With National Alpaca Week taking place around Australia from 10 to 18 May, this seems the ideal time to learn more about these cute camelids with the fabulous fleece and the industry in Australia.

Australian Rural & Regional News found out more from Brett Fallon, the President of the Australian Alpaca Association. Now you can be a little more informed when you visit the open farm days and events around the country this National Alpaca Week.

ARR.News: Why do you believe alpaca farming has taken off in Australia?

Brett Fallon:

• Many people are looking for an alternative to the traditional breeds/species that are commonly raised on Australian farms. Alpacas are environmentally sound animals; they are soft-footed and have less impact on the fragile Australian soils than a kangaroo.
• They are browsers, not grazers and do not pull grass out by its roots when times are tough.
• They are modified ruminants and do processing in the first stomach, as well as the second and third, so they get more bang for their buck when eating the same amount of grass or hard feed.
• They are long-lived animals that produce outstanding fibre throughout their life. Alpaca fibre has a lower scale height than sheep’s wool, so there is a reduced prickle factor that enables even higher micron fibre to behave as more akin to a finer sheep’s wool.
• Most alpacas have very limited lanolin in their fleece, so it is more environmentally friendly to scour and process.
• The fibre comes in a range of natural colours that do not require dying, so many people with allergies find it a perfect solution.

ARR.News: Requirements and viability. How does alpaca farming compare to sheep farming in terms of cost, time, land and other resources required, and of course, expected returns?

Brett Fallon:

• An alpaca requires approximately the same land size or less than a DSE (Dry Sheep Equivalent). So, land size and stocking rates is based on the quality of the land they are being raised on – much the same as sheep or cows.
• They are easily contained by standard sheep fencing and are very similar in their needs to running sheep; most of the equipment, drenches and vaccinations etc are the same.
• Many breeders make excellent returns at present based on live exports overseas, to establish herds in other countries (not for human consumption).
• Selling higher-quality animals usually requires attendance at Alpaca Shows, both agricultural and breed-specific, for those higher-value animals to be compared to their peers.
• Wether sales are also excellent producers of income.
• Fleece sales are continuing to improve, as alpaca fibre is highly desirable around the world. Getting enough is more of an issue than finding a market.
• Standard breeding stock is sold at both physical and online auctions as well as farm gate sales.

ARR.News: Fleece processing. Is industrial-scale fleece processing possible in Australia now? Can wool processing and alpaca fleece processing be done with the same tools? Is there a demand for more processing in Australia?

Brett Fallon:

• Unfortunately, fleece processing within Australia of both alpaca fleece and sheep wool is currently not happening.
• Most large-scale processing happens overseas. Small-scale processing does occur and is happening successfully in most states of Australia. Both sheep’s wool and alpaca fleece can be processed using the same, if not similar, tools and machinery, it just requires cleaning between breeds and colours.
• There is a demand for more processing in Australia, but economies of scale have concentrated the larger processing plants overseas.

ARR.News: How prone are alpacas to predation or biosecurity risks?

Brett Fallon:

• Alpacas are not particularly prone to predation, and in fact, many alpaca wethers are used successfully within lambing sheep flocks to protect the lambs from foxes.
• There is scientific research that supports the return that can be made by astutely introducing alpaca wethers to sheep flocks. The Australian Alpaca Association is phasing in the use of NLIS Tags and hoping to join the MLA Scheme in the years to come.
• In the interim, the AAA has created several biosecurity programs and guidelines for breeders and owners to adopt so that biosecurity risks are minimised.
• Traceability guarantees sustainability in the production of alpacas, controlling each process, ensuring responsible practices that preserve the environment and promote animal welfare.

ARR.News: What type of farm, farmland and farmer do you believe is most likely to become a profitable alpaca farmer in Australia?

Brett Fallon:

• The best farmland for alpacas is where it is also good for sheep.
• Just like sheep, they are best raised away from the coast and in more humid areas.
• Scale is the answer for profitability, just as it is for sheep and cattle farming.
• The real future for alpacas is a large-scale mixed-species production farm, where yards, fencing, feeding, water points, and shearing sheds are used by all species and take the greatest advantage of the ups and downs of the different fleece and agricultural markets.

ARR.News: What research should an interested farmer do before taking up alpaca farming?

Brett Fallon:

• The best advice would be to align yourself with a reputable local breeder and grower who is interested in the long-term viability of the industry.
• Attend as many training days as possible and have land, it is good for sheep as well.

Related stories: The Australian Alpaca Association is celebrating 35 years with National Alpaca Week; National Alpaca Week events in South QLD and Northern NSW, 10-18 May 2025