Alpaca Industry - 25 years young
The alpaca industry started in Australia the same year as the ostrich and emu industries and it is not only still here, but the alpaca industry is really hitting its strides.
The meat and skin industry is well and truly under way, numerous mini mills for processing the fleece are now in operation, fleece is also being sold internationally, breeding stock has and is being exported to China and some fabulous fleece is being grown.
This fleece is translating into garments and bedding with the ‘whoo’ factor.
The alpaca is an extremely versatile animal with many going on lifestyle blocks and into small and big herds as herd protectors.
There are also herds of 100 to 2000 where breeding and fleece production is a priority.
Lakeside Pavilion will again be bustling with alpacas, some fabulous alpaca products and fleece. It just gets better each year.
Different breeders have different priorities. At Merungle, Jen is concentrating on breeding white, fawn and brown alpacas together with continually improving the fleece. They also keep a range of commercial alpaca products and are hoping that the 2016 range will be in time for Farm World.
Other alpaca breeders in the Lakeside Pavilion specialise in areas such as dyeing fleece for spinning, felting, etc which all demonstrates what a fabulous fleece alpaca is.
Handmade articles will also be available from these breeders.
National Alpaca Week runs from April 30 to May 8 and, if after visiting the Lakeside Pavilion at Farm World, you want to learn more about alpacas and what is happening with the fleece, then there will be farms open all over Australia.
Details will be available on the Australian Alpaca Association website - www.alpaca.asn.au
The ‘Free Entry’ raffle, with numerous chances to win some alpaca products, will again be available to everyone who visits Lakeside Pavilion.
The Alpaca Industry looks forward to welcoming you and answering your questions and providing you with alpaca experience and information.