We have listed below information that we believe may assist you in buying your animals. These are our opinions based on our experience. Other breeders may have different views. Any feedback would be gratefully received.
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Decide why you want alpacas. If you love the idea of having these animals on your land and don't want the hassle (or the fun!) of breeding, buy castrated males. These are MUCH cheaper than females. If you are going to have a breeding program then of course females will be a necessity. Avoid buying full males and females unless you have a large amount of land to give adequate separation. |
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Set your budget. It makes little sense to spend many thousands of pounds on an animal if you have no intention of breeding or showing at the highest level. There are many fine alpacas available at the lower end of the market. |
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Make sure that the animal is healthy, of good conformity and has a good quality fleece. Avoid bandy-legged alpacas, especially if breeding. Check the teeth to see that they meet the top pallet and are not over or under-shot. |
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Avoid hand-reared males and full males, as they can become somewhat forceful in later life. |
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Always have more than one alpaca. They have strong herd instincts and will get very stressed on their own. It is Stour Valley Alpaca's opinion that the minimum number should be three. |
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Make sure that you have an adequate area of land for the number of animals that you buy. Stocking rates should be in the order of 6 to 8 alpacas per acre. Ensure that the fencing is robust, suitable for stock and ideally not less than 1.2m high. The land must be free from ragwort. Avoid other poisonous plants such as daffodils and rhododendron amongst many others. Alpacas love to trim hedges so make sure there are no species e.g. yew and privet, that will poison them hidden in the hedge. Alpacas may fall ill if they gorge on acorns and young oak shoots so keep them out of their way. |
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Make contact with your local vet to make sure that he is happy to treat alpacas. Have him chip your animals if they are not already done, and make sure you have insurance or you will have lost a lot of money if they are stolen or die. Also make sure that you have someone who can shear and grind teeth if you are not going to do these tasks yourself. |
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Provide shelter for your animals against wind and rain. Alpacas do not like to be confined so an open fronted shelter is best. Ensure that it is large enough to accommodate all your animals. |
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Try to ensure that your animals have good genetic diversity and have not been the subject of inter-breeding. |
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Visit as many breeders as you can, not only to vet the quality of their animals but also to pick up advice and tips. A good breeder should be able to spend as much time with you discussing your needs as you require. |
Above all enjoy your alpacas. Once you have taken the step you will wonder why you did not start earlier!