Alpaca Dolce-Luna

Meet our little ray of sunshine, Alpaca Dolce-Luna! 🌙✨ Her name means "Sweet Moon" in Italian, and she’s every bit as magical as it sounds. This adorable cria is bringing all the joy and sweetness to our days—how could we not share her with you? 💖

Meet Dulce Luna, our sweet little cria! 🌙💕 This adorable female is a fancy Huacaya alpaca, and she’s already stealing hearts with her charm and her fleece. 🦙✨ We love watching the bond she shares with her friends and her mum. Speaking of bonds, we will begin the weaning process at around six months of age, depending on good weather conditions. We will discuss weaning in more detail at our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley. Isn't she jus the sweetest? #CriaLove #FancyHuacaya #LittleValleyFarm

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located? We are located in Wollombi Valley, in the sleepy hamlet of Laguna. We are lucky to be surrounded by national parks and state forests. It feels remote and is very different from Pokolbin, which has extensive vineyards and is a lovely 40-minute drive. We are in the wilderness, appreciate nature, and love it like that.

Getting to Laguna, Wollombi Valley

Little Valley Farm is in its own valley, just 90 minutes from Sydney and an hour from the Central Coast. However, if you're travelling on a Friday afternoon or during a long weekend, heavy traffic can extend the journey to over two hours, so please plan accordingly.

[ Vehicle access ] The road to our farm is a dirt track with potholes surrounded by thick bushland. Although a short, steep section exists, any standard 2WD car can easily navigate it. Confident drivers have no issues. If you have modified your car or have a low sports car, then it's at your own risk. Sport cars and low-modified cars are not recommended. Drive 20 km to protect our wildlife, as wombats, roos, and lyrebirds live here.

Our valley has no mobile reception, and OPTUS service is random. To ensure you find us, you'll need the address and detailed instructions to avoid while on our neighbour’s property. I will email them to you, as our address is not published online. Please save this information for easy access during your journey.

If you're travelling from Sydney, the last petrol stop is Kulnura One Stop Jerry's Cafe, about 35 minutes from us. Keep in mind they close early, so plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can refuel in Broke or Cessnock, approximately 40 minutes away.

What does working alpaca farm mean?

Our farm is a bustling place where our livestock receive care every day of the week, morning and afternoon, rain, hail or shine.

Can we bring our dog or cat to your farm? Due to our strict farm biosecurity, pets are not allowed.

Are there snakes there? The most frequently asked question is whether there are snakes in the area. The answer is yes, as we aim to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Since it is their natural habitat, snakes can be seen throughout the year, and we ensure not to disturb them. However, it is essential to wear closed-toe shoes when outside.

Do you offer farmstay? Yes, we do, but only for four (4) adults. All guests must be over 18 years old. We are not set up for children or infants. For ‘summerhouse’ booking info, click here.

Things to do when in the valley? Check out my blog for top recommendations on where to eat, drink, shop, and experience the best of our region. From hidden gems to local favourites, you’ll find everything you need to plan a memorable visit!

Our Bio-Security Policy and COVID-19 safety measures are in place. All visits must have an appointment; day visits are not permitted.

Do you sell alpacas? As registered breeders, we certainly do and are also part of the Australian Alpaca Association. You will need a PIC (property identification code) to purchase alpacas from us. We like to meet you, show you our herd, and answer your questions about caring for alpacas. Read more on our alpacas for sale blog.

“Livestock inspections and visits are via appointment only.”
— Daniela

Do you run alpaca workshops? We run alpaca workshops regularly workshops.

Do you sell alpaca fleece? We certainly do. Please visit our online shop here. Most of our fleece is available after our annual Spring shearing day.

NOTE: If you have been to Indonesia, including Bali, after June 2022, please tell us BEFORE you visit. Foot & Mouth Disease is a serious threat to all of Australia’s livestock.

Our Bio-Security Policy

By booking your visit to Little Valley Farm, you understand that it is a working farm, with the attending inherent risks, and hereby release and discharge the farm, its owners, employees, volunteers or agents from any and all liability arising from an incident, accident, injury, theft, or damages that may be sustained to you or to any property belonging to you, while visiting.  You further agree that action will not be taken against its owners, and you acknowledge our bio-security policy and boundaries that are in place. Bio-security is covered upon check-in after your confirmed appointment on the farm.

