Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South
American camelid, resembling a small llama in appearance.
Alpacas were first introduced into Australia in 1989. By 2001
there were approximately 40,000 alpacas in Australia. Alpacas in
Australia are generally farmed for their fine fleece, but they
are also used as guard animals for sheep flocks. Generally,
alpaca herds in Australia consist of ten or fewer animals.
Legislation, Regulations and Standards In addition to seeking
advice from professional advisers, a person in charge of alpacas
should be aware of the various Codes of Practice, which set out
the minimum husbandry standards for various animal species, or
for animals subject to procedures where their welfare may be at
risk. Management for Alpacas Owners There are many important
responsibilities associated with owning and farming alpacas.
These pages provide general information about maintaining good
production systems and caring for alpacas in your care. Forward
planning will greatly reduce the