 

signifi cant correlations in resistance 

to compression. However the 

resistance to compression in alpaca 

compared to sheep is low. Thus 

alpaca is not well suited to end 

uses that require high resistance to 

compression (or bulk). To produce 

alpacas with more resistance to 

compression selection should favour 

crimp. Less crimp in alpaca results 

in leaner, smoother, less bulky yarns 

and fabrics, which is an attribute for 

the worsted process. 

This study produced both sound data and 

valuable tools for the breeder. We are all 

familiar with laser scan histograms that 

measure AFD, CV, SD and percentage of 

fi bres over 30 microns. Yocom-McColl 

Testing Laboratories can now expand 

your histogram to include medullated 

fi bres (in light coloured fl eeces only), 

spin fi neness, mean curvature and SD of 


curvature. The overlapping profi les show 

both the AFD distribution in one and the 

medullation in the other. Curvature is 

reported in mean curvature and standard 

deviation of curvature. 

I strongly suggest that anyone 

interested in this topic test their own 

animals to check the correlation of 

curvature and microns to see how they 

do or don’t match up with the data in this 

article. 

Many thanks to Angus and Margaret 

McColl, owners of Yocom-McColl Testing 

Laboratories, and Christopher Lupton PhD 

of Texas A&M University, for their time 

and expertise in reviewing this article. • 


ALPACAS ON TV 

Dramatic advances in alpaca marketing have been acheived 

in the US, says Mike Safl ey, by the clever use of television. 

The alpaca market in the United 

States has been a long-running 

success. Beginning in 1980, when 

alpacas were re-introduced into the US 

from England the market has grown 

year in and year out and the population 

of registered alpacas between 1989 

and 2004 has grown at an annual 

compound rate of 32%. One of the 

most important factors in the success 

of the American marketplace was the 

magic marriage between alpacas and 

television that began in 1993. In 2004, 

the market has never been stronger; 

the history of this success is a textbook 

case of guerilla marketing practiced 

by a committed band of breeders who 

used the concept of marketing co-ops 

to leverage their advertising dollars. 

In 1996, I read an article about 

an advertising co-op that promoted 

pork. Co-op members contributed one 

cent per pound from every hog that 

they slaughtered and the proceeds 

funded their marketing efforts. The ad 

campaign was simple. They promoted 

pork as the ‘other’ white meat and 

encouraged people to eat more chops, 

ribs, sausage and bacon. The article 

said that the co-op was enjoying great 

success, pork futures were up. 

I began thinking about how alpaca 


breeders might get together in a 

marketing co-op. The ARI was just 

beginning to issue matching fund 

grants for regional marketing efforts. 

An article in the USA Today newspaper 

that proclaimed that, ‘alpacas were 

the investment animal of the 1990s,’ 

had generated a lot of interest from 

airline pilots and many of the people 

who had read the paper picked it up in 

the airport. The idea came to me in the 

shower – Infl ight magazines. 

I dried off and called Greg Mecklem 

who lived up the road from me, he liked 

the idea, I checked with Mario Pedroza, 

another alpaca breeding neighbour, 

and with Gordon Anderson who was 

president of Alpaca Fest International 

at the time, they liked the idea. We 

decided to create an alpaca-advertising 

co-op. This excerpt from an article 

about the co-op describes our effort. 

‘Together, we christened the fi rst 

co-op advertising effort: Western 

Alpaca Associates. The co-op placed 

ads that invited prospects to call a toll 

free number (1-888-8ALPACA). People 

responding to the ads were greeted with 

a voice mail invitation to leave their 

name and address in order to receive a 

state-by-state breeder’s directory and 

AOBA’s alpaca investment brochure.’ 

‘Seventy-nine breeders advertised 

in the breeder’s directory, representing 

nine states and sixty-seven cities. 

The sale of ads generated $34,422 in 

revenue. The balance of the programme 

was funded with matching funds 

through an ARI regional grant.’ 

‘Ads placed in Alaska Airlines’ 

Infl ight Magazine reached 850,000 

people fl ying Alaska, each month. 

Sunset Magazine was also chosen for 

another ad campaign because of its 

Western readership, which totalled 

1,425,000 per month. The publications 

were selected for: their regional 

audience, the high income, highly 

educated readership, and the high 

proportion of families and women who 

subscribe to or read each magazine. 