*Closed shoes are essential on the farm, and gumboots are always preferred, especially after the rainy season. Flip-flops are not permitted on the paddocks. Bring boots after the flood as lots of rain the last 18 months if you want to get up close and personal with the alpacas. Otherwise indoor and outdoor shoes you will need.



Source: frequentlyaskedquestions

Crias and those little Autumn jackets

What Does Cria Mean?

"cria" originates from the Spanish cría, meaning "offpring/baby." In the world of alpacas, a cria refers to a newborn alpaca. These adorable little creatures require special attention, particularly when it comes to keeping warm.

Cria sometimes wears dog coats to help regulate their body temperature, particularly in colder weather. Unlike adult alpacas, crias don’t yet have a fully developed fleece, making them more vulnerable to cold, damp conditions and temperature fluctuations.

First and foremost, we provide safe, sheltered spaces to protect the mother and her cria from wind, rain, and cold. Inside the shelter, we create a cozy environment with a straw-covered floor, a generous supply of high-quality lucerne hay for the dam, and oaten chaff for extra nourishment. We place a small battery-operated light outside the shed to ensure the cria can see its mother and continue to nurse through the night.

To keep the cria warm, we use dog jackets in various sizes, tailored to fit snugly. These jackets help maintain the cria's body temperature, and we make sure they don’t interfere with the important bonding process between mother and baby. The jackets are typically removed in the morning and put back on later in the afternoon, depending on the weather, for the next few days. This extra care helps the cria thrive in those crucial early stages of life.

Tip: Dogs' coats are not waterproof, so ensure they stay dry and undercover in a good size pen. If it's raining and you have difficulty keeping the cria undercover, grab some bubble wrap as a last resort and wrap it around the cria middle section.  

We ensure that the tail and top of the cria’s head are left uncovered so the mother can smell her baby. This is important for bonding, as alpaca mothers use scent to recognise and nurture their cria.

We are located in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Autumn is the best time for cria births, while winter can be quite cold. Summers can either be wet or uncomfortably hot. To prepare for this, we always ensure that our maternity pens are ready. You may not need jackets if you are in a humid or warm location but we always recommend that you have pens and shelters available for the alpacas.

More about this will be discussed at our next alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley.

Learn all about alpacas with us at Little Valley Farm

Well that was certainly a sweet moment, watching these two adorable cria’s.

Welcome to our alpaca farm in Australia!

We're so excited to share with you the beauty and joy of raising alpacas. In this video, we'll take a closer look at two crias (baby alpacas) interacting on the farm. We'll also talk more about cria care at our upcoming alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley.

Why choose our alpaca workshop?

  • We're passionate about alpacas and committed to providing people with the best possible education.

  • Our workshops are taught by experienced alpaca farmers and breeders.

  • We offer a variety of workshops to suit all levels of experience.

  • Our workshops are held in a beautiful location in the Hunter Valley.

We hope you'll join us at our next alpaca workshop!

In the meantime, please feel free to browse our website to learn more about our farm and our workshops. We look forward to seeing you soon! Daniela

Alpacas hearing dog barking

We’re currently by the creek paddocks with the alpacas, and we’ve just heard a dog barking. This video captures the alpacas on alert, all looking in the direction of the barking. They stay close together, attentive, waiting to see what will happen next.

You can observe how erect their ears are and the intensity etched on their faces. Once the threat passes—since the dog isn't going to cross the creek—they relax, and you can notice a change in their demeanour.

We don’t have dogs, nor do we allow dogs on our property, as part of our strict bio-security policy. It’s great to see that the potential threat is gone, and they are already back to relaxing.

If you have dogs and alpacas, you can introduce them slowly, and hopefully, they will become great companions. Many of our clients have successfully facilitated this friendship.

We have also addressed the relationship between dogs and alpacas, including the issues posed by wild and roaming domestic dogs, on our blog and in our videos.

Yes, you can keep your (trained) pet dogs with the alpacas or separate them using appropriate fencing and paddocks. However, I’m always concerned about dog attacks on livestock in our valley, especially in the Hunter Valley. These attacks can involve goats, sheep, and other alpacas, primarily due to wild dogs or stray domestic dogs. This is a significant issue for me, and I would like to stress that a pack of dogs is no match for alpacas, and the alpacas will be severely injured or, worse, killed. I am the alpacas guard. More about this at our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley.

