Organisation and operation of the Australian Industry

The Australian Alpaca Association Ltd currently has 3000 Members nationwide (as at Dec. 2009), with over 200,000 alpaca on the herd register. The total number of animals would be in excess of this, as many wethers are sold as pets and guardians for other livestock.

Australia is divided into 14 Regional areas, the Committee and Members of each Region arrange Seminars, Workshops, Showing and Judging, displays at AgShows and Community events as well as fleece pressing of the annual clip.

National collection of fleece is sent to Sunshine in Victoria for sale to Strategic Partners for manufacture into fashion garments,  soft, cosy bedding,  fire retardant deep pile carpet, and quality homewares to  name a few of the products bearing the brand “Australian Alpaca Connection”. Distribution to Department Stores and outlets throughout Australia, plus export to Germany, China, Japan, and USA is ably marketed by The Australian Alpaca Fleece Ltd., who had a successful trade display at the Intertextile Shanghai Home Textile Fair in 2007.

For those interested in entering the Alpaca Industry, even though not living in a rural situation, I am happy to discuss the possibility of purchasing a “starter” herd and agisting them on-farm at Rathdowney Alpacas at Barney View.