| Developing the NZ alpaca industry since 1989
with top genetics, for studs and sales. |
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Phone us for
advice and help
(03) 318-1917
Our clients have access to our
FREE 0800
phone number.
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International Alpaca
Business
Southern Alpacas Stud may be in the south of New Zealand, but
we are an international alpaca business.
We import alpacas into New Zealand for improved genetics, and
we export alpacas as well.
Our fibre and yarns are sold world-wide.
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Importing Alpacas
We have been importing alpacas for the past decade.
Our import focus is on bringing
top genetics, in stud males and through pregnant
females, to further improve the New Zealand herd.
Many of our top stud boys
have originated from Australia or USA, from proven genetics,
and they have won championship ribbons in their country of
origin. For instance, ILR Alpine Fibre's Brutus, sired by
Hemingway, is producing the finest fibred cria in Australasia,
as shown by AGE data, and Patagonia's Maipo is a champion
black from USA.
We personally select
a small number of very high quality
females from Australia. They are all top pedigree alpacas, with
backgrounds to the top proven sires of Australia, USA and Peru, with elite
accoyo genetics.
We always succumb to the temptation of keeping some for
ourselves, but we do have a top selection for sale.
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Exporting Alpacas
We are proud that in New Zealand we are now breeding alpacas
who we believe are of equivalent quality to many of the Australian imported
animals.
 We use the best genetic lines, through males proven in the
show-rings of USA and Australia, and proven through magnificent offspring
already on the ground in these same countries.
Now
our quality stock are being exported. Most are going to
UK and Europe.
One of the studs we exported, Aquaviva Marcus, a son of Brutus, took Supreme Champion
at the National Dutch Show in 2009.
He is pictured here in Holland.
Click for more
export champions photos. |
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We have an isolation facility on farm, approved by our
government Food and Safety Authority (NZFSA), and we are
registered as an exporter.
Our facility has special alpaca
forage planted and the alpacas roam freely in their paddock.
Each paddock has access to a shelter shed with a supply
of additional hay and lucerne. We have a load-out area for
floats and transporters and a special ramp for air crate
loading.
We
have a separate yard and holding area for the testing and
checking required. Each country of destination has
different requirements and standards to be met, and we
arrange what needs to be done.
 Some
countries, like England, require alpacas to be screened, which
is done by a vet and a Judge. Nic is a NZ Judge and although
he cannot screen his own, he can pre-select alpacas for new
owners that will meet the relevant requirements.
Our farm is in a Tb free area and we are C11,
signifying that we have clear annual tests for 11 years, since
the camelid voluntary Tb scheme was started. All exports are
tested for Tb prior to entering isolation as a routine
measure. They are also all drenched and inoculated.
Here a blade shorn alpaca gets checked by an AgriQuality
vet prior to leaving our winter for a UK summer.
Getting the timing right for the
changing of the seasons can be tricky. Our early shipments were blade shorn to
leave some fibre on for UK winter. Mostly now we clean shear well in advance so
they have a growing coat on when they leave NZ.
We export our own alpacas and some from our clients who use our
genetics, and we also
are an exporter for EP Cambridge, as Australian alpacas come
here for six months
before they can go to UK. We have also contracted to other
New Zealand breeders to handle the
exportation of their alpacas, as we have the experience of
numerous shipments now.
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We can inspect and select alpacas for you, marrying our knowledge and industry contacts,
world-wide, with your animal requirements.
We can provide a
full service for exports - from selection, through testing and
isolation, to arranging transit and flights. |
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Flights around the World
Up until 2008, the
alpacas left our isolation facility and went in our float
directly to Christchurch International Airport, 20 minutes
away.
However EU requirements for one direct plane now means that
the alpacas are floated to Auckland, a 24 hour journey. There
they go to a transitional facility where they are in paddocks
for 24-48 hours, to rest between journeys. 
The alpacas are loaded on the
plane late at night for an early morning flight, and the
alpacas are at Heathrow within 36 hours. The flight to UK is
28 hours, including a stop-over in Singapore and Sharjah. It
is a similar timeframe to Germany.
The air crates have comfy carpet, a bed of tasty hay to eat,
and water bowls. The alpacas can stand up and move around.
The alpacas arrive in good shape, as seen in this picture of
a curious group looking around the Heathrow animal reception
area, where they are fed, watered and checked by vets,
before going to their new farm.
It is exciting to see "our" herd
and its genetics now flourishing in Europe. The shipping
agent said our cria are some of the best he has seen. Nic
makes trips at least annually to USA and Europe, to keep up
with the latest alpaca research, and to visit clients there.
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