Alpaca Association New Zealand

18/11/2025

“Alpacas don’t need shearing every year” ❌ BUSTED
Annual shearing is essential for alpaca welfare!

Skipping a year can lead to:
🐑 Overheating and heat stress
🧵 Matting and skin issues
💧 Flystrike risk

Aim to shear once a year — usually in spring — and provide shelter after shearing if it’s cold.

Not to mention the fleece is glorious for spinning and knitting, or you can sell it raw from the animal!

17/11/2025

“Alpacas can live alone” ❌ BUSTED

Alpacas are herd animals through and through.
A single alpaca will suffer stress, anxiety, and loneliness.

✅ Ideally keep at least three alpacas together.
✅ They rely on their herd for comfort, protection, and communication.

Happy herds = healthy alpacas 💚

13/11/2025

“Alpaca fibre is itchy like wool” ❌ BUSTED

Alpaca fibre is luxuriously soft! ✨
Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca fibre has a smooth surface and no lanolin, making it hypoallergenic and non-itchy.

That’s why it’s prized for next-to-skin garments. A few of our members have farm shops that sell garments, like this gorgeous jersey from Nevalea Alpacas Farm Shop.

💬 Have you ever worn pure alpaca fibre? How did it feel?

12/11/2025

Alpacas don’t get flystrike” ❌ BUSTED

Alpacas can and do get flystrike!
While their dense fleece offers some protection, moisture, dirt, or wounds can attract flies.

✅ Check animals regularly — especially around the tail, legs, and any wounds.
✅ Keep paddocks clean.
✅ Shear and crutch as needed to reduce risk.

🚨 Flystrike is painful and can be fatal — prevention is key!

09/11/2025

💥 Think you know alpacas? Let’s find out!

This month, we’re busting some of the biggest myths about alpacas — from fibre and feeding to behaviour and welfare.

We’ll share a dozen myths — some BUSTED ❌, some TRUE ✅ — to help promote better understanding and care for alpacas across Aotearoa 🇳🇿

💬 How many do you think you’ll get right?

02/11/2025

NATIONAL ALPACA SHOW 2025 RESULTS UPDATE.

Hi All,
Just advising that the National Show 2025 results will be up on the website in the middle of November, as the person contracted to format them is overseas until then.

Regards
Lesley Burgess
(AANZ Registrar)

31/10/2025

It is recommended to castrate any male who will not be used as a stud — this not only prevents unwanted breeding, but also helps him become a calmer, safer, and happier paddock pet. It must always be done humanely and by a vet.

Under the NZ Code of Welfare, castration must always be done humanely and:
* Be carried out by a vet using appropriate pain relief and anesthesia
* Only be done when the animal is in good health
* Have careful aftercare and monitoring to prevent infection

📅 Recommended timing: around 12 to 18 months of age, once the testicles have descended and the animal is well grown. Early castration (under 6 months) is not recommended.

30/10/2025

REMINDER this SUNDAY - Field day at Thief of Hearts Alpaca Stud
Date: 2nd November 2025
Guest Speakers: Rubey and Mick Williams from Storybook Alpacas from NSW Australia.
Venue: 110 Waituna Road, RD 2, Pahiatua – Out behind the Tui Brewery in the Wairarapa.
Cost: Free to all AANZ members and $10 per person for non AANZ members
Attendance: If you would like to attend this Field Day, can you please let Eric know so that he can cater for you all.
Weather: If the weather is wet or hot, we have enough sheds to be able to do the Training course in the dry or out of the sun.

Time: 11.30am start with a coffee and lunch
Finish: 3 to 4pm

Rubey Williams is an accredited AAA Judge from Australia and is judging our Manawatu A&P Show on Saturday, Mick Williams (Rubey’s Dad) currently sits on the AAA board and is the director working closest with the Showing and Judging committees.

