A Cottage Industry using Modern Technology

SODOM HALL ALPACAS

In 2002 we bought our first Alpacas, three pregnant females, it being “love at first sight” when Celia was first introduced to them. Our smallholding has less than five acres of pasture, so we are limited to a maximum of 24 alpacas on it. Our problem is that we love to see the young cria hurtling around the fields, so something has to go each year to make room for them!

Being herd animals, they should not be kept singly - it is said that a lone alpaca will pine to the point of dying. A minimum "herd" could consist of 2 boys, BUT if you want to keep a female you should have a minimum of three females, as they are more inter-dependent than the males. Most breeders would not keep their own Stud Male with a small herd of females, but would buy in Stud services.

We usually have both male and female Alpacas for sale, some pregnant and/or with cria at foot. We are members of the Zarza Alliance (www.zarza-alpacas.co.uk), and through this alliance of breeders we will be able to source any of your requirements and enrol newcomers to these fascinating animals on courses run by Hilary Shenton.

Hilary has been involved with Alpacas for many years, is a registered judge with the British Alpaca Society (www.bas-uk.com), and an accredited breeder with the international Alpaca Breeders Fibre School in Peru.

Hilary provides help and advice for people setting up Alpaca herds. Her training courses cover from a basic introduction to advanced handling and showing, pregnancy and neo-natal care, and assessment and sorting of fleeces.

We can also provide a Stud Male service, either from our own white and fawn stud males, or from visiting studs of various colours (usually through the Zarza Alliance).