Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 91

country life

Island Life - August/September 2010

thousands of years originally by the

and practice spinning, felting and

barn/shed is preferable to provide

Incas, where they were kept solely for

various types of weaving. They

shelter in foul weather and shade in

their fleeces; the fibres being highly

produce for sale jumpers, shawls, socks,

the summer. Normal stock fencing is

valued. Nowadays the alpaca plays an

blankets, scarfs and balls of wool to

adequate and you can keep between

even greater roll in village life and are

name but a few. This has generated

3 and six alpacas on an acre of land,

eaten throughout South America as the

considerable interest from many groups

with a little supplementing of hay in the

staple diet of their keepers.

who come to visit the farm including

winter and hard food during pregnancy

schools, cubs and brownies. They

and really harsh weather.

Having started in 1996, with three

So what happens if you are interested

pregnant females and two young cria’s

have visits every year from Chernobyl

(a cria being under one year old and

Children’s Lifeline with groups who are

in owning alpacas? Robert says,

meaning ‘gift from god’) the Moorfield

in this country for ‘respite’ holidays.

‘We always have males and females

herd now numbers 70, the majority

And once a year they have an open day

available for sale which, because they

being females but with a good number

to raise funds for various charities.

are a hobby rather than commercial

There are two types of alpaca, Robert

of stud males. They exhibit and

venture, tend to be at prices which
make friends rather than profits’.

compete two or three times a year at

and Rosemary keep the Huacaya

shows like Bath & West, East of England

(pronounced wakaya) alpaca as do

and the South of England Show and

most breeders, they, also have two Suri

Alpacas’ and their products you

have champions in both the female and

alpaca as specimens. The Suri have

can contact Robert and Rosemary

male classes.

long ‘locks’ of hair, similar to that of

on 741204, email – sophiegordon@

Wensleydale sheep or Angora goats but

sensus3.co.uk.

Robert and Rosemary are selective in
their breeding looking to produce top

are less common in our country.

quality fleeces. After being shorn, the

I asked Robert about keeping

majority of fleeces are sent away to be

alpacas and if they needed any special

commercially spun into wool. Quality

treatment considering they are so

and colour selection is important,

far from their native home? He told

Robe