It’s Chile in Thirsk as breeders alpaca in the crowds

The third annual Yorkshire Alpaca Show was held on Saturday and saw a record number of entries as well as visitors to Thirsk Auction Mart.

More than 500 visitors were treated to 100 alpacas on display with breeders travelling from across the North and as far afield as Buckinghamshire and Scotland. The supreme champion was named as Fowberry Nobility, bred by Graham and Jenny MacHarg from Fowberry Alpacas at Barton-le-Willows, near York.

Show organiser Tina Metcalfe said the popularity of alpacas has risen dramatically in the last five years amid an increasing desire for agricultural diversification.

While a small herd of female alpacas can be established for about £10,000, a champion stud can command a price tag in excess of £50,000. It is thought that there are now nearly 30,000 alpacas in the UK.

Miss Metcalfe, who lives in Moss near Doncaster, began breeding alpacas three years ago after an accident forced her to give up her equestrian career, and she now has a 28-strong herd.

She said: “I always tell people that breeding alpacas is very addictive – once you start, you really cannot stop.

“They are lovely animals to keep and their fleeces can be used to make a whole range of clothing and items.”

Alpaca fibre is highly sought- after by the fashion industry and yarn producers as it is a hollow fibre, making it very light but extremely warm.

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