Over 700 directories were mailed 

during the fi rst three weeks of the 

programme. This campaign found an 

enthusiastic audience of people who, 

having never laid eyes on an alpaca, 

found their photographic images 

irresistible.’ 

The Western Alpaca Associates 

directory eventually became the model 

for AOBA’s Farm and Ranch Guide. Here 

is what AOBA President, Rick Evans, 

had to say about the programme in the 

July 1997, issue of the Hummer. 

‘Though there are several dimensions 

to our emerging national marketing 

program; the cornerstone of the effort 

will be the revised breeder’s guide in 

which we are going to sell ads to AOBA 

farm members to generate funds to 

purchase alpaca advertising in select 

national publications.’ 

‘We feel that, with good participation 

from AOBA farm members, we will be 

able to triple or quadruple the number 

of annual alpaca inquiries to AOBA, 

based on the costs and results of 

the recent ads we placed in Martha 

Stewart Living Magazine. Advertisers 

who obtain all the leads generated by 

the programme will be getting those 

leads for approximately 12–25 cents 

each, an amount that is well below the 

$3–$6 lead cost that many of you are 

experiencing in your alpaca business. 

In addition, AOBA will be mailing the 

directory, with your farm ad included, 

to every one of the 15,000 to 20,000 

people who are expected to respond to 

our national ads in the upcoming year.’ 

ALPACAS AND TELEVISION 

Next, the ad co-op concept was applied 

to television. I had developed the 

fi rst alpaca ‘infomercial’ in 1993; an 

article from Alpacas Magazine article 

described the process. 

‘The same concept of an ad co-op 

that funded the print media campaign 

was applied to television. Anyone who 

has ever had his or her farm featured 

on TV will attest to the power of 

television. AOBA learned this when 

Tilson Associates landed airtime for 

alpacas on Good Morning America and 

the Today Show. 

This success gave me the idea to 

develop an alpaca “infomercial.” I had 

seen this new age form of advertising 

selling everything from Bow Flex to those 

slice and dice machines. The programs 

often featured self-help concepts sold 

by the likes of Tony Robbins or diet 

programs sold by Dr. Atkins. 

All infomercials are twenty-eight 

and one-half minutes long. Most have 

distinct segments containing interesting 

information, which last about fi ve 

minutes. Each of the “info” segments is 

followed by an offer to sell the featured 

product. I produced an infomercial 

that told the alpaca story beginning in 

South America and continuing on to 

farms and ranches in the United States. 

The content focused on lifestyle and 

investment opportunities.’ 

The infomercial was a tremendous 

success and when Jerry Forstner was 

elected President of AOBA in 1995, 

he decided to produce an infomercial 

that would be available to members. 

The tape he created had the added 

advantage of failing to feature my

smiling face. The AOBA infomercial 

worked well but the real benefi t of 

the tape was that it stimulated Jerry’s 

imagination and he conceived of 

using television to market alpacas in 

a new and revolutionary way. Jerry 

simplifi ed the infomercial process 

and began running one-minute AOBA 

commercials on TV. The commercials 

were placed on the satellite dish 

networks that included a high number 

of rural subscribers. The response was 

instantaneous. The ads displayed an 

800 number and invited people to call 

AOBA; and they did. 

WWW.I LOVE ALPACAS.COM 

Jerry Forstner is responsible for a 

number of remarkable successes in 

the alpaca business. He created the 

AOBA auction, pioneered the use 

of the sixty-second commercial by 

AOBA and his Breeder’s Choice Alpaca 

Auction, held at Magical Farms each 

year, is the premier farm event of the 

year. He also brought Jerry Miller, 

of Brown and Miller advertising into 

head AOBA’s media campaign. But, 

ILoveAlpacas.com has to be Jerry’s 

most spectacular idea. 

Jerry’s big idea came close to 

crashing before it soared into 

AOBA spends more than $1 million per year on alpaca 

marketing. I Love Alpacas adds another $500,000. Alpacas 

are seen on television, in magazines, and over the internet. 

No promotional stone goes unturned. 

cyberspace. Rick Evans, the newly 

appointed president of AOBA, asked 

Jerry to serve as chair of AOBA’s 

marketing committee. Rick wanted to 

increase AOBA’s television budget from 

$400,000 to $1,000,000: No small task. 

