WHAT began as a solution to a fox problem about 13 years ago slowly evolved into an alpaca farm, a venture to get good quality fleece and an Alpaca of the Year win.
Greg and Jenny Bradshaw were living in Hastings when they began losing sheep to foxes so bought three alpacas to protect their flock, never imagining it would evolve beyond that.
However, two years later and after a few challenges, their first cria – baby alpaca – was born, alongside a venture to start breeding the animals.
While breeding white alpacas is not difficult, getting a good quality, consistent white fleece is, so the Bradshaw’s decided to focus on breeding brown animals instead.
“It was a bit different because not many people concentrated on that sort of thing. It’s a bit more prevalent now, but back then we decided we’d try and breed brown,” explained Greg.
They soon discovered that getting a consistently brown-coloured fleece was not as straightforward as one might imagine.
“So, we got whites mated with black males to try and get brown, so you’ve got a whole lot of different colours, as in dark brown, light brown, mid brown, medium and dark fawn.”
Even when they began breeding two brown alpacas together, they still ended up with animals with black fleeces, grey fleeces and everything in between.
“It’s not 50 shades of grey, but it is 50 shades of brown,” laughed Greg.
Greg and Jenny scrutinise their alpacas’ fleece and suitability for show from a young age because they can be entered from six months.
“You’re trying to do a breeding program to encourage all the better tracings of the animals you’re trying to breed with; density and fineness in the fleece and confirmation in the animals are what you’re trying to breed for. Then hopefully you get a decent
animal out of it at the end.”
Once a year, when the weather begins to warm up, the alpacas are shorn, and if the Bradshaw’s get a decent fleece off their animals, they’ll show them at Gippsland-based halter and fleece shows – after having moved to South Gippsland about five years ago.
“If you’ve got good fleeces the idea is to show them and hopefully win some ribbons to help showcase the animal as well,” explained Greg.
The fleeces are bought by local spinners and there are companies who also collect fleeces in bulk to make carpets or other products.
At the upcoming Korumburra Alpaca Show, which is a halter show only, Jenny will be taking four of their alpacas – and yes all their animals have names.
On show will be Ringo, Thunderstruck, Archie and Maverick, and the breeders are hopeful about winning a ribbon or two after the success they had at the Victorian Eastern Region Show 2023/24.
“One of our boys was named Alpaca of the Year, in the huacaya section,” explained Greg.
“He’s a roan, so that was pretty good for us because we never thought we’d ever win anything like that.”
Greg also mentioned that competition is stiff in the show ring, especially where male alpacas are concerned, and those that don’t make the grade are usually neutered and sold as pets or herd guards.
“They do make good guards, as in for looking after and protecting sheep and lambs,” explained the pair who also said they make good pets and companion animals; when they are not overhandled.
“When you’re stressed, you just go out into the paddocks. They come up to you, and you just seem to relax. It’s just so relaxing being around them and they have their own personalities,” said Jenny.
“They’re a nice, calm animal, they’re good on your paddocks because they’ve got soft pads so they don’t chop the paddock up. If you can get hold of one and train them up from four months, they’re good with the kids and can be good with older people that have health issues – it helps them relax a bit and get some joy out of being up close to the animals.”
The Korumburra Alpaca Show will be held on Saturday, June 28, from 9am-4pm at the Korumburra Showgrounds and entry is free.