Where do alpacas sleep? Answers from an alpaca farmer

Good Morning from Little Valley Farm! 🌅 It’s Daniela here, and today I’m answering a question I get asked all the time: Where do your alpacas like to sleep? 🦙💤

Well, our alpacas have their preferences! Their top two choices are grass and dirt. They absolutely love to roll in the dirt or lie down on a soft dirt patch. Our alpaca shelters have dirt floors, which makes them super cozy when they head inside for a rest. 🌾 If you take a look at the video, you’ll often see them lounging around on the grass enjoying a peaceful nap or enjoying a dirt patch in the sun. 

If there isn’t a dirt patch available in the paddock, don’t worry—they’ll create one themselves by rolling around until they’ve got the perfect spot. On hot days, you might notice them laying on the dirt to cool off, but they definitely won’t sleep on a bed or anything fancy like that. 😉

During the colder, rainy winter months, we make sure to spread hay or straw on the shed floors to keep them extra comfortable. 🐾 However, our shelters are already pretty cozy, so it’s not much of a problem. They don’t care for concrete floors because they can be quite chilly, but a layer of straw does the trick to keep them warm and happy.

So, whether it’s dirt, grass, or a comfy spot in their shed, our alpacas always find a way to rest in style here at Little Valley Farm! More about this will be discussed at our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley. 

Our alpaca workshops are held monthly in the Hunter Valley, just 90 minutes from Sydney and one hour from the Central Coast. Visit our website at littlevalleyfarm.com.au to check the available dates and book your spot online. We also offer a wonderful alpaca manual that you can purchase online or buy during your visit to our farm for the workshop.

We look forward to seeing you at Little Valley Farm to share our passion for alpacas!

Alpaca Etiquette Tips from Little Valley Farm | Hunter Valley Alpaca Farm

Good Morning from Little Valley Farm! ☀️ It’s Daniela here, and today I’m sharing some helpful tips on how to get to know our alpacas, along with a few etiquette guidelines to make sure you and our alpacas have a wonderful experience together.

Alpaca Etiquette: The Do's

- Approach Slowly and Gently: Our alpacas don’t know you yet, so it’s important to move calmly. They’ll appreciate your gentle energy.

- Speak Softly: A calm, soothing voice goes a long way in helping alpacas feel comfortable around you.

- Use Flat Hands: When touching an alpaca, always keep your hand flat and gently pat with the back of your hand. Grabbing their fibre might make them feel threatened, as it mimics a predator’s grip.

- Pat in the Right Spots: Stick to safe areas like their back, shoulders, and the sides of their neck. These are the places they enjoy being touched.

- Ask About Their Personality: Every alpaca has its own quirks and preferences. Ask the owner what each alpaca likes or dislikes so you can bond more easily.

Alpaca Etiquette: The Don’ts

- Don’t Feed Without Asking: Always check with the owner before offering any treats. Their diet is carefully managed.

- Avoid Sensitive Areas: Alpacas don’t like being touched on their head, hindquarters, tail, or toes, so it’s best to avoid these spots.

- No Grabbing or Hugging: While tempting, alpacas may feel frightened or confined by hugs. Remember, they’re still getting to know you!

- Don’t Stand Behind Them: Alpacas can kick if startled, like many animals. For your safety, always stay where they can see you.

- Avoid Sudden Movements: Alpacas are sensitive to quick motions. A calm and steady presence will help them feel secure.

Enjoy your time with alpacas! Watching them roam the paddocks is such a peaceful experience, and don’t forget to snap some photos—you might just fall in love with them like I have. 🦙💚

Join us for our next alpaca worship in the Hunter Valley.

Little Valley Farm located in Laguna only 90 minutes from Sydney and one hour from the Central Coast.

Alpaca as guards animals

Meet Vinkie: Little Valley Farm’s Top Alpaca Alarm caller.

At Little Valley Farm, we take the safety of our herd seriously, and Vinkie, one of our trusted alpacas, leads the charge as our top alarm caller but not a guard. Why an alarm caller and not a guard? What is the difference?

Vinkie can sense when something is not right, hiding out in the bush, whether a dog, fox, snake, eagle, wombat or even a tiny echidna passing through the paddocks. Her sharp instincts are followed by the distinctive alpaca alarm call, and the herd knows to gather and stay safe. It's also an alert for us to get out on the paddock and double-check that everything is as it should be. At the end of the day, we are their guards! 

Not all alpacas make great guards, but some are great at alerting and making that particular alpaca alarm sound. I do not like alpacas being guards to sheep, especially if wild dogs are in the area. Dog and wild dogs severely injure or, even worse, kill the alpacas, as dogs are no match for alpacas. 

Other livestock make better guards than alpacas depending on what you are guarding, the size of the land and the number of animals you have. You must also make the judgment call: do you want the alpacas as pets or guards? Entire male alpacas do not make good guards, and they must be castrated at the appropriate age to avoid injury to small livestock such as goats and sheep. 

The best protection for your livestock is secure pens, excellent fencing and people nearby. This is my opinion, and other breeders may say something else. Wether alpacas (castrated males) may be helpful around your chickens from foxes, but it's just their sheer presence that may deter the fox or eagle. I have never seen an alpaca kill a fox here, and we have plenty of foxes; they keep an eye on each other by smartly avoiding one another.

What about your pet dog? 

To maintain the safety of our herd, Little Valley Farm has a strict biosecurity policy—no dogs allowed on the property. For those considering adding alpacas to a home where pet dogs are present, we’ll cover the best strategies for introducing your dogs to alpacas safely and in a controlled manner. Around 90% of our clients have successfully integrated their dogs and alpacas, whether by supervised interaction or by separating them with appropriate fencing. The other 10% are like us and don’t have dogs. 

We will also discuss the correct fencing and pens to set up on your farm for extra protection.

We hope this helps! If you have any questions, please email us. Join us for our next alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley, where we will explore this topic further.

“While alpacas are great at deterring smaller predators, wild dogs/domestic dogs pose a much bigger threat. Sadly, alpacas are not a match for wild dogs, and encounters can lead to serious injuries or even death.”
— Daniela

Alpaca workshops are run monthly in the Hunter Valley and you can book in your dates for 2024 and 2025 via our Little Valley Farm website.


Baby alpacas, crias and their mums

Good morning from the paddocks of Little Valley Farm!

It’s a special moment here as we watch one of our mama alpacas bonding with her newborn cria. Since it’s an autumn birth, you’ll see the little one wrapped in a cozy dog jacket to stay warm (as they can’t regulate their body temperature for the first week).

Join us at the farm as we share the joys of raising alpacas, especially during those precious first 30 days of life - and how quickly they grow in the first 30 days. It's amazingly fast. We will also be discussing cria care, cria kits and what you need, plus much more, at our upcoming alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley. Daniela

Alpaca Morning Chores

Alpacas roam the paddocks while we use our Greystone paddock vac to keep the paddocks super clean. By cleaning up their dung piles, we can help reduce the worm burden in our livestock and ensure that our alpacas are happy and healthy all year round.

Read more on alpaca communal dung piles here.

Join us for our next alpaca INTRODUCTION TO ALPACA WORKSHOP in the Hunter Valley.

Wet Winters and Winter Feed

Autumn / Winter 2024 its certainly a wet one for us right now. What do we need to do to maintain the health of our alpacas during this cold wet season.

Managing wet winters

Remember, things may not always be as they seem. Now is the time to monitor your pasture quality and alpaca condition, even if you're busy enjoying the sight of lush green feed this winter.

During wet and cold weather, pastures may look healthy and green but might struggle to meet the energy needs of your alpacas. You may still need to provide supplementary hay. In wet Autumn/winter, waterlogging can reduce pasture growth and nutrition, and if there's a shortage of dry feed and roughage, your animals can quickly lose their condition.

At this time of year, when winter feed is typically insufficient, it's vital to adhere to a grazing plan and make prompt decisions to safeguard your animals' health - regardless of the size of your alpaca herd. With cooler, shorter winter days, pasture growth slows, and all livestock, particularly young, pregnant, or lactating animals, can rapidly lose condition if their feed doesn't meet their energy needs.

Nothing beats walking around the paddock, checking the type of feed available, assessing how your livestock are coping.

Strive for rotational grazing, supplement feeding, and the provision of vitamins and minerals. Always body score your alpacas and maintain detailed records of their condition and any vital information. These records will be invaluable for future reference.

We will talk more about this at our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley.

We are 90 minutes from Sydney and one hour from the Central Coast. Book in via our website for our Introduction to Alpaca Workshop.

Introduction to Alpaca Workshops

It was a splendid winter day in the Hunter Valley, ideal for our Introduction to Alpacas workshop last Sunday. We are always thrilled to see the alpacas bounding into the new paddock and going through their familiar routines. I finally had time to do a quick video at the start of our workshop with our guests watching our female alpacas and their crias running towards them. It's a great sight and a delight to all who watch.

Do you dream of owning alpacas?

At Little Valley Farm in Laguna, we offer monthly workshops for new and aspiring owners. Immerse yourself in the world of these amazing creatures and learn all about their care at our workshop.

Alpacas are truly fascinating animals, but they do require specialised care. Join us for our unique alpaca workshop, designed especially for individuals living on small farms or acreage. This workshop is an excellent way to explore whether alpacas are the right fit for your farm and serves as the perfect primer for potential alpaca owners.

Take the first step towards starting your alpaca herd.

We are located in the Wollombi Valley, Lower Hunter Valley, NSW, which is under two hours from Sydney and one hour from the Central Coast. If you're interested in staying in the valley, you can search for Grays Inn Wollombi (Noyce Brothers wine) for one-night stays. Be sure to book in advance to secure your dates, as they only have three rooms available. It's located right in the heart of Wollombi Village, near the Tavern.

Euan and I have been farming alpacas in Laguna since 2012, and we look forward to meeting you. Daniela

Alpaca Halter Training and Workshops

Socialising your Alpacas

Socialising and training your alpacas is essential for their well-being. Training must involve desensitisation and patience. Start by handling them gently, then gradually introduce the halter. Walking training should be done in small, calm sessions, using a clicking sound as a cue. Reward them by relaxing the lead when they take a step. With practice, they will learn to walk on the lead comfortably.

Herd Bucket Training

This one is super simple: Feed at the same time every day and in the same place. Use shallow buckets so they can look out while eating and feel more comfortable.

Our herd knows when it's 4 p.m. They gather in the shed and watch me walk from the house down the hill into the shed. Then, I have 100 eyes on me, urging me to walk faster. Yes, they do recognize people!

Note: feed in buckets rather than the grass to reduce worm burden issues and to stop the hay from going mouldy.

Cria halter training

Alpacas are naturally averse to being touched, so training them to overcome this instinct is crucial. This involves desensitisation, which means repeating the same action until the animal becomes comfortable.

Training requires multiple short, calm sessions and a great deal of patience. Like all animals, some alpacas learn more quickly than others and are easier to train.

Assertive crias take longer to train. Different breeders have their techniques for training alpacas, and you can find instructional videos online.

We aim to build trust with our alpacas and have found the following methods effective on our farm.

We start handling the animals while they are with their dams. Initially, we sit in the paddocks with them without touching or grabbing them, allowing them to approach us as they are naturally curious. We close our eyes so as not to threaten them and remain still and silent. Being still shows the animals that we are never a threat.

Once they have seen us several times and realize who we are, we start touching and stroking their neck. After several sessions, running a hand down their back creates a level of trust, and the cria can be caught and gently held. Catching and holding are needed early on to inject vaccines and vitamins and record body score condition.

Touching and rubbing the head, lips, and ears can begin, and it's sometimes possible to discover that the cria has a particular spot they enjoy being rubbed. Being able to touch all parts of the head is essential, not only for halter fitting but also should you or a vet need to examine the eyes or the mouth.

Then, we start by simply allowing it to see and smell the halter, but in later sessions, we touch it against the nose and face without actually fitting it. Only when the halter is not avoided is it placed over the nose—raising it from beneath the cria's head rather than lowering it from above. If the cria remains calm when the halter nose band is placed on the upper nose, it can be buckled for a short period; otherwise, additional sessions will be necessary.

The halter must be the right size and properly fitted to avoid restricting the cria's nasal breathing. Otherwise, the cria will panic and become fearful of the halter.

Gradually extend the touching and rubbing of the cria's body down to the legs and feet. This will make it easier to examine the legs and trim the toenails in the future. By six to eight months, your cria should be comfortable with wearing a halter and standing still on a lead.

Walking Training

In order to train your alpaca, it's important to approach the process calmly and with patience. Short training sessions are better than long ones, and each session should end on a positive note to make the next one easier.

Start by training your alpaca in a small pen, ideally 3 x 3 meters, with other alpacas nearby. Once your cria is haltered and on a lead, stand to the animal's side with about half a meter of lead between you and the cria. Gently pull the lead, causing the cria to step sideways to maintain its balance. Accompany this process with a clicking sound, and reward the alpaca by immediately relaxing the tension on the lead when it moves. Repeat this process from both sides and at the end of each session, gently remove the halter but hold the cria for a few seconds before releasing it.

