Curious, gentle and full of character.

Alpacas are members of the camelid family, closely related to llamas and originally from South America — Peru, Chile and Bolivia. They were first exported to Australia and the United States in the early 1990s, and arrived in Europe and the United Kingdom by the mid-1990s. Since then, alpaca ownership in the UK has grown steadily, whether for business or simply as wonderful animals to keep.

There are two types of alpaca: Huacaya and Suri. Huacaya alpacas have fibre that grows vertically from the body in bundles with a crimped, wavy texture. Suri alpacas, on the other hand, have fibre that hangs down in long locks without any crimping. Our alpacas are all Huacaya, so when in full fleece they look like giant teddy bears.

Their main diet is grass, supplemented with hay and specialised alpaca feed. Fresh, clean water needs to be available at all times — and in the winter they love warm water too. Favourite treats include carrots, runner beans and cabbage. During the darker months, we also give them a vitamin paste every four to six weeks to keep them in top condition.