Why Alpacas?

Alpacas are low-maintenance
Alpacas are easy to look after, requiring very little care apart from annual shearing and some basic preventative medication. They are soft-footed grazers who have a low impact on the land. In most locations they need little or no supplementary feeding, although a regular pattern of a little hay and pellet is good for both animal and owner - alpacas will learn to hand-feed very readily and when you need to catch one, it's much easier if they're keen to come to you...

Alpacas are clean
No risk of fly-strike on an alpaca... There's no delicate way to put this, alpacas simply don't grow fleece around the business end. There's nothing there to get messed-up in the way that sheep and other stock animals are prone to. They also have remarkably clean habits - they will pick an area in their paddock as a midden ('Poo-pile') and stick to it. No having to watch where you put your feet and it makes great fertiliser for the garden.

Alpacas produce some of the finest fleece
Alpaca fleece is highly prized by spinners, weavers and the fashion industry. Soft and warm, it makes garments of the highest quality.

Alpacas will guard other livestockCaramello and Grapes
Alpacas are herd animals, but they're not snobs. They will form strong bonds with sheep and goats and protect them as if they were their own. Alpacas, with their intelligence and superb eyesight, have been known to chase down, corner and trample foxes that have tried to take lambs or kids from herds that they've adopted. There is even anecdotal evidence that foxes, being smart creatures in their own right, have learnt to avoid farms and smallholdings that have alpacas on them

Alpacas are a good business opportunity
No-one is going to claim that if you buy two alpacas you will become rich overnight. Quite the opposite in fact. If you buy two alpacas you will probably spend a lot more than you intended to because, and here's a warning that everyone new to the industry should heed - Alpacas are addictive! You will want more, Don't say you weren't warned!
But, there is a business there for those who want it. Champion animals do change hands at auction for six figure sums occasionally and thousand dollar stud fees are not unusual at the top of the market. Talk to a range of breeders about your business plans before buying if you want to make the most of the commercial opportunities.

Alpacas are fun
We've left the most important one until last. As you visit breeders and maybe go to a few shows, you'll notice that alpaca owners tend to smile rather more then most. Alpacas have real character and will reward the attention and care that they're given. While they don't generally (there are exceptions) show affection in the same way as a dog or cat, they can bond with their owners and certainly react with something that seems to be recognition to their 'regular humans'. Careful though - every breeder, big or small, will tell you how hard it can be to let go when the time comes to let an animal go to its new owner.