Alpacas A farming opportunity. The Story Behind This Global - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Alpacas – A farming opportunity. The Story Behind This Global Emerging Industry. Shirley Bettinson and Tim Hey

Alpacas, what are they? • Members of the Camelid family, related to the vicuña, llama, guanaco and camel. • Two breeds of alpaca: Huacaya and Suri. • Generally live for over 20 years and stay productive for most of that time. • Babies are called crias. Suri • They are a rare and precious mammal that have been domesticated for 6000 years. • Originate from the Andes in Peru, Chile and Bolivia. • Alpacas come in 16 natural colours. • Alpacas grow a high quality fibre that was reserved for Incan royalty and was referred to as the ‘ fibre of the gods’ . Huacaya

History. • The Incas developed detailed breeding programmes and, at the height of the Incan Empire, alpacas grew a far more uniform fleece and produced higher fibre yields than the best alpacas today. • During the Spanish conquest in the early 17 th century Alpacas were driven to near extinction and many breeding systems and bloodlines were lost forever. • Existing in the extremes of the high altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, alpacas were a source of clothing, fuel and food.

Alpaca fibre throughout the ages. • In 1800 ’s the Sir Titus Salt from Leeds ‘discovered’ alpaca fibre and began promoting it’s use in the finest textile mills in Bradford and fashion houses in Europe. • Alpaca garments have a very soft handle and a lustre or brightness that give them an advantage over wool. • Today the Italian processors produce the highest quality alpaca yarns and the Japanese weave alpaca with silk. • The UK mills are currently increasing production with a focus on quality for the domestic and international market.

Modern Peruvian Fibre Industry. • With a population of more than 2.5 million alpacas, Peru has developed a thriving fibre industry based on Alpaca. • The last 100 years has seen co-operatives set up between farmers implementing selective breeding programmes. • Government education on alpaca breeding has also reached the common farmer resulting in increased fibre quality and yield. • Once the focus was on fleece weight but now it has switched to fineness and handle as the mills pay more for finer fleeces. • Two major mills, Grupo Inca and Michell Group, run the largest alpaca processing mills in the world.

Alpaca industries outside South America. • The mid to late 1980 ’s saw the first imports of alpacas from Chile enter Australia and the US. • Through the use of sophisticated selective breeding practices, further imports from Peru and good husbandry, these countries now run over 300,000 alpacas each. • The Australian and US alpaca industries continue to grow and Australia is now producing commercial quantities of fibre.

Alpacas in Europe. • The 1990 ’s saw commercial quantities of alpacas imported into the UK. • The UK leads Europe with around 40,000 alpacas. Mainland Europe has approximately 25,000 in total which is a long way from the Australian herd of over 300,000. • The UK has exported many 1000 ’s of alpacas into Europe to boost their herd numbers. • All Western European countries now have significant alpaca populations and are breeding pedigree stock and alpacas are spreading east.

Why start farming alpacas in Great Britain? • To create a national herd of pedigree alpacas based on the success of the Australian and American alpaca industries. • As a nation, produce quality fibre to meet the ever growing demand from Norway, Japan, Italy, Taiwan, China and the UK. • To sell pedigree seed stock to new owners in the UK and to export to other European and Middle Eastern countries now farming alpacas. • Ability to farm on all land sizes with easy care and maintenance. • Healthy financial returns. • First and foremost, the UK is a stud stock industry and breeders will make money from selling stock for some time before we have enough alpacas to satisfy demand for fibre. This is in contrast to some alternative farming enterprises that haven’t focused on the end product until they had gone through boom and bust cycles. The alpaca industry is very aware that for its long term success alpaca must produce a viable and profitable end product. We are committed to becoming a fibre industry. • Great lifestyle and enjoyment.

