SHOW RESULTS - Royal Brisbane Show 2010, 15 Entries - 16 Ribbons

This event showcased the best alpacas in Queensland. We entered 11 alpacas and 5 Fleeces at this Show and came away with a ribbon for all bar one alpaca and one fleece, which included 4 alpacas and one fleece for clients.

This time a very big thanks goes to Cheryl Cochrane of Nerimbera Alpacas who again travelled with us to assist with every aspect of caring and putting the show team through the ring. Also a huge thank you to the Rockhampton Grammar School who sent 7 students and 2 supervisors to assist all the breeders in unloading/setting up/preparing, showing, caring for alpacas and packing up again.

Congratulations goes to new breeders Kerray Alpacas for taking 2 x 2nd Ribbons for Junior Male Suri Brown and Junior Female Huacaya Grey. Also Nerimbera Alpacas for 2nd Place Junior Huacaya Black and Lilybong Alpaca Stud for 3rd Place 30mths+ Fawn (Medium & Dark) Huacaya Fleece.

We are also very proud of one of our newest upcoming stud males of the future - Avon Park Emazing (pictured left) who did very well at this his second show..... taking out Junior Suri Champion.

See all results by clicking on "Show Results" button above.

10 Aug 10

SCHOOLs at the Royal Brisbane Show 2010

The Rockhampton Grammar School sent 7 students and 2 supervisors and Logan Lee State High School sent 5 students and 1 Supervisor to the Royal Brisbane Show this year to assist breeders in caring/preparing and showing alpacas and to participate in the State Junior Handlers Competition.

The students arrived ahead of all breeders to assist in setting up pens on Monday 09/08/10. Thereafter, they greeted and assisted in unloading all gear and animals to pens. They were instrumental in he seamless set up of this event. Unloading and setting up is an extremely difficult task, after most of us have spent many hours on the road traveling to the venue.... it normally takes me 2 hours to unload and set up and this year it was done in 30 minutes due to these hard working kids, who did it all with such enthusiasm.

After set up on day one finished at around 6pm, the students all fronted up again on day two to help breeders walk, feed/water, prepare animals for the showring and even took them in the ring for some breeders. Their assistance again on this day was invaluable. At the conclusion of alpaca judging, the ring was then setup for the Junior Handlers Competition - where we saw 4 Junior and 12 Senior Students compete for the coveted State Junior Handlers Awards, which saw 3 students from Rockhampton Grammar School take out 1st, 2nd and 3rd Places in the Senior section with ALL 16 kids receiving over 90 points out of a possible 100.

The students from both schools have all work with alpacas on their school farms - so they are not unfamiliar with the animals. However, this was the first time for most in preparing and showing animals.

Congratulations and thanks goes to all the students who attended and assisted with the Alpaca Competitions at the 2010 Royal Brisbane Show. You are all a credit to your schools and we sincerely hope that we will see you at the Ekka in 2011, if not other showing events throughout the year.

If you are a school that is interested in owning/breeding alpacas and would like some information or assistance, please contact the AAA Queensland Region Education Officer Kelli Pfeiffer on mobile 0409 129 953 and she will put you in touch with a breeder in your area that can help you.

If your school would like more information on participating Junior Handler Competitions at Nanango, Toowoomba, Gympie, Eumundi or Brisbane Shows.... please also contact Kelli and she will assist.

9 Aug 10

ROCKHAMPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL's Big Loss

It is with great sadness I advise that the Rockhampton Grammar School found their stunning Grey Huacaya Cria (RGS Emmaline) dead at the school farm on Saturday 7th August 2010.

Vet post mortem found that she had died from plant toxin - ingestation of a weed.

This is a timely reminder that our livestock are not safe from weeds at this time of year in Queensland. With unseasonably warm weather, followed by bursts of rain events, it appears that weeds have erupted which can be more palatable when in juvenile state which were consumed and resulted in the death of this elite breeding female of the future.

Our hearts go out to the school for this tragic loss..... only two days ahead of her traveling to compete at the Brisbane Royal!

TIP: Paddock rotation, allowing rest and regrowth and sup feeding to make sure animals are full and not looking for something to nibble that they may not necessarily chance in times of well grassed times.

7 Aug 10

DPI DIRECT: Five steps to better farm biosecurity

Good on farm biosecurity is vital to increasing farm productivity and profitability.

Implement our top tips to help protect your livestock and crops from pests and diseases.

For further details see: www. dpi. qld. gov. au/30_17364. htm

31 Jul 10

DPI DIRECT: Hefty fines send serious message

Fines totalling $114,000 have been handed down to five parties following the illegal entry of livestock into Queensland.

Any person involved in the movement of livestock into Queensland and anyone else in the supply chain such as transport companies can be held responsible for illegal entry.

For further details on correct method of transporting livestock into Queensland, see: http://www. dpi. qld. gov. au/4790_9859. htm.

It is really important to make sure that you always used licensed and experience livestock transport companies or persons. Your investment should not be put at risk, for the sake of saving a few dollars.

At Pfeiffer Park Alpacas we use only licensed and experienced transporters and ensure that all waybills are collected with the animals and tick clearance is done when we have animals leaving the State too. For more information on tick clearance, see: www. ppalpacas. com. au/market. php?id=72

30 Jul 10

SHOW RESULTS - Alpacas on Show 2010 (Eumundi), 10 Entries - 14 Ribbons

We took 10 alpacas to this Show and came away with a ribbon for all bar one entry, including three for clients alpacas.

Thanks also goes to Cheryl Cochrane of Nerimbera Alpacas who travelled with us and assisted with every aspect of caring and putting the show team through the ring.

There was a broad range of alpacas shown at this event - with larger classes, which makes the wins even better.

Congratulations must go to Rockhampton Grammar School who took out a 1st Junior Huacaya Female - Grey and also new owner Steve Hardsman with a 3rd Junior Suri Female - Fawn in a class of 10 alpacas.

We are also very proud of one of our newest upcoming stud males of the future - Beavona Lodge Hexter (pictured left) who did very well at this his second show.

See all results by clicking on "Show Results" button above.

3 Jul 10

CONGRATULATIONS - Rockhampton Grammar School 1st Cria Hits the Showring

RGS Emmaline - is the first cria that the school has produced since adding alpaca breeding to its agricultural science studies. The cria is a medium grey, show quality huacaya female who attended her first show, the prestigeous Alpacas on Show in Eumundi July 2010, and took out 1st Place Junior Grey Huacaya Female.

Congratulations must go to the school for breeding, training and preparing such stunning example of alpaca breeding stock - just the beginning of many show wins for this girl I would think!

3 Jul 10

NLIS Alpaca & Llama - Future Directions

Distributed by the Australian Alpaca Association.

The development of NLIS Alpaca and Llama is progressing well, although the time required to ensure all stakeholders are involved cannot be under-estimated. Breeders, governments, and a variety of service organisation are all part of the process.

Since the AAA secured $450,000 from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in June 2008 to establish NLIS for the alpaca and llama industries, much as happened.

• The NLIS National Consultative Committee (NCC) has been established to ensure all stakeholders are involved, including representatives of the AAA, DAFF, state and territory departments of agriculture, Australasian Alpaca Breeders Association, Llama Association of Australasia, Animal Health Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia. This committee has met a number of times to consider the detail of the program.
• The NCC has developed the detail of the system for alpacas and llamas. A significant outcome of this process has been the agreement to the National Business Rules for NLIS. A copy of these can be found at http://www. animalhealthaustralia. com. au/aahc/fms//Animal%20Health%20Australia/DRM/NLIS/NLIS%20Alpaca%20and%20Llama%20%20Draft%20Business%20Rules%20(December%202009). pdf
• The system described in the Business Rules consists of:

- Radio frequency (RF) ear tags (and the option of subcutaneous implants for llamas), each with a unique identification number (the same as the RF ear tags used in the sheep industry).
- Unique property identification codes (PIC) for each definable parcel of land. These are issued by the state governments and are consistent with other species.
- Movement documentation to be completed each time an animal moves from one PIC to another (to be developed).
- A central database to capture all movements from one PIC to another.

• An independent review of database options has been undertaken to ensure industry gets the best system available. This review showed the best option available as the NLIS Database managed by NLIS Ltd.
• Final costings for implementation of NLIS have been determined now that the system design has been finalised. From this, it is apparent that a recurrent funding stream is required. Options on how best to progress this are currently being considered. Any funding stream that is established must be fair, transparent, equitable and have the support of industry.
• Trials of possible tags are currently being progressed to determine their suitability for NLIS. 2,500 alpacas from 25 properties across Australia are currently being tagged with three different tag types to ensure they have the reliability, retention and longevity to be used in NLIS.

1 Jul 10

SHOW RESULTS - Gympie Show 2010, 6 Entries - 6 Ribbons

We took 6 alpacas to Gympie Show this year and came away with a ribbon for every entry, including two for clients permanently agisted animals on our farm.

Thanks also goes to Cheryl Cochrane of Nerimbera Alpacas who travelled with us to Gympie and assisted with every aspect of caring and putting the show team through the ring. Cheryl showed her first born cria at this show - a black huacaya male who took out 1st in his category! Excellent start to Nerimbera's showing career.

See results by clicking on "Show Results" button above.

15 May 10

MEDIA: Unruly Alpacas? Ask the experts

THESE Year 9 high school students are among the nation's best alpaca handlers - after 26 Rockhampton Grammar School students completed the nation's only school-based junior alpaca
handling course last Friday.

With just five weeks of professional training in their hands- on agricultural course and one year with the school as a registered breeder, 14-year-old Sam Gorgon and l3-year-old Isabelle Fanning were among the 26, all of whom achieved more than 80% in their practical exam.

While Sam is the son of a sheep and cattle farmer and Isabelle's family have cattle and horses, the South American camelid is not necessarily easier to handle. "Even though they're a lot smaller it's not really easier. "You can get the quieter ones but, if they don't feel like doing anything, they aren't goingto do it," Isabelle said.

Pride of the school's breeding program, grey huacaya Emiline is no exception. "Emiline, even though she's small, can be really
stubborn and so can her Mum - but you just have to talk them and be firm.

"We've got to lead them all year and we might even get the chance to lead them in the ring at the Ekka but we aren't sure
yet," Isabelle said.

The third student who is a likely candidate for the trip to the Ekka is Nathan Seng, who got 99 points out of 100 - equalling the best score for the course in the country according to judge Graeme Lunghusen and CQ breeder Kelli Pfeiffer.

"I think the children have done really well in this course sltuation, it's the only school with the fully accredited course, as it went through the process of becoming a registered breeder.

"One of the especially important parts about these kids is that they are using four of my alpacas - animals they have never seen before today - so it really shows how skillful they are compared to just using their own animals for the course. And while some of the kids have trouble, like when the alpacas sits down in the middle of the course, it's really about how they handle that situation," Kelli said.

Head of Rockhampton Grammar School's agricultural program Barbara Pitt said the course was a welcome break in handling cattle, as many boarders had cattle at home and it was a new animal from which to learn husbandry skills.

The 26 students who completed the junior alpaca handling course, accredited by the Australian Alpaca Association, were form Mrs Sedgwick's Year 9 class.

STORY BY: Daniel Burdon, Morning Bulletin

14 May 10

WINNERS - Lucky Door Prize Alpaca Farm Open Days 08 & 09/05/10

Pfeiffer Park Alpacas gave away tickets for a lucky door prize to every person who visited our farm on the above two dates and the following people were the lucky winners:

- ALPACA: Suri Wether won by Kristy of The Caves
- ALPACA TEDDY: Huacaya won by Max of Park Ridge

Congratulations to both winners - we hope you enjoy your new alpacas and hope to see you again at another of our open days.

PLEASE NOTE:
It was a requirement that the winner of the alpaca, did in fact purchase a mate to go along with their lucky door prize, as alpacas are a herd animal and would fret without one. And of course Kristy did purchase a mate.

11 May 10

MEDIA - Alpacas in the classroom

For the first time in Australia, students are learning the art of handling alpacas in the classroom.

For the first time in Australia, the Rockhampton Grammar School has introduced a class on handling alpacas.

26 students were put to the test and judged on their abilities to handle the animals.

Rockhampton alpaca breeder Kelli Pfeiffer says it's a great opportunity for the students.

"They manoeuvre through a pre-designed course by the Australian Alpaca Association and we're judging their ability to handle the animal through that obstacle course," says Kelli.
"It's a first for a school to actually be approved to run the junior handlers course on a school campus as part of their curriculum.
"Normally these junior handler courses are run at pre-approved shows that are run by the Australian Alpaca Association, so it's really special that the Rockhampton Grammar School have had this honour."

She says it takes a special someone to be a good handler.
"Someone who can be calm and in tune with the animal, understanding the animal will be nervous going through obstacles," she says.