Most cria will initially resist moving and may kush or roll in protest. In these cases, it's important to get them to quietly stand again on the halter. Once this can be done easily, you can move on to teaching forward motion. For this, you can use a larger enclosure if available, or somewhere close to their herd. Once the cria is haltered and standing alongside you, face the direction you want the animal to go.

When leading a cria, start by making a clicking sound and gently pulling the lead. Some will naturally take a step, but most will resist, so starting with the off-balance moves as above may be needed. Relax the lead when a step is taken. Some crias will be obstinate, and gentle pressure on their rear quarters can provoke movement - occasionally, they may jump around. Wait 5-10 seconds before repeating. As the cria starts to understand what is wanted, gradually increase the number of steps before giving a longer lead.

Remember to keep the lead relaxed when the cria takes a step. This is the cria's reward for the desired behaviour rather than being petted or spoken to. Avoid pulling hard on the lead, as being haltered and expected to follow a lead can be overwhelming for a young alpaca. As mentioned earlier, short training sessions are better than long ones, and after a few sessions, the cria will start to understand what is expected. With more practice, they will become more comfortable with walking on the halter and lead. Once they learn, alpacas do not forget how to walk on a lead.

Where can I buy a halter? 

You can try Alpaca Dynamics or Zephyr Halter. Small, medium, and large sizes are available. Only use halters made for alpacas.

Our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley

Join our alpaca workshop to learn how to handle and catch alpacas in small pens and get more comfortable with them. Our workshops take place monthly in Wollombi Valley, Hunter Valley, just 90 minutes from Sydney and one hour from the Central Coast. Visit our website for the full program details.

Alpaca Books

Learning material can be purchased online via our website for farming alpacas.

Hope to see you soon, thanks Daniela 

Alpaca Husbandry Hands-on Day workshop

Thinking about getting alpacas?

Are you considering getting alpacas? Have you recently acquired alpacas and want to learn how to take better care of them? Our workshop is the best investment to start your own alpaca adventure. If you don't have alpacas yet, you will learn the essentials of alpaca management and determine if they are the right animal for you and your property. If you already have alpacas, you will learn all the essentials to care for them so they can be happy, healthy, and thrive on your farm.

Join Euan and Daniela of Little Valley Farm Alpaca Farm, established in 2012 in the Hunter Valley, Wollombi Valley.

The next introduction workshop will be on 16th June and 21st July 2024. You can book via our website.

Shearing 2024

September 2024 will be our shearing weekend. Dates for this event are yet to be confirmed.

Husbandry Day - Get involved

The Hands-on Husbandry Day is designed for those who have previously participated in our Introduction to Alpaca workshop. Attendees of our previous workshop are welcome to join the morning session, which will cover drenching, vaccination, body scoring, and nail trimming for each alpaca. There is no charge for this husbandry day, and you are welcome to bring your children so they can watch and learn, too.

The next date for this is Sunday, June 9th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Places are limited, so book in advance with Daniela. We will be conducting body scoring, nail trimming, oral vitamins, and note-taking on every alpaca here.

We love what we do and want to share it with you.

Alpaca workshops for new and potential owners by Little Valley Farm in the Hunter Valley.

Alpaca Workshops: Learn about Liver Fluke in Alpacas

Little Valley Farm conducts monthly alpaca workshops for those new to alpaca farming or considering owning alpacas. The workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn about alpacas and to determine if they are the right livestock for your hobby farm or acreage.

During the workshop, we will share our journey of starting an alpaca farm in the Hunter Valley in 2012. We will discuss what we did right and what we did wrong. We will also cover all aspects of alpaca farming, including animal welfare and health issues, and the best shed set-up for different weather conditions, including shearing day. Additionally, we will provide essential information on maintaining the daily health of your livestock and understanding the various parasites that affect them at different times of the year.

Today is about the parasite, LIVER FLUKE

Click on the image above to read more about Liver Fluke in Alpacas by Jane Vaughan, BVSc, Ph.D., MACVSc, CRIA Genesis.

Liver fluke are typically found in areas of southeastern Australia where the annual average rainfall is 600 mm or greater or on irrigated country where the average rainfall is 400 mm, in and around swampy areas, springs and seepages, irrigation channels and shallow, slow moving creeks where the intermediate host snail of this parasite breeds.

