About The Alpaca Stud:
Welcome to The Alpaca Stud Website, which we hope will give you an insight in to both ourselves, and more importantly, ALPACAS.
Our farm is set in leafy West Sussex, and is home to a herd of approximately 600 highly bred alpacas, registered with the British Alpaca Society (BAS). The alpacas graze over some 200 acres and are managed wherever possible using organic farming principles. It is our belief that this extensive system allows Alpacas to be relaxed, and has led to what many visitors describe as, “the quietest Alpacas they have walked amongst”.
If you would like a visit to view and handle alpacas, as well as learn more about our industry, just phone for an appointment, we are always happy to receive visitors and take them in amongst our pride and joy.
The People:
Nick Harrington-Smith and John Potts are partners in operating The Alpaca Stud, ably assisted, and importantly, supported by their wives Terry and Pippa respectively. Nick was, until 2005, managing Arunvale Alpacas, a company that was instrumental in establishing the UK Alpaca enterprise, and has been involved in Alpaca Farming for nearly 10 years. Nick has a lifetime’s experience of stock farming and is committed to the success of the British Alpaca industry. In order to gain a better understanding of Alpaca Breeding Nick has pursued an extensive training programme and is now a Qualified British Alpaca Society Judge and Trainer as well as an AOBA Judge. He has travelled the world judging and selecting Alpacas.
John first became involved in Alpacas in 2002 following a very successful career spanning textiles, marketing, and finally as Managing Partner in an International Law firm. Whilst arriving late in life to Alpacas, John is now a committed “Alpacaholic” and has travelled to Peru in search of the best Alpacas. John has served on the BAS board and has undertaken The Alpaca Stud’s marketing and promotions management. Many will have seen John in the Alpaca Show ring either as our principle alpaca handler, or as a much-respected Ring Steward.
Both Nick and John are firmly committed to the future of the UK Alpaca Industry and believe that a successful UK industry is dependant upon the success of all Alpaca Farms, be they large or small, old or new.
Our Alpacas:
Our Herd consists of both Huacaya and Suri, with all but a few having a pedigree based on pure Peruvian genetics, and having been under Nick’s management since 2001. Our policy over the years has been to select and breed for conformational excellence, coupled with either outstanding fibre characteristics and/or a highly evolved pedigree.
We now boast bloodlines based on those famous Peruