Since 2000 alpacas have been an integral part of the farming community in South Africa. The first batch was imported from South America (Chile); the second in 2001 from Australia. Since then a few more groups of these new world camelids have been imported and the number of registered breeders has risen to 51. Around 2000+ of these beautiful animals are grazing on farms and small holdings all over the country.
Our passion with breeding alpacas started mid-2003, when we encountered our first group of alpacas at an introductory spinning workshop on the small holding outside Cape Town. We bought our first 3 females, two of them pregnant -imported from Australia. – Albeit slow, our herd is growing and we are excited to report that we have bred our first ‘ home grown ’ herd sire.
It’s been a learning curve to care and work with these intelligent animals. Though quite hardy, alpacas do need special care. They had to adapt to the climate, which might be similar to parts of Australia; there are challenges when it comes to predators, soil quality and nutrition. The availablilty of knowledge with regard to medical situations has opened up an entire new field.
Mukuti Stud is a member of the South African Alpaca Breeders Society and our animals are registered with the South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association.
As we do not (yet) own a farm to keep our animals close, we’ve moved our female herd and the offspring to a cattle-, sheep- and alpaca breeding farm in the “Groot Karoo” in the Eastern Cape. Crickleywood Farm is close to the historical town of Graaff Reinet.
Our breeding males that are not working at the moment, as well as the young males, moved to the fruit- and sheep-farm ‘Doornkraal’ in the Ceres district, Western Cape. They will be exposed to the extreme weather fluctuations of the cold, snow-capped mountain area in winter as well as the hot, dry summers in the Karoo. The climate conditions would be similar to the Alti Plano, from where the animals originate; time will tell if the fleece quality of the animals will improve under these weather conditions and if a greater adaptability to the South African climate can be achieved.
We take a keen interest in the well-being of our animals. We partake in their shearing and any other care as much as possible.
Our main aim is to increase good herd stock in the country – fleece and fibre are a bonus, which is very welcome to the craft as well as fashion industry
© 2010 - Mukuti Stud Alpacas |