Liver fluke is the common name of the trematode, Fasciola hepatica. The parasite is found worldwide and is the only liver fluke found in Australia. Infection can lead to reduced productivity and death and costs millions of dollars each year in lost production (meat, wool, milk, liver condemnation, secondary infection, replacement stock requirements), stock deaths and costs of treatment and prevention. The fluke mainly affects cattle and sheep, but can also affect alpacas, goats, horses, pigs, kangaroos, wombats, rabbits and deer. Humans may also be infected, for example after eating watercress collected from fluke-infested creeks or following use of contaminated water on vegetable gardens. The adult fluke is a pale brown or grayish-brown flat worm about 1.5-4 cm long that lives in the bile ducts of the liver. Refer to the file by CRIA Genesis for actual images.



Things to Note

Treatment: Once a diagnosis has been made, a zero-tolerance approach is recommended when treating and controlling liver fluke because even light burdens can cause significant damage and production losses. The treatment recommended will depend on the nature of infection – are immature or adult fluke causing disease? Not all flukicides (anthelmintics effective against liver fluke) are effective against immature fluke so are not recommended in acute fluke outbreaks (Table 1 in the attachment of CRIA Genesis). They are also less efficient for strategic control of flukes. Even the best flukacides do not kill every fluke and an effective flukacide is described as being 90 % or more effective (compared with roundworm anthelmintics where effective drenches kill more than 95 % of target roundworms). Remember to test/treat introduced stock to reduce contaminating fluke-free areas.

Not sure on your parasites

If you are uncertain about the parasites you may have, you can conduct a fecal egg count (FEC) with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or your local veterinarian. However, you must specify the parasites you are looking for when testing.

Need advice or a drench

If you require any assistance or advice, please contact your local veterinarian. Alternatively, feel free to drop us an email if you are in Australia. We also have some supplies available if you need a particular drench for your small herd.

Little Valley Farm workshops

Click the link to learn more about our monthly Sunday workshops in the Hunter Valley.

Hope to see you soon, thanks, Daniela Riccio

Life cycle of the Liver Fluke: Fasciola hepatic by David Barlow. This video of the life cycle of the globally significant parasite of sheep and cattle; the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica was produced in collaboration with parasitologist Dr Clive Bennett (University of Southampton, retired)

Attachments:

Live Fluke in Alpacas - a very good read on this PDF document by Jane Vaughan BVSc PhD MACVSc CRIA Genesis.

Tips for keeping your alpaca cool

Spring can get quite hot, and your alpacas may feel the heat too. But worry not, as there are ways to keep their water cool throughout the day and night.

Most importantly, make sure you have booked your shearer well in advance of hot Summer weather, but whilst you are waiting for your shearing day, do this….

Other options include sprinklers, hosing down their legs and having two or three extra water troughs that they can cool down or splash themselves besides ice cubes.

It is crucial to keep your alpacas cool during warm weather. The best way to do this is to shear them early in spring, depending on where you live. For us, spring is the best time. Therefore, it is essential to have your shearer's contact information at hand and book their services well in advance.

Follow Daniela from Little Valley Farm for some useful tips and tricks on alpaca farming in the Hunter Valley.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, or follow her for more updates, or even join Daniela on the farm for their monthly Sunday workshops.


Herding alpacas

Our YOUTUBE channel features an informative video on how we effectively move (herd) our alpacas from one paddock to another. We do this every two weeks to ensure our alpacas have access to fresh and nutritious grass, control parasites, and to never over-graze our paddocks. Watch the video below.

Tips on how to herd alpacas?

We advise herding the alpacas into a smaller enclosure or their usual handling area, where they feel more comfortable and settled for optimal results. We recommend gradually confining the herd into smaller numbers while ensuring that the illumination in the handling area is uniform and minimizing shadows and bright spots. Removing any items that may impede the animals' movement, such as clothing hanging on rails, is also essential.

You can use a moveable fence to confine the herd while working quietly and calmly. Our moveable fence method involves having a long rope held at waist height between two people and stretched across a paddock, allowing us to herd the alpacas to a specific location. We exercise extra care when handling pregnant alpacas, crias, machos, or isolated alpacas. We always ensure that an alpaca has one or more alpacas in close proximity to prevent them from becoming stressed.