So what do the judges look for?
"An ability for the children to tap into the psyche of the animal, keep them calm, move them through the obstacles, manage them when they become difficult, and calm them back down and move them through the course to the end."
She says alpacas are very easy to manage, but handlers need to know the trick to calming them down if they feel nervous.
She says she's impressed with how the students have participated in the class and with the progress they've made over the term.

"I actually saw the children, oh probably four weeks ago, I helped them with their initial training," she says.
"I came back yesterday to see how they were going and I was very impressed by their abilities."

She says it's not only a chance for students to better their animal handling skills, but also a great way to promote the industry.

"It's a real coo for the Australian Alpaca Association," she says.
"The industry grows at about 25 percent per annum in Australia.
"We have the largest herd outside of South America and with all these young kids coming up who are from Primary Industry families now learning about a new livestock option in Australia, it's a fantastic opportunity for the industry."

Student Sam Gordon says the chance to work with alpacas in their agricultural classes has been an eye opening experience.
"I enjoy handling alpacas because they're all nice and fuzzy and also leading them around because it's just really fun," he says.
It's not all fun and games though.
"Well alpacas might not be in a good mood for the day because they may stir up," says Sam.
"The other thing would be the nerves and all that because you can get really nervous doing all of this."
But Sam says he knows the solution to those problems.
"Well you just pull it really close to you and you start talking to it," he says.

"You just have to calm it down and get it to gain your trust."
Fellow student Isabella Fanning says they're the perfect size for her to handle.
"They're really good to work with, you know they're small so as a school they're not too big or anything," says Isabella.
"It's just a great experience because if we do do well in this we can go to the EKKA, which you know working with the alpacas is something I've never done before.
"So it's all just a big experience here for everybody, and especially myself."

JUDGE: Graeme Lunghusen (Pinjarra Alpacas)
JUDGES ASSISTANT: Kelli Pfeiffer (Pfeiffer Park Alpacas)

STORY: Mitch Grayson, ABC Capricornia, Link: www. abc. net. au/local/photos/2010/05/07/2893402. htm?site=capricornia

10 May 10

MEDIA - Fleeced of good money

BREEDING alpacas has experienced unprecedented growth in Central Queensland in the past five years. The fleeces of both suri and huacaya alpacas are of huge value to the high-end fashion industry and the animals are unusually easy to control.

As part of “National Alpaca Week”, which starts tomorrow and runs until May 9, Rural Weekly Central Queensland spoke to Capricorn Coast alpaca breeder of four years, Kelli Pfeiffer.

A former cattle producer, Kelli turned to alpaca farming as another option that still had a good profit margin but was much easier to run. There was no barbed wire on the fences at the
farm and the alpacas were kept in quite small paddocks compared to cattle.

“There’s no need for tough fencing, because they simply won’t challenge it like cattle will – and having barbed wire is not an option anyway, because it can tear their fleeces.

“You also don’t need a huge area to farm the alpacas as they are very light on the feed and grazing – they eat very little, about 2% of their body weight, and only eat the tops of pastures and grasses rather than pull them out completely like cattle.

“Usually, I would feed them on lucerne, white chaff and a little bit of mineral powder, as well as the grass pastures, while the
pregnant hembras will get a little bit extra in the last six weeks of carrying to ensure a successful delivery.

“They also have a soft, padded foot, so they are better on the environment,” Kelli said.

The Pfeiffer Park Alpacas stud farm runs some 85 head of alpacas, including some animals that Kelli is caretaking for other breeders or getting bred with some of her top studs.

The two main breeds of the South American camelid (part of the same family as the llama) are huacaya and suri.

“The suri has a fleece that’s very similar to long hair follicles and the huacaya has a woolly fleece more similar to sheep but both are really amazingly high lustre but low microns.

“That’s what we are farming – the biggest market for the processed fleece of alpacas is the European fashion houses, the big ones like Armani, that want it,” she said.

For a poor-quality fleece, alpaca breeders are still usually guaranteed about $10 per kg, while the top-notch fleeces of a grey suri will fetch producers up to $65 per kg.

“There are several different types of alpacas – there’s three shades of fawn, three shades of brown and three shades of grey, as well as white and black alpacas.

“With changes in the fashion industry preferring natural fleeces and materials to dyed fleeces, that has been of great benefit to
the alpaca industry.

