Ballark Ridge does not have many show ribbons; a conscious decision was made very early in my alpaca career to put the animal’s welfare ahead of show ring results. The first and only show appearance to date for a new drop of alpaca resulted in a First Place for Ballark Ridge Ameerah Teh and a Second Place for Ballark Ridge Alberto at the Sunshine Coast Show, Nambour. Once I get better organised I will be submitting fleeces for showing (after all isn't that one of the main reasons we are breeding alpaca). This year I will be showing a selected few at regional Queensland shows. Hope to see you there.

Owning alpaca is a constant learning process. The most important aspect is to find a veterinary surgeon that, even if not experienced with alpaca, is willing to learn and seek guidance and advice from other vets. Alpacas appear to be different to all other animals when it comes to symptoms and it is often difficult to diagnose ailments; keeping a daily eye on your animals helps immensely. In a lot of instances you can avoid serious conditions by early intervention.

I am still learning ... and there is certainly a lot to learn.

If you are looking for a quiet cuddly pet for your children, alpacas are not the animal you are looking for. Alpaca are herd animals and need the company of other alpaca for their survival and sanity. They do have a very sweet nature (most of the time) but most do not like to be handled as pets. If you are looking for an animal that is environmentally friendly with a soft footprint on the ground and you have a reasonable sized property (preferably around 2 or 3 acres minimum) then alpacas may be for you.

Before purchasing your first two or more alpaca (again you cannot have just one!) you should do some research to ensure you are aware of what you are getting yourself into. They are very very addictive ... two is just never enough.