Mick will be able offer a unique perspective to the breeders on animal and fleece selection that is more perhaps targeted to commercial markets. I.e. the monetary value of a fleece and a simplified conversation around fibre traits through wool classing principles. Mick can also speak about animal selection for live animal exports and share our experience working within this facet of the industry.
Mick and Rubey are extremely well respected throughout Australia, and they have offered their time and expertise for the day to teach us all sorts of things they know about Judging and farming Alpacas.
Mick and Rubey’s Family own both Storybook Alpacas and Suri Alliance Alpacas and currently run a herd of over 1500 Alpacas They breed both Huacaya and Suri Alpaca, while focusing predominantly on white and light fawn. Their family’s studs focus on the long-term viability of alpacas. To this end they have immersed themselves in everything the industry has to offer – from fleece, to live export, international herd management, the show movement and reproductive technologies. Itinerary:
7. Our Quest Speakers for the day are Mick and Rubey Williams, and they will show us exactly what they are looking for in an animal when they are in the Show Ring. This will include what they are looking for in the animal and what they are looking at when they pull out the fleece samples.As Breeders this is a chance for us to learn what the traits the Judges are looking for and of course we will be able to ask as many questions as we like.
8. Bring your best fleece along: This is the best chance we as Breeders will have to place what we think is our best, or one of our best fleeces in front of Rubey and Mick and get their opinion on it. I have asked them both to give their honest opinion on these fleeces. This is so important when working on our breeding programme.
9. Lunch
For those that would like to try this, I will supply an Alpaca Burger for you to try. We will cook the Pattie and you can add what salads you like to it.
If you do not want to try an Alpaca Burger, please bring your own lunch.
I need to know in advance please if you are wanting to try an Alpaca Burger so that we have enough made.
10. Evaluating animals in a Paddock:
We will take a walk into a paddock with some Mums and their Cria and ask our Judges to evaluate some animals using their knowledge and experience. We can then catch some animals and see how our evaluations have stacked up once we open up their fleeces.
11. Sit down Discussion Time:
This is where we can sit down with Rubey and Mick and talk to them about anything Alpaca. We can supply you with tea or coffee, a cold drink or even a cold beer. Some topics as suggestion could include:
1. Politics in the Australian Industry
2. Exporting animals from Australia to NZ so we can add some new Genetics to our Herds.
3. What they do with their yearly wool production.
4. What they think the future will hold for Alpacas.
5. What they think we need to do here in NZ to save our industry.
6. Basically, any questions you might like to ask.
12. Cup of Tea/Coffee or a cold beer before you travel home. If you would like to stay a little longer to ask any questions, you will be more than welcome.
13. Mick and Rubey might like to visit a couple of farms on Monday (the next day). If you would like Mick & Rubey to have a quick visit at your farm on Monday 3rd November, please let me know and I will see what I can do.
Eric
Thief of Hearts
Eric@thiefofhearts.co.nz
www.alpacas.nz
027 3258101

Thief of Hearts Alpaca Stud, nestled in the foot hills of the Tararua Rangers just south of Palmerston North.

28/10/2025

Great alpaca care starts with great stockmanship.

🚫 The Code is clear: alpacas must never be handled with excessive force.
That means:
No dragging by the legs, neck, or tail
No pulling on or twisting of, the nose or ears
No excessive chasing

Alpacas respond best to quiet, low-stress handling — patience goes a long way 🦙💚

💬 What’s one handling trick or calm technique you’ve learned that makes your herd easier to manage?

27/10/2025

Moving alpacas? The Code of Welfare covers that too! 🚛

During transport, alpacas must:
* Travel in safe, non-slip, well-ventilated vehicles/trailers
* Be protected from heat and cold
* Have space to stand or sit naturally (majority of alpacas sit when travelling)
* Never be transported when sick, injured, or heavily pregnant (unless under vet advice)

💡 Calm handling and familiar companions make transport much less stressful.

24/10/2025

Good feed = good welfare 🌿

Alpacas must receive enough food to maintain health and condition. It’s not just about quantity — it’s about quality and balance! Remember alpacas are browsers, they need more than just grass.

Feed should be:
* Clean, safe, and not mouldy
* Suitable for their age, condition, and weather
* Checked daily — especially in winter or drought

Tip: Thin or lactating alpacas often need extra feed. Don’t wait for them to lose weight — feed proactively!

22/10/2025

Alpacas need friends — literally! 🦙🦙

The Code of Welfare makes it clear: alpacas must not be kept alone. They are herd animals that rely on companionship for comfort and security.

✅ Always keep at least two (the AANZ recommends 3 or more)
🚫 A single alpaca is a stressed alpaca

So if you see one living solo, it’s not cute — it’s a welfare concern.

📸 Show us your happy herd below!