“But, by far, the alpaca that is worth the most is rose-grey and we are proud to have the second best rose-grey alpaca in Australia here,” she said.

Another use of the alpacas is as guard animals for other herds, such as sheep, but the animals cannot be run in paddocks with cattle or horses.

“They are great guarding animals: The young male alpacas will protect a flock of sheep or goats by rearing up and stomping intruders like a feral dog to death.

“We use guarding males to protect our flocks of cria (young alpacas) but make sure the guards have been castrated, not just for the aggression factor but to protect against unwanted breeding.

“We would castrate 90% of our males, so we can ensure the best bloodlines are the only ones that are perpetuated,” she said.

“Usually, the alpacas are very gentle and that’s part of the reason why the industry has had so much growth recently – in CQ, there would have been between 25% and 50% growth every year since I first started breeding four years ago” Kelli said.

Female alpacas, or hembras, are pregnant for 11 and a half months of every year, Kelli said, and it is unusual for a hembra to not be carrying.

“They know better then we do when they are pregnant – they love it. If on day seven after they have been bred, the hembra spits at the male (macho), they are pregnant and that will happen every week for four weeks, then every fortnight for another month and they are definitely pregnant.

“That’s when we get them preg-tested and 99% of the time, they are right – only very rarely are they wrong and the hembra has miscarried and we have to induce an abortion,” said Kelli.

One question many visitors to her property ask is what the difference is between an alpaca and a llama. “It’s about 200kg!” she said. “That’s why I have one llama on the property and while he is only a baby of about 150kg, he will grow to around the 250kg mark, much bigger than alpacas,” Kelli said.

For information, interested people and potential breeders can attend one of the open days next weekend at one of three
alpaca studs near Rockhampton.

STORY BY: Daniel Burdon, Rural Weekly (Friday weekly insert Morning Bulletin)

30 Apr 10

SHOW RESULTS - Toowoomba Royal Show 2010, 6 Entries - 8 Ribbons!

We took 6 alpacas to Toowoomba's Royal Show this year and came away with a ribbon for every entry, plus 2 x Broad Ribbons!

See results by clicking on "Show Results" button above.

17 Apr 10

SHOW RESULTS - Colourbration Show 2010 (Nanango), 7 Entries - 10 Ribbons!

This year we took 7 alpacas to Queensland's Colourbration Show held in Nanango and came away with a ribbon for every entry, plus 1 x Supreme and 2 x Best in Show!

The SUPREME GREY SURI was given to our six month old Pfeiffer Park Eclipse, first progeny of our medium grey suri stud Aviana Farms Azeem.

Nanango Show also hosted a Junior Handlers Competition for the first time, Judge: Kelli Pfeiffer (Pfeiffer Park Alpacas)

See results by clicking on "Show Results" button above.

10 Apr 10

MEDIA - Wet weather prompts Melioidosis disease alert

HERE have been confirmed outbreaks of the soil-borne bacterial disease melioidosis that has affected goats and alpacas in the Yeppoon and Mackay districts.

Melioidosis cases in goats have also been confirmed at Townsville recently.

Biosecurity Queensland veterinarian Dr Amy Burroughs said the wet summer months had enabled the bacteria to thrive and come to the surface in wet and muddy conditions.

“Many animal species can be affected by melioidosis but goats, alpacas and sheep appear particularly susceptible and it is often a fatal disease,” Dr Burroughs said.

‘Most typical melioidosis symptoms are a nasal discharge, swollen joints, loss of appetite, pneumonia, abscesses, lameness, fever or nervous signs.”

Dr Burroughs said animals were most commonly exposed by direct contact with soil or water containing the bacteria which gained entry into wounds or abrasions in the skin and less commonly by ingestion or inhalation.

“Animals showing suspected melioidosis symptoms should be isolated and a veterinarian should be contacted as quickly as possible,” Dr Burroughs said.

“To reduce further exposure to the soil-borne bacteria, livestock should be relocated to dry pasture where the water table was lower. Maintaining good hygiene procedures such as cleaning concrete and paved animal housing areas are also recommended.”

Dr Burroughs said best defence against melioidosis was to limit exposure to potentially contaminated soil or water during the wet season. There was no vaccine available for animals and treatment was often unsuccessful.

