Alpacas come to Andalucia
These wonderful animals that originate from Peru have finally made it to Spain. Many of the other European countries and North America and Australasia have been importing them for the last 20 years, but here in Andalucia it is only in the last couple of years that you will have found them.
They are the same family as llamas and camels. They are friendly and easy to look after. It can be great fun breeding them and the cria (babies) are a joy to have in your paddock. They need little in the way of food (about a quarter of what a sheep eats) and the climate here is fine for them. They don’t mind the heat nor the cold. Depending on the terrain one can have about 5 alpacas per acre. Since they have soft padded feet they do not churn up your paddock and unlike horses do not have to be taken in when the weather is bad or at night. They act as watchdogs, as they will see off foxes and dogs and so protect new born lambs or chickens.
They produce the most luxurious fibre (wool) that the Incas called the ‘fibre of the Gods’. It is much sought after as it is hypoallergenic and can be worn next to the skin.
There are four breeders in the province at present, in Gaucin, Ronda, Caete La Real and Cordoba. Between them they have about 50 alpacas, but with breeding it won’t be too far short of 100 by the end of the year. Compare that with 20,000 in the UK, 100,000 in USA and another 100,000 in Australia and you will see the potential of these animals.
If you are interested in developing your own herd then contact us and arrange to see them at our farm or come and visit us on one of our open days during the summer, they are wonderful with children. We always love the idea of talking alpaca.