The Australian Alpaca Association, which represents more than 1000 breeders, is hoping the nation’s consumers will be wooed by the woolly animals.
The industry is celebrating its 35th year with National Alpaca Week from Saturday, May 10, complete with a campaign to encourage people to buy products made from the unique fleece.
The association’s president Brett Fallon, who operates a stud in Western Australia, said alpaca fibre had many appealing qualities.
“It’s very warm ... it has a silky feel to it and a natural lustre that is hard to replicate,” Mr Fallon said.
“Because it lacks the lanolin that sheep wool has, it has a magical feel.”
It’s not just the fleece that’s magic. he said.
Alpacas are known to be easier on the land than cattle and sheep, allowing pastures to bounce back from grazing and drought.
And with their hooting call, they can expertly ward off foxes trying to prey on new lambs.
The association is working to educate and support small-scale farmers to harvest fleece in a bid to bolster the market.
Some farmers may only keep a few alpacas — sometimes as pets or as guard animals for other stock — but there is still money to be made in the fibre.
– with AAP.
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