Jerry’s committee went to work 

analysing the revenues and looking 

for ways to add marketing income. 

After carefully considering all the 

alternatives, they proposed that AOBA 

raise the cost of advertising in the 

Farm and Ranch Guide from $650 to 

$1150. (The current price of advertising 

in the Farm and Ranch Guide, $650, 

has to be one of the best marketing 

values on the planet.) This would have 

doubled the revenue available for TV 

and accomplished the major part of the 

committee’s goal. Rick Evans vetoed the 

committee’s initiative. Here is Jerry’s 

reaction to the arbitrary veto. 

‘Rick vetoed the idea. I was upset, 

in that it did not make sense to have 

a committee of experts and do a lot of 

work and then have one person veto all 

of the work. I felt it was a waste of my 

time, so I resigned from the committee. 

After resigning, I was still fretting 

about the fact that we needed more 

money spent on television work.’ 

After ‘fretting’ for a while, Jerry 

decided to organise an initiative that 

would create the cash to promote 

alpacas on television. In one stroke of 

creative genius, he came up with the, 

ILoveAlpacas.com, name for the new 

co-op. Jerry could not believe his good 

fortune when he found that the website 

address was available. Here is Jerry’s 

account of how the co-op came together: 

‘I just felt if I could not do it through 

AOBA, I would do it myself. I thought 

that I could come up with 100 breeders 

that would put in $5,000.00 and 

devised the formula to give them very 

exclusive coverage in their state. The 

fi rst year we signed up 94. Not quite my 

one hundred, but I was pleased. I did 

not know for sure that it would work for 

them and neither did they. They trusted 

me and that felt real good.’ 

‘The rest is history. Each year I have 

around 96, to 99 members. I have 

never hit the 100 mark; however, I 

don’t doubt that should I do some 

advertising, I would be able to reach it 

without trouble. The members have had 

spectacular success. The industry as a 

whole has benefi ted as so many more 

people have heard of alpacas. I get 

several e-mails a year that say I don’t 

even belong to I love alpacas and I have 

sold animals because of it.” 

ILoveAlpacas.com has added one 

signifi cant refi nement to the advertising 

co-op concept that began with Western 

Alpaca Associates – it is all electronic. 

The co-op does not spend any money 

on fulfi llment, which involves mailing a 

print piece such as the Farm and Ranch 

Guide to people who inquire by phone 

or email and are very expensive, about 

$12.50 a copy, and the fulfi llment budget 

bleeds money from the media budget. 

The I Love Alpacas TV campaign is 

managed by Jerry Miller and he only 

buys spots when the price is right: At 

the last minute. The secret or ‘guerilla’ 

element of this marketing effort is to 

buy the TV time at deeply discounted 

prices, which usually means the 

commercials are run at odd hours or 

when the networks have unsold space. 


Marketing Alpacas on TV 

ALPACAS AND THE INTERNET 

Prior to 1996, all alpaca marketing 

was done in print or on television. 

The internet has changed the way 

we sell our alpacas. In 1997, 58.63% 

of American alpaca breeders used 

the internet, in 2000, 92.69% used 

it. In 2000, only 12.06% of all alpaca 

breeders had a website. Today 39% 

have a website. 

An AOBA marketing survey 

determined that 32% of all US buyers 

have purchased alpacas, sight unseen, 

over the internet. The following data is 

from the Year 2000, AOBA Marketing 

Committee report and should be 

considered by everyone when they 

develop their marketing plans. 

‘The major decision maker for 

alpaca purchases is female. 42.58% 

of purchase decisions are made solely 

by women, another 40.98% are made 

jointly by both husband and wife 

(which is to say the woman makes the 

decision), and fi nally 12.32% are made 

by men. 

The average age of the decision 

maker is 31–40 (22.94%), 41–50 

(32.62%), and 51-60 (30.11%). The 

average age of an alpaca owner is 46.2 

years…’ 

Internet purchases for all categories 

of goods are primarily made by women. 


The single most important fact about 

the internet and alpacas: 95% of new 

buyers do their alpaca research on 

the internet. Today, the bottom line of 

alpaca marketing is: No Internet, No 

Sales. (It is also interesting to note that 

the average income of alpaca buyers in 

the United States is $65,000. This runs 

contrary to many people’s perception 

that the U.S. alpaca market is made up 

of wealthy people.) 