Our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley are a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about our techniques and farming alpacas and of course, alpaca welfare. We conduct this activity at the start of every workshop. To participate, visit our website, choose your preferred date, and book online.

We are confident that our method for moving alpacas is effective and stress-free, and you can do this with two or more alpacas. Visit us at Little Valley Farm and experience farming alpacas in the Hunter Valley at our workshop. Thank you, Daniela

Spring time alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley

We're so excited to invite you to our upcoming Spring time alpaca workshops, perfect for anyone new to owning alpacas.

You'll get to meet our amazing herd of Huacaya and Suri alpacas in the beautiful Hunter Valley and hear all about our journey into the world of alpaca farming. We'll cover everything you need to know about alpaca health and welfare and share some tips on creating shelters and shearing pens that are easy to manage.

Our workshops are kept small so everyone can get the most out of the day, and we'll be on hand to answer all your questions. You'll also get to learn how to handle alpacas with care, build trust with them.

We absolutely love what we do and can't wait to share it with you. Our Springtime workshops are held once a month on Sundays, so why not join us for a day of alpaca-filled fun?

Book via our website for adults and children. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Daniela at Little Valley Farm - Alpaca farm Hunter Valley

In case you can't make it to the Hunter Valley, we've got you covered! You can always get your hands on our alpaca manual online. It's filled with valuable information on animal welfare, halter training, ear tagging, toenail clippings, collection of fleece, worm burden in alpacas, ticks, giving injections, eyecare, pregnancy diagnosis, cria care at birth, wearing crias, body condition score, and transporting alpacas. The book is designed to be user-friendly, with step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and full-colour pictures.

Alpaca Workshop for new owners

Discover the wonders of alpacas with our unique workshop that provides all the tips and tricks to make these magnificent creatures thrive on your small farm or acreage. You'll learn about alpaca management and health, alpaca breeds, and the importance of having a PIC before purchasing alpacas. We'll also cover topics such as livestock breeding, shed layouts, appropriate shade for livestock, feed and grass, husbandry and management and alpaca welfare.

Our workshop is suitable for anyone interested in owning alpacas, and we'll provide a copy of the AgGuide Practical Handbook - Farming Alpacas for you to take home. We're a registered breeder with the Australian Alpaca Association and have been working with alpacas since 2012.

The workshop takes place in Laguna, Wollombi Valley in the Hunter Valley, once a month. Join us for an unforgettable experience and secure your spot by clicking on the link below for the upcoming August and September dates. We'll wrap up the day with a cuppa and light refreshments at the house.

Daniela Riccio at Little Valley Farm Laguna, Wollombi Valley in the Hunter Valley

At Little Valley Farm, we have a deep passion for working with alpacas on a daily basis and take great pride in our stunning alpaca family. We're excited to share them with you soon.

If you are unable to attend our alpaca workshop, you may consider buying our recommended alpaca learning manual. This will provide you with the necessary information to make an informed purchase decision and help you identify key factors to consider when buying alpacas.

We are only two hours from Sydney along the M1 and one hour from the Central Coast. We also have two cabins for adults. If you book in advance, you may be able to secure one of our cabins to stay in so you can make a weekend of learning about alpacas.


Stay up to date with us via our Facebook or Instagram page.

Source: https://www.littlevalleyfarm.com.au/shop/alpacatraining

Alpaca workshop in the Hunter Valley

Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that we're hosting our next alpaca workshop on Sunday, 20th August 2023. It's an excellent opportunity to learn about these amazing animals! We hold these workshops once a month in the beautiful Laguna/Wollombi Valley, which is just 90 minutes from Sydney and an hour from the Central Coast.

Our alpaca workshops are open to children; each child will receive a special alpaca gift. We highly recommend booking online in advance for our monthly Sunday workshops, as spots are limited.

We hope to see you there! Daniela, Little Valley Farm

This is our BB, Suri weanling. Isn’t he lovely!

We offer accommodation for up to four adults if you want to turn your visit into a weekend getaway. Alternatively, we can suggest one-night stays at Noyce Brothers Wine/Grays Inn Wollombi, located in the central area of Wollombi Village and just a ten-minute drive from our farm. The village has various dining options, including the Wollombi Tavern for dinner and drinks, the Myrtle and Stone Cafe for charming cafe vibes, and the Wollombi Kitchen for breakfast and lunch.

We look forward to seeing you at Little Valley Farm in Laguna for our alpaca workshop.