STUDY LOOKS AT ALPACA GRAZING BENEFITS FOR UPLAND FARMS
A HERD of alpacas in the Mid Wales hills welcomed two new arrivals during lockdown which may eventually change the face of Welsh farming.
One male and one female baby alpaca, known as cria, were born at the Pwllpeiran Upland Research Platform, Aberystwyth University’s research centre in the Cambrian Mountains.
They are the first cria to be born there since the “Peiran” herd was established last October.
Scientists want to see if the South American animals are suited to life in the Welsh hills – and if they could provide new opportunities for uplands farming.
The long-necked camelids, similar to llamas, are renowned for the quality of their wool and are happy to feed on low quality grasses which are often snubbed by sheep.
Scientists also believe there is potential to develop a market for their “novelty” meat, which is leaner than lamb or beef.
The Pwllpeiran project is being led by Dr Mariecia Fraser, who said: “These are changing times for Welsh upland farming.
“The next round of support payments is expected to push for a shift away from primary agricultural production towards nature conservation and carbon reduction.
“In setting up a research herd of alpacas at Pwllpeiran, we want to test whether the alpaca could offer hill farmers a viable alternative to sheep.”
Alpaca grazing habits differ from sheep.
Research has shown they will eat invasive hill grasses such as Molinia that are rejected by sheep.
And as they avoid plants of conservation concern, they may be attractive for farmers in carbon storage and biodiversity schemes.
Dr Fraser said mixed grazing with alpacas should also improve pasture utilisation and overall animal performance.
She added: “Alpacas have adapted to to live off poor quality tussock grasses in the Andes.
“We’ll be looking at the impact of their grazing and how well they could fit in to traditional patterns of farming here.”