These statistics explain the genius 

of Jerry Forstner’s innovation, I Love 

Alpacas.com. He married the power of 

alpacas on television to the technology 

of the internet. This strategy has 

become the backbone of AOBA’s 

marketing program. 

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? 

Ray Paulek, Editor of Blood-Horse 

Magazine, asked, What’s Going on 

Here? He was analysing the success of 

AOBA’s marketing program. Here is part 

of what he had to say in his article: 

‘You can’t race or bet on an alpaca. 

But you can breed, raise, and own 

them, and as the Alpaca Owners and 

Breeders Association (AOBA) has 

proven, you can market them. More 

specifi cally, you can promote the idea 

of breeding, raising, and owning these 

fl eece-producing creatures. 

AOBA has grown to 1000 members, 

and there were 8000 alpacas on fi le 

with the breed’s offi cial registry. Since 

1996, the growth of the industry has 

accelerated. Currently, AOBA has more 

than 2500 members [2889 members in 

2002] and the alpaca population totals 

33,000. The herd is increasing by 22% 

annually. 

People in the thoroughbred industry 

who insist anything less than $50 

million for national marketing is merely 

a drop in the bucket will scoff at the 

suggestion that AOBA can have any 

impact on a small annual budget. 

Well, guess what? For about 

$800,000 a year, the alpaca industry 

has a daily presence on cable television 

– yes, daily – and is regularly promoted 

in magazines like Martha Stewart 

Living and Country Living. 

Using a tight-fi sted media buyer that, 

as Hobert said, ‘never buys retail,’ the 

alpaca industry is promoted on several 

cable packages. All are purchased 

through DirectTV or the Dish Network. 

The ads promote alpaca breeding as a 

fun family activity, but also as a serious 

investment. 

The fi rst media package shows AOBA 

or I Love Alpaca ads on CNN, CNBC, and 

MSNBC. I’ve seen the ads numerous 

times during the Imus in the Morning 

show on MSNBC or The News with Brian 

Williams during evening prime time. A 

second targets women on the Oxygen 

and Lifestyle channels, and a third 

showcases alpacas on Animal Planet, 

Discovery, and The Learning Channel. 

The National Thoroughbred Racing 

Association and Thoroughbred Owners 

and Breeders Association are looking 

for ways to promote thoroughbred 

ownership. Perhaps they can learn from 

the modest, but fast-growing alpaca 

industry.’ 

AOBA MARKETING 2004 

AOBA spends more than $1 million 

per year on alpaca marketing. I Love 

Alpacas adds another $500,000. 

Alpacas are seen on television, in 

magazines, and over the internet. No 

promotional stone goes unturned. 

Today (2004) AOBA raises and spends 

more than $3,500,000 million dollars a 

year to operate the breed association 

and support the alpaca community: 

The 1986 AOBA budget: $3,179.00. The 

association’s membership has grown 

at an annual compound rate of 30% 

beginning in 1986, when there were 

38 members, until today when AOBA 

membership totals 4,188. The good 

ship, USS Alpacas, is sailing in smooth 

water, under blue skies.


Motcombe 

Motivators 

Elizabeth Saville of Motcombe Alpacas says, 

‘If the children had a cheque book we would 

have sold all the cria four times over! One nine 

year old gave me his telephone number to phone 

and tell his Dad when to come and collect two!’ 


We have had primary school 

visits to this conservation 

farm for several years. These 

visits have covered various aspects of 

environmental studies, looking for fl ora 

and signs of wild animal activity. With 

conventional cattle and sheep grazing 

the fi elds, the inevitable ‘please can 

we stroke them?’ has simply not been 

possible. 

However, the arrival of alpacas on to 

the farm earlier this year opened up a 

whole new range of possibilities. I looked 

forward to seeing what impact they 

would have on the children, especially 

the ones who do not have the opportunity 

to handle large animals. I was equally 

intrigued to see how the alpacas would 

react to an invasion of excited, energetic, 

small people. 

The younger children can be very 

unsure of meeting a strange animal 

– let alone getting close – and there 

are always those of any age who feel 

that they ‘don’t want to’, often simply 

because they don’t have the confi dence 

to try anything new! 

