Alpaca
Intelligent, good looking, friendly and caring – there’s a lot to like about the alpaca. There are now close to 2,500 alpaca growers in Australia, and Australian alpaca fleece is exported all over the world. Alpacas are also the most environmentally friendly of all our domesticated animals. Like all other camelids they do not have hooves but soft-padded feet, each with two soft toenails. Even the kangaroo exerts greater pressure on our thin topsoils than the alpaca.
| Did you know? |
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| • Although it looks like a cross between a camel and a sheep, alpacas originate from the high semi-desert of South America’s Andes mountains, where the harsh climate makes them well adapted to Australian conditions. |
| • Since alpacas have an inbuilt aversion to canines and foxes, they are commonly used as guard animals for flocks of sheep or goats. When provoked, alpacas have been known to chase or even attack predators. |
| • Alpacas come in two types. On a huacaya, the fleece grows straight out from their body, much like on a sheep, and it’s very soft. On a suri, the fleece is glossy and grows parallel to the body in ringlets, like on an angora goat. |
For more information please contact Pat Cooper, Alpaca Showcase Coordinator:
Tel: 0488 262 969
Email: pcooper@rasnsw.com.au