On farm advantages of alpacas. • Long productive life, living into their 20 ’s . • Hardy animals who do well on native and improved pasture. • Efficient feed converters. • Easy birthing. Generally give birth between 7am and 2pm. • Planned breeding times due to them being induced ovulators. • No foot rot and fly strike is minimal. • Clean skinned under the tail so crutching is not necessary. • Alpacas have a soft padded foot so don’t poach the land in winter. • They are a herd animal so they don’t tend to jump or challenge fences.

Regular maintenance. • Shearing: once a year. Record fibre details. • Clostridial Vaccination and monitoring for parasites. • Vitamin D supplement: during winter months. • Toenail Clipping: three times a year. • Hands on body score: weekly.

Breeding. Females become sexually mature at 12 to 14 months of age. Males between 18 and 36 months. Alpacas are induced ovulators and produce one or two eggs every 12 – 14 days. Crias are weaned between 5 and 6 months of age. The gestation period is 11 to 11.5 months. Females in good health should produce one cria a year as the female is mated 12 days after giving birth. Matings can be monitored in pens or conducted in the open paddock.

Farm requirements. • Standard sheep fencing to a height of 4ft. • Shelter: Hedges for the majority of the herd and stables or barn for lactating females and cria when snow or very poor weather. Please add a lovely • Clean water farm photo here please • Shirley. Grazing. • Hay or haylage in Spring, Autumn and Winter. • A little supplementary feeding for - Lactating females - Working males - Weanlings • DEFRA regs . Alpacas don’t need statutory movement records, ear tagging and pre movement testing; however, they are encouraged by the BAS.

Stocking rates. • Stocking rates are as follows: • Rough grazing land: 4 to 5 alpacas per acre. • Permanent pasture which is over five years old: 5 to 6 per acre. • Temporary pasture which is less than five years old: 6 to 8 per acre. • 2 alpacas can be kept on 1/2 an acre of pasture if well maintained.

Alpaca fibre. Alpaca fibre is: • Twice as strong and warm as merino wool. • Softer and lighter than cashmere. • Woven alpaca products don’t pill as readily as other fibres. • Alpaca products are very hard wearing.

The market for alpaca fleece. Niche market with limited volume selling raw and washed fleece to hand spinners and crafters. Expanding UK and European market in sorted fleece in bulk for numerous textile and craft operations. Ranging from high quality fleece to all rough fibre which is used for carpet and stuffing for duvets and pillows. Vibrant and expanding UK and international market in the sale of high quality yarns to knitters. Alpaca worldwide is an exclusive niche product in the textile industry. The demand for alpaca of the highest quality and high volumes of coarser alpaca is growing year on year as the UK and European markets gather momentum.

British Alpaca Society. • Membership is approximately 1400 and is split into regional groups. • The Society is involved in the following activities: • Administration of a world class pedigree breed register. • Health and Welfare. • Education and Training. • Shows; trade and show classes. • Produce a quarterly magazine and regular newsletter. • Fibre research and development. • All facets of marketing and promotion.

Commercial opportunities. • Income streams: Sale of breeding males and females: • New breeders • Existing breeders • UK and export Sale of castrated males: • Pets • Trekking • Sheep and chicken guards Sale of fibre: • Raw • Value added.

Commercial opportunities cont. Income streams: Additional attraction at holiday parks and animal zoos. Courses: • Alpaca husbandry/quality. • Fibre spinning and craft.

Lifestyle. • Alpacas are easy to keep with little maintenance required. • Many agricultural shows have alpaca classes and there are stand alone alpaca shows. • There is no slaughter involved in order to create an income. • The British Alpaca Society is a friendly organisation and there are many education and training workshops available at a regional level. • Alpacas are inquisitive creatures that enjoy human contact. • Alpaca farming qualifies for agricultural planning permission.

Challenges for the UK Alpaca industry. • To increase the number of alpacas in the UK to produce commercial quantities of fibre. • Breed up the quality of the alpacas to make them: • Grow a finer, denser and longer fleece. • Breed more predictable progeny. • Increase growth rate and lower maturation and weaning times. • Improve conformation for production longevity.