We bought pregnant alpacas with a 

view to taming their cria at a very young 

age, following the guidelines of the 

American John Mallon, who halter-trains 

llamas and alpacas at only twelve days 

old. 

The fi rst school visits in July gave 

the children a huge surprise to see that 

alpacas had arrived at Motcombe Farm! 

The teachers were quick to use the 

opportunity to discuss the geography of 

South America, and how different life 

was, here in Britain, for the alpacas. We 

were bombarded with questions and 

the interest was intense, although they 

couldn’t take their eyes off the novel 

camelids in the fi eld. The children could 

hardly contain their excitement, yet we 

had to ask them to keep reasonably 

quiet so as not to scare the alpacas. 

‘Do they spit?’ ‘Yes!’ I replied, at which 

they fell about laughing and wanted a 

demonstration! 

We had kept quiet about how biddable 

alpacas are, so while the teachers took 

the children off through the woods and 

down the farm on a wild fl ower foray, I 

gathered the alpacas into their holding 

pen and put a halter on the two older cria 

(aged two months). 

When the school group returned, we 

allowed four children at a time into the 

pen, and they had to respect the animals 

by trying to move slowly and quietly – a 

good lesson in husbandry. The cria were 

extremely responsive and positively 

lapped up all the gentle stroking and 

admiration. 

It was interesting to see that the 

mothers did not appear stressed, and 

before the visit was over two of them 

actually ate a tit-bit from four excited 

little hands – with giggles of, ‘Oh, it 

tickles my hand’. 

True to reputation, the un-haltered 

alpacas showed us how quietly they 

stand with no running off – rather taking 

a step nearer to investigate the situation. 

Initially it was most amusing to see how 

they bunched together, looked fi rst at the 

children then towards me as much as to 

say, ‘Friends or foe?’ 

The alpacas obviously could not decide 

whether to be defensive with these 

small humans! But quickly they were just 

standing and resignedly allowing their 

soft fl eece to be felt. There has never 

been any indication of them wanting to 

‘see off’ any child. Having had all the 

conventional farm animals and ponies 

over the years, we cannot believe the 

different behaviour of alpacas. Whereas 

you would expect most animals to run 

out into the fi eld when fi nally let out, 

the alpacas just hung around looking 

inquisitively at the round-up of pupils, 

just out of reach. Their gentle behaviour 

transmits to the children who are so 

much quieter than usual. 

During their subsequent visits, we 

have shown the children how to take 

the cria for a walk along the yard, round 

the pond in a paddock and back to base. 

It is sheer joy for me to see such grins 

on the children’s faces and the obvious 

enjoyment of the cria, who behave even 

better with them than they do with me. 

It seems that they recognise and respond 

to other as youngsters. The main lesson 

to be taught to the school children before 

we can let them lead the cria is to show 

calm body-language. The children have to 

curb their natural exuberance, including 

fl inging about of arms and jumping, 

because their arms are at alpaca eye 

level and make the young cria pull back 

in alarm. 

The children have experienced 

something they have never dreamed of 

– as one said ‘Oh this is like being on 

telly’. 

Alpacas give everyone so much 

pleasure and it is lovely to be able to 

share this with the school visitors, and 

many adults as well. Whereas cattle can 

only be looked at, the alpacas can be 

touched. We have found this has given 

the shyest child so much confi dence. 

By the end of the visits almost all the 

children have stroked or walked a cria 

and a few have been brave enough to 

feel the adult fl eeces. What have the 

alpacas taught the visitors? To behave 

quietly and consider animals, to respect 

their habits, and a lot about South 

America. 

If the children had a cheque book we 

would have sold all the cria four times 

over! One nine year old gave me his 

telephone number to phone and tell his 

Dad when to come and collect two! •


Now available Eric 

Hoffman’s The Complete Alpaca 

Book a must for all alpaca and lllama 

owners. See review, right. Also 

recently published The Reproductive 

Process of South American Camelids 

by P. Walter Bravo, DVM, MS, PhD. 

Detailed book about male and female 

reproduction and their management, 

maternal behaviour and neonatology. 

