About

Keeping Alpacas

The Animals

Natives of the Andes, alpacas are extremely hardy and adaptable to most climates, altitudes, ground types and conditions.

Alpacas are undemanding to raise and maintain:

• Clean and intelligent
• Easily transported
• Most WhyNot animals are halter trained and biddable to catch and lead
• Exist primarily on grass
• 4ft high stock fencing and a simple shelter are all that is required
• Alpacas co-exist happily with most other domesticated and farm animals:
• They are extremely tolerant of familiar family pets
• Trustworthy with children
• Frequently run with other livestock in the capacity of herd-guards, and are quick to chase off trespassers and predators such as strange dogs and foxes

The Fleece

Alpacas are outstanding fibre producers:

• Their wool is second only to silk as the world’s strongest natural fibre
• Alpaca is also one of the world’s warmest natural fibres. During two World Wars alpaca fleece was used to line the flying jackets of aircrews
• The softness of this very special fibre rivals that of cashmere
• Alpaca wool is hypo-allergenic
• Every year each animal produces up to four kilos of fleece
• Production is fully sustainable with fleece and offspring produced annually, generally over many years
• Coming in a wide variety of natural shades, from white through rose-grey, grey, fawn and brown to black, alpaca wool is marvellous for knitting, and makes up into luxurious fabric.

WhyNot Alpacas

Established in the spring of 2000, the WhyNot Alpacas herd now numbers more than seventy alpacas, putting it amongst the largest in the North West of England. We have extensive old pastures at Ghyllas, on the edge of Cumbria’s Howgill Fells, overlooking the thriving market town of Sedbergh. When we returned to live here, the land had been used for farming sheep and cattle for many years; and so we decided to diversify.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Yorkshire mills were working alpaca fibre to make clothing for Queen Victoria and the Royal family. It seemed time for alpacas to make a comeback on land which once lay within the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Alpacas are herd animals, and we began our herd with four females. The first summer, one male and three female crias were born. Our original four alpacas are still with us; and they and their offspring continue to form the nucleus of the herd.

As the herd size has increased, we have brought in new bloodlines through stud males and new female breeding stock.

We now sell animals, as breeding stock, fibre producers and pets, to all over the UK and offer for purchase a wide range of products: from dog beds to duvets, mittens to mufflers; all made from Cumbrian alpaca fibre.

Why Not Alpacas? Why not indeed?

The size of the national herd is increasing daily, so WhyNot get in quick and start your own herd now? We pledge to do our best to help you.