..:: Selecting an Alpaca ::..


There are alpacas to suit everyone. Whether you want pets or a hobby, or plan to invest in a business as an alpaca farmer, sourcing an alpaca is as close as clicking the "contact us” button.

However we do need to know which of the above is your preferred option. Whatever you choose, bear in mind that you must have at least 2 alpacas, experience having shown us that a minimum of three is preferable. This is because alpacas are herd-orientated animals and their psychology demands the company of other alpacas for their mental and physical well-being. How this duo or trio of friends is made up is a matter of personal preference, goals or budget.




Alpacas as Pets

Pets, at this time, almost always refers to wethers (castrated males), although occasionally an infertile female may be sold as a a pet. Most wethers are available for purchase from 6 months old and price is dependent on age, conformation and fleece quality. An animal that is halter-trained and easy to handle may have this reflected in their price as well. Prices for these animals starts from $900+ GST, upwards. Wethers, or pets, are ideal for those on a limited budget or for those not able to make the time commitment required for breeding animals. Wethers make sociable pets and are a delight to own as they are intelligent, inquisitive and willing to integrate into your lifestyle. Additionally, they generate an annual return from their fleece and if you are a keen gardener alpaca droppings can be composted readily.



Alpacas for Hobby Breeders

For people who have a slightly larger area available, can make the necessary time commitments and can expand their budget a little more, hobby breeding may be the way to go. Hobby breeding involves having a small number of breeding females with the intention of selling surplus stock. Generally most hobby breeders begin with a minimum number of adult animals and “starting packages” dependent on budget, availability, and the purchaser’s preferred options. Bearing in mind that two is the minimum quantity, these options include purchase of one or more “3-in-1” packages (pregnant female with a cria), a “3-in-1” plus a wether, or a “3-in-1” package with another breeding or pregnant female. Three-in-one packages start from around $10,000 + GST.



Alpacas as a business

If you are looking at investing in a business you must be prepared to invest $200,000 + for the animals alone. This is a specialised option and you should research the viability very carefully involving your financial planner and other business advisors. Plan on only investing in quality animals on a long term basis.