Imported alpacas reach five figures
By FWi staff
THE first-ever auction of Peruvian stock imported by Arunvale Alpacas saw average prices pushed into five figures at Gay Street Farm, West Sussex, last weekend (15-16 July).
Foot-and-mouth disease regulations meant the top-quality animals had to spend three months in quarantine on the Pacific island of Niue and a further 12 months in Canada before they could be shipped into the UK.
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In total 120 were imported and, of these, 18 were put up for immediate sale, averaging 10,377 for the Huacaya and 11,340 for the Suris.
Top price on the day, however, was 13,860 for a pregnant Chilean animal with a female cria (calf) at foot.
Auctioneer Ashley Ward said there was enormous apprehension before the sale.
But with over 20 buyers, the home-bred Chilean stock was sold way ahead of expectations to average 7460.
Farm manager Nick Harrington-Smith confessed to being a bit disappointed with the Peruvian prices.
“Their value to the future of the British alpaca fibre industry is immense,” he said. But stud services for two Peruvian males that will not be available for general use made a pleasing 1050 average fee.
Earlier in the day, Aruvale Alpacas owner Alan Hamilton, who flew over from Australia for the sale, told the crowd of 300 that controlled expansion and careful marketing of the fibre was the key to the industrys long-term viability.