Send a cheque payable to MileEnd 

Farm Ltd for £97.50 (includes P&P 

£8.50 UK delivery only) for The 

Complete Alpaca Book OR £46.50 

SUBSCRIBE 

TO 

ALPACA 

WORLD 

MAGAZINE 

NOW 


Books about all aspects of the alpaca 

from Classical MileEnd Alpacas 

(includes P&P £3.50 UK delivery 

only) for The Reproductive Process of 

South American Camelids to MileEnd 

Alpacas, Hendom Farm, Huntsham, 

Tiverton, Devon EX16 7NR. 

For European orders contact 

Chas Brooke for delivery costs 

on tel/fax 01398 361616 or email 

alpacauk@aol.com 

A wide range of alpaca books 

stocked. Contact us for the latest list 

or view our website at: 


The Complete Alpaca Book is exactly that… 

an ultimate book of knowledge on alpacas from 

A to Z; but unlike traditional encyclopedias it 

makes for an engrossing read for both animal 

health professionals and breeders alike. This 

book represents a unique mix of high caliber 

textual information made very readable, coupled 

with professional-grade visual presentation and 

production quality. In the development this book, 

Hoffman has invited in some of the worlds most 

renowned camelid researchers effectively putting 

together the ‘dream team’ of who’s who in the 

cameid reasearch industry. Hoffman himself is an 

articulate author who very successfully manages 

an unparalled blend of the pragmatic and the 

scientifi c. The Complete Alpaca Book covers a broad 

array of topics in an organised, clear, concise and 

informative manner. This book is an indispensable 

asset that is unequivocally worth the investment. 

Camelid Quarterly.

Wessex Rural Alianza Don Pepe 

Plantel Macho Aged 6 Years 

Please contact us for details of our selection of 

genetically authoritative, proven, high fi ne fi bre yielding 

males who stand ready to help you acheive your aims in 

the development of your herd for fi bre production or sale. 

Visitors are very welcome by appointment. 

Sales 

Stud Services 

Consultancy 

Support 

IMPROVEMENT IS OUR PASSION 


Alpacas of Wessex 

Clouds Park, East Knoyle 

Wiltshire, SP3 6BE 

Telephone 01747 830120 

Mobile 07971 782177 

Email tim.hey@onetel.net

ACCOYO UK 

The founder members of Accoyo UK, Arunvale Alpacas and Langaton Alpacas are proud 

to introduce to you a selection of their herd sires for 2005, including our proven males 

handpicked from the herd of Don Julio Barreda. All these males will stand at Stud both at 

Langaton Alpacas in Devon and Arunvale Alpacas in Sussex. 

Accoyo Tolstoy 

Age: 6 years 

AFD:23.6 SD:4.4 CV:18.6 %>30u:6.7 

Accoyo Osobali Accoyo Killawasi 

Huacaya Solid White Pure Accoyo Age: 6 years Huacaya Solid White Pure Accoyo Age: 6 years 

AFD:27.3 SD:5.1 CV:18.7 %>30u:22.5 AFD:28.7 SD:5.3 CV:18.1 %>30u:33.6 

Accoyo Remarque Accoyo Bulleyman 

Huacaya Solid White Pure Accoyo Age: 6 years Suri Solid White Pure Accoyo Age: 6 years 

AFD:23 SD:4.2 CV:18.3 %>30u:4.5 AFD:24.2 SD:5.6 CV:23.1 %>30u:11 

Just some of the amazing progeny studs who will join the Accoyo herd sires for 

the coming breeding season… 

Costello 

Solid White Half Accoyo 

AFD:19.9 SD:4 CV: 20.1 %>30u:1.3 

Capone Butch Cassidy Lucky Luciano 

Solid White Pure Accoyo Solid White Half Accoyo Solid White Half Accoyo 

AFD: 22.2 SD:5.2 CV:23.4 AFD:18.7 SD:3.5 CV:18.7 AFD:21 SD:4.2 CV:20 

%>30u:6.5 %>30u:0.9 %>30u:2.8 

For further information view the Accoyo males online at either www.arunvalealpacas.co.uk 

or www.langatonalpacas.co.uk. Or Contact Nick or Alex at Arunvale Alpacas on 01798 812218 

or Ian and Rachel at Langaton Alpacas on 01769 540202 to arrange a viewing.

Winter - Classical Mileend Alpacas

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?