Website of the Southern NSW Region of the Australian Alpaca Association Ltd.
Training Events
Farming Alpaca – New Breeders Seminar / Workshop
21-22 June 2008
The Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) Southern NSW Region (SNSWR) has again conducted another successful Farming Alpaca Seminar / Workshop in Goulburn this week.
40 plus delegates attended the seminar held at Trappers and the on-farm workshop held at Jim & Connie Styles, huacaya and suri breeder’s property at Parksbourne.
Kim Pisaruk, Co-Convenor of the event said “This seminar has been driven towards educating those interested in entering the industry or new to the industry on all aspects – the good and the bad. The days were jammed packed with presenters and with an extraordinary amount of hard copy information provided to all, we feel confident that delegates who choose to enter the industry will do so with a much higher knowledge base than those who entered the industry 10 or even 5-years ago.
A big thank you to presenters Bill Robbins, Lyn & Graeme Dickson, Rob Harborne, Paul Vallely, Libby Garner-Paulin, Penny Pittard, Merilyn Mathews, Pauline Nugent, Phillip Pisaruk and Jim Styles who made the weekend a great success. Thank you also to Connie Styles for all her effort on Sunday.
AAA International Judge Lyn Dickson and Graeme Dickson, huacaya breeders from Glossodia who recently organised the first ever International Alpaca Fleece show held at Sydney Royal explained to delegates what to look for in regard to fleece when selecting breeding stock, and delegates were given the opportunity to get their hands into several huacaya and suri fleeces from poor quality to excellent quality. Paul Vallely of Australian Alpaca Fibre Testing, Crookwell was also on hand to explain how to read fibre test results.
Tracy Pratt, Co-Convenor said “Growers entering the industry have to be more aware of their business direction and the direction of the fleece industry, and recognise that there is the opportunity for all to enter. Some people may view the industry as an elitist industry with constant alpaca prices of $30,000 - $150,000. However, in reality more alpacas are sold at the price range of $800 - $10,000 and the trend at the moment is that colour alpaca like grey and black will fetch a higher price then white in the general market place. Even though processors may prefer white to light fawn fleece a grey female suri or huacaya may sell for triple the amount a white huacaya will sell for, the reason for this is that white to light fawn alpacas are available anywhere.”
“With many growers taking the initiative and sending their better huacaya and suri fleeces off for processing themselves, they are starting to reap the benefit of this decision with demand for the better quality end product being very high.”
AAA International Judge and alpaca breeder of suri and huacaya Bill Robbins of Holbrook also explained to delegates the different directions alpaca growers can take and explained the type of alpaca, the colours, and the costs involved in just purchasing alpaca. Bill also presented a paper on alpaca genetics.
Delegates Leila Heidecke and Robert Flett travelled from Batlow to attend the two day workshop, they are in the process of buying land and with presenter Rob Harborne, Pasture Consultant’s presentation about pasture management and weed control on properties the advice was invaluable.
Marlene Forrester and Peter Berry from Towamba also made the journey up to learn from some of the best in the industry. They already have a herd of alpaca and were keen to learn more about what support there is for the alpaca grower. Delegates were also provided with information on industries which support growers from fleece buyers, to processors, to health supplies, to transport, to online fleece sellers, to RLPB’s, and to the benefits of having a AAA registered herd.
One of the highlights for delegates was a very chilly walk around Jim and Connie Styles 117 acre property which they have been on for 2½ years. When purchased the property had only a boundary fence and no infrastructure, delegates could visualise what they would be required to do to manage an alpaca farm.
NSW Dept of Primary Industries PROfarm Short Courses
Sydney Basin – Wollondilly – Camden – Southern Highlands & Tablelands – South Coast & Illawarra Regions. Please contact 02 4640 6333 or 0408 492 039
- Fencing – 1 day Cost $235
3 August
9 November - Weeds and their control – 1 day Cost $195
27 September
29 November - Worm Check – 1 day Cost $180
Perform your own basic faecal egg counts for worms
23 June
26 September - Soils & Fertilisers – 1 day Cost $170
13 November - Introduction to pastures – 1 day Cost $170
17 October