Despite the growing maturity of the British Alpaca Industry there is still surprisingly little material written about alpacas which originates in the UK. Alpacas have been farmed in commercial numbers in Britain since 1996 however alpaca breeders are fortunate in that they have been farmed in the USA for rather longer. And it is to the US that we look for much of the printed material used to support the husbandry of camelids and alpacas in particular. However many of these books are very expensive and give considerably more detail than is necessary when researching the background. Also of course much of what is written really only applies to the USA or Canada.

Perhaps the first call of any potential smallholder interested in taking up breeding alpacas is to go on to the internet and type in the word ‘alpaca’ under one of the many search engines. About two years ago there was a snippet in the London Evening Standard that of all the words typed into search engines ‘alpaca’ was second only to various words associated with sex and other similar activities. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of alpaca sites on the Internet, most of which are focused on marketing the animals on behalf of their owners. But because of the paucity of information to be found in libraries around the world the Internet is the first call for those seeking further information about the animals.

So where do you start in your search for objective information about farming alpacas? Do you favour the American sites with their massive marketing budgets or do you allow only UK sites to feature in your search? There are in fact quite a number of reasonable British sites which provide information, rather than marketing material. However you should probably ignore those sites which promote themselves by paying for prime sites on the search engines as they are inevitably those which will be relying on their marketing skills to pay for the privilege. Better to start perhaps with the two breed societies representing alpacas. Firstly you could try the British Camelids alpaca site www.alpaca.co.uk , here you will find information about keeping alpacas as well as the other camelids. Frankly the information is quite basic but provides you with a general overview about keeping and selecting alpacas. It also refers you to the other breed society the British Alpaca Society whose web site you will find at www.bas-uk.com . This society concentrates entirely on the alpaca but the information on this site can, like British Camelids, be seen as relatively minimal and not always up to date with the latest information. Essentially both societies rely on voluntary labour for the updating of their information and consequently may well linger on the same material for some months.

So then you can try to access the breeders’ web sites and on some of these you will find not only valuable up to date information but also lists of those animals which are for sale on their property. In addition for those who have decided that they wish to actually purchase alpacas there is an excellent search facility at www.alpacaseller.co.uk . Here you will find all the details of animals which are for sale from a whole number of breeders throughout the UK. It is one of the easiest sites to access and through which to navigate. It lists packages for the novice, stud males for those seeking to improve the quality of their stock and a whole range of individual animals for sale. It also lists breeders by region and if you wish for the breeder to contact you in the first instance you can leave your details on an enquiry board, stating your particular interests.

Although they have been farmed in South America for thousands of years and there is all that experience amongst breeders in Peru there is precious little recorded on paper. Of late, research stations on the high altiplano sponsored by the leading Peruvian universities have done incredible work on all aspects of the camelid – on the physiology, metabolism, fertility and general husbandry of the animals as well as pioneering work on embryonic transfer and artificial insemination, both of which are still being developed.

In the USA leading universities with animal medicine schools have senior members of their staff specialising in camelids and even the Peruvians refer to these prestigious scientists and veterinarians for their detailed studies into every aspect of the animal. With their usual unlimited enthusiasm the Americans have generously supported the research and work that these people do and there is a great deal of information from these sources.

In Australia there are many vets who have decided to specialise in camelids and have done excellent work in their research. Indeed it is an Australian vet who is probably leading the field in embryonic transfer.

But when it comes to researching these wonderful animals in the UK there is about as much material available today as there was when they arrived in commercial numbers for the first time in 1995. However there are three magazines which are produced on a quarterly basis, two are produced by the breed societies but there is one, Alpaca World, which is 100% commercial and which is aimed at a wider market than just the British. It includes articles from many leading authorities from around the world and is thoroughly professional in its layout and its editorial standards. The editor, Rachel Hebditch, is an alpaca breeder herself and is heavily involved in a textile initiative in which the fibre is turned into yarn. So the editorial is always varied and there is something in each issue for everyone.

For those who have taken the plunge and started their own breeding herd it is worth investing in some of the more expensive books not least to ensure that their vet is equipped with the best knowledge about these unique animals. For this there is the excellent American book ‘Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids’ (2nd Edition) by Murray Fowler DVM (ISBN0-8138-0397-7 published by Iowa State Press). For the owner wishing to have an easy to read manual for day to day management and further education then there is the very latest ‘Alpaca Book’ edited by Eric Hoffman who has gathered in some of the leading authorities on the animal and invited them to contribute whole chapters on their own specialisations. It is certainly easy to read and thoroughly informative for those wishing to gain further insight and confidence in what they are doing. (ISBN 0-9721242-0-9 published by Boony Doon Press www.boonydoonalpacas.com)

In December 2006 a new book arrived in the UK - Llamas and Alpacas, A Guide to Management. Written by Dr Gina Bromage, both a vet and alpaca owner, this is a very comprehensive study of all aspects of keeping and breeding alpacas and of course llamas. Lavishly illustrated with plenty of photos and diagrams Gina has covered a whole range of topics in a very readable style. Not least amongst its attributes is that it is priced at only £19.95. If you have problems finding a copy please contact us as we always keep a few copies for clients.