In a hotly contested alpaca showing at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, breeders from the Southern Highlands have come up trumps.

In the huacaya section supreme champion was awarded to Coolaroo Queen of the Desert, shown by Coolaroo Alpaca Stud of Berrima, while the suri section was dominated by Elysion Alpacas of Canyonleigh who were awarded champion junior suri for Paltarra Windsor and supreme champion suri for Elysion Oliver Twist.

Not to be outdone by the animals, the Alpaca Centre of Berrima won the blue ribbon for best commercial exhibit in the Australian Country style pavilion with their stylish display of luxury alpaca garments.

After the show Paul Haslin of Elysion Alpacas said the success of these animals justified their belief that the Southern Highlands is a perfect area for breeding top quality alpacas.

“The comparatively cool climate and lack of humidity really sees the breed thrive,’’ he said.

Elysion Alpacas has been breeding suri and huacaya alpacas in Canyonleigh since 1996 and is now achieving consistent success in the show ring.

Mr Haslin said coming from a city background it had been a steep learning curve but handling alpacas every day was a very rewarding lifestyle.

“The alpaca industry is making very positive forward progress,’’ he said.

“With the improvement in the professional management of breeding herds, the development of fibre processing facilities and the increasing level of interest in the alpaca from the fashion and retail sectors we are seeing the vision of this elite fibre industry move closer to commercial reality.”