Why agist alpacas?
Working in with an experienced alpaca breeder (to get started) is often a successful way to establish your alpaca enterprise. Agistment gives new people the opportunity to "ease into" breeding alpacas whilst gaining confidence and planning for their new farm. See our Farm Planning page for more information. Having animals "boarded out" with another breeder has many benefits. You don't need a lot of land with fencing, sheds, water supply and animal husbandry equipment. To start with some people find it difficult to handle certain animal husbandry requirements such as vaccinations, toe-nail and teeth trimming, worm testing and shearing. You can learn this "on-the-job" through agistment and working in with an experienced breeder.
Who agists Alpacas?
People seeking a change of lifestyle, by going onto the land to provide a future income, often get their start through agistment. They can be people starting out in adult life together or people planning for retirement. They often see agistment as a "stepping stone" to a new future. One that allows them to build up stock in readiness for a launch into something bigger when they are ready.
Then there are alpaca investors who own alpacas but don't have the land, expertise or time to maintain a herd. They find agistment is an excellent way to manage their growing herd without ever having to invest in land and facilities.
How can we help?
At Flowerdale Alpacas we offer the highest standards of professional care with on site manager, planned feeding programs, detailed history of all animals on computer records and 24 hour veterinary care by Dr Andrew Hogan of the Seymour Veterinary Surgery.
Our agisted alpacas are treated as our own and live with our own herd. We offer very reasonable rates on some of the best pastoral land in the country.
The agistment fee provides for all animal husbandry including:
- on-site vaccinations
- teeth and toe-nail trimming
- shearing
- worm testing
- vitamin injections
- 24 hour veterinary care
- computer records for all animals
- supplementary feeding
- multi-B vitamin supplements and drenches (as required)
We will provide all of the facilities and animal husbandry for a small weekly charge. You can visit your animals and participate in their care as often as you wish. We will even help you to show your alpacas, and as your herd grows we will handle your sales for you.
Investment Opportunity
There is a sound future for the breeding of alpacas in Australia. The industry in our country is barely 20 years old. The Australian herd runs to 130,000 animals. It is believed that to sustain a viable fleece industry, around 1-2,000,000 alpacas will be needed. The future opportunity for investment is significant. World demand for alpaca fleece outstrips supply. This is not likely to change in the foreseeable future. Australia's expertise in fibre production and value adding, provides the opportunity to be the best in the world.
Australian breeders and their alpacas are very highly regarded overseas. We are accepted as leaders in the fields of embryo transfer and progress with artificial insemination for alpacas. We have a rich heritage with fleece producing farm animals. Export is beginning to provide a real opportunity for Australian breeders to participate in a growing need for high quality breeding stock overseas. Export is becoming a lucrative business for Australian breeders and investors.
To discuss your agistment requirements or investment opportunities, phone Jeffry Farman on (03) 9593 2185.