Humans can also contract melioidosis from direct contact, aerosol or ingestion of contaminated soil or water but less commonly from direct contact with the lesions, bodily fluid discharges or faeces of infected animals.

Livestock owners working with potentially infected animals or in wet and muddy conditions should take precautions by wearing gloves and waterproof footwear to prevent contamination of cuts.

Queensland Health has advised that the transmission of melioidosis from animals to humans is very rare. More information on human disease is available from general practitioners or the Queensland Health website.

Further information about melioidosis in animals is available at www. deedi. qld. gov. au or by calling 13 25 23.

SOURCE: The Morning Bulletin Newspaper, 09/04/10
AUTHOR: DPI Rockhampton

9 Apr 10

MEDIA - Students learn, the alpaca way

STEPHANIE has swapped fractions and figures for fleece and farm life.

Through The Rockhampton Grammar School’s initiative, local students like Stephanie Newman, 14, have paired-up with Pfeiffer Park Alpacas to learn everything there is to know about these gentle creatures.

The school is one of only half a dozen in Queensland to provide this kind of opportunity to pupils.

Like others in her agricultural science class, Stephanie loves the subject’s hands-on approach.

“It’s really fun, I love working with the Alpacas; they’re so cute!” she said.

Animal husbandry, grooming, shearing, feeding, breeding, conception and birth are all on the curriculum.

Agricultural science co-ordinator, Barbara Pitt, explained how valuable the practical experience was for the fledgling farm-hands.

“They learn how to determine the health of the animals, how to handle the animals and eventually they will learn how to show the animals,” Ms Pitt said.

“In addition to learning all the basics, they get to experience emotional and physical bonding with the animal, it’s really very exciting.”

This excitement peaked when students, who now have five alpacas under their care, welcomed baby Emmaline to the herd.

“Alpacas have a gestation period of around 12 months, so the students were able to watch Bernadette progress throughout her pregnancy,” local farm owner Kelli Pfeiffer said.

“Emmaline was born late November and is a show-quality Huacaya elite, she has the most beautiful fleece.”

Students also learn all about fleece and the process it goes through to become a saleable product.

A public open day will be held at the farm on January 26.

22 Jan 10

MEDIA - $130,000 for SA alpaca

HE'S worth as much as a high-powered sports car, but he won't turn heads the way a Maserati would; only a select few can tell how valuable young Navigator is.

The four-year-old Adelaide Hills-born alpaca this week was sold to an English breeder for pound stg. 75,000 ($130,560), breaking European sales records.

The macho - as male alpacas are called - was born at the Oakbank property of Matthew and Cathy Lloyd and taken to Europe in late 2008 to be the main stud male at their UK-based farm.

Last year, Navigator was crowned undefeated supreme champion of Europe.

Mr Lloyd, 38, said while Navigator's pedigree and the quality of his fleece contributed to the record sale price, his dominant form through the 2009 European show season was the key factor contributing to the price.

Navigator was sold to Cambridge breeders Mick and Liz George, from the Houghton Hall stud. But the Georges had to chase the Lloyds across the globe to secure the sale.

"They had been trying to buy him from us all year," Mr Lloyd told the Sunday Mail this week from his farm in Wiltshire. "Every show that Navigator went to, he was supreme champion and they would try and buy him at the end of the show and we resisted.

"But they flew out to Oakbank in late October and twisted our arm."

The Lloyds started farming alpacas in 1993 with five females and now own the largest, privately held alpaca operation in the world, with 5000 animals on two continents. They have now relocated from Oakbank to the UK with their five children to oversee the running of their burgeoning operation.

Mrs Lloyd, 35, said the family missed Navigator.

"We are very sad," she said. "He was just so easy to handle and just so easy to have around and we'd known him since birth."

Mrs Lloyd said they knew Navigator was an exceptional animal from about three months of age.

"In Australia, we've got 4000 alpacas on farms so they have to be absolutely utterly amazing to catch our eye from the time they're born," she said.

Mrs Lloyd said the couple bred their alpacas for fleece and stud stock, but also for meat, which is used in top restaurants including Simon Bryant's Brasserie at the Adelaide Hilton.

The Lloyds are no strangers to setting records in the alpaca industry. In 1996, their fledgling business bought a creamy-blond alpaca called Ruffo for $200,000.

Source: Sunday Mail (SA)
Reporter: LIZ WALSH

10 Jan 10