We keep alpacas as guardians to the flock of sheep. They ‘adopt’ the flock as their herd, and protect them from predators.
Which in our case means the foxes.
We have four young males. Two pairs of the two different sorts of alpacas.
Benito and Bolero are huacaya alpacas. Buzz and Murphy are suri alpacas.
Huacayas grow a gossamer-fine fleece, and look like woolly teddy bears when they haven’t been shorn.
Suris grow an equally fine fleece which hangs in long pencil ringlets, a bit like dreadlocks, and often has a natural lustre to it, too.
They are members of the camelid family of animals and originate from South America, although ours were bred in this country.
They are very hardy, but appreciate a nice field shelter to use if the mood takes them.
They graze the grass, and eat hay, but also require a feed supplement which gives them all the extra vitamins and minerals they need.
In the winter months, due to our reduced sunshine levels here in the UK, they get extra vitamin D.
They are naturally-curious, gentle creatures with the most delightful faces.