Alpaca breeders from as far away as Victoria and South Australia brought their animals to Moss Vale last weekend to be judged in an annual show. The 2017 Charles Ledger Alpaca Show saw more than 250 alpacas judged.
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Two breeds of alpacas were on display – suris, with the long dreadlock-style fleece, and the more common huacaya, which sport more of a woolly-looking fleece.
The show is named after Charles Ledger, who brought alpacas to Australia from South America in 1858.
Sharon Dawson has convened the event since 2010. She has been breeding the animal for nine years. Alpacas are ideal for the region because they thrive in the same environment as sheep, but cause much less damage to the land, Ms Dawson said.
“They’re called ‘environmentally friendly’ animals because they have soft padded feet, which don’t damage the ground,” she said. “They’re the most efficient feeders of any livestock. They get the most out of the food on the ground.”
