| There are a number of reasons to love alpaca fibre | | | | acre of land per six animals is preferable. As social |
| products - they are soft, warm and luxurious to the | | | | animals, alpacas should not be kept alone. For those |
| touch, as well as light weight and fashionable. There is | | | | with limited space, a pair of either females or gelded |
| another factor which makes the fibre all the more | | | | males is a popular choice, as the animals can keep |
| appealing to some - its amazing creature of origin. The | | | | each other company with minimal arguments! |
| alpaca has been bred for thousands of years in the | | | | The strong herding instinct of the alpaca means that it |
| Andes region of South America, but keeping them in | | | | is also ideally suited to another, more surprising role - it |
| the United Kingdom has only really taken off over the | | | | is an excellent guard animal. It is possible for alpacas to |
| last decade. The majority of people who keep these | | | | 'adopt' other species as their own herd, meaning that |
| intriguing animals do so for their fibre, though there are | | | | they will defend them from predators as they would |
| several other advantages that make alpacas stand | | | | their own group in the wild. In the UK they are most |
| out to farmers, smallholders and hobbyists. | | | | commonly used to guard sheep or poultry from foxes, |
| Both the Huacaya and the Suri alpaca are packed | | | | especially during early parts of the year when young |
| with personality and are generally docile, affectionate | | | | are born. Since 1986 Prince Charles' Duchy Home |
| and gentle. They do not have hooves like many other | | | | Farm has been a trailblazer in the world of organic |
| herbivorous livestock, meaning that there is less risk of | | | | farming. Today Home Farm is the home of a flock of |
| injury through kicking. Their padded feet are also kinder | | | | around 450 organically farmed sheep. Like many other |
| to pasture, they do not churn up the ground and | | | | farmers, His Royal Highness used to lose a number of |
| damage valuable grazing land. The fact that alpacas | | | | young lambs to foxes each year, some seasons as |
| have an exceptionally efficient digestive system also | | | | many as 50 new lambs were taken by the efficient |
| minimises their environmental impact, they can thrive on | | | | predators. Recently, however, the foxes have met |
| relatively small amounts of food, though owners need | | | | their match - a group of four male gelding alpacas! |
| to bear in mind they browse as well as graze, so will | | | | Whenever the foxes slink into view, the observant |
| almost certainly make a meal of hedges! Careful | | | | alpacas set about chasing them away from their |
| attention needs to be paid to how much alpacas eat, | | | | sheep 'family', running after the foxes and even giving |
| as they can become overweight easily which, like | | | | them a kicking if necessary! It doesn't take long for the |
| being underweight, can impact on the quality of their | | | | foxes to get the message and hunt for their dinner |
| fibre. Experts recommend giving alpacas at least an | | | | elsewhere. Thanks to the trusty alpaca Prince Charles |
| acre of pasture, as they enjoy space to exercise as | | | | didn't lose a single lamb during 2008. |
| well as to graze. For larger herds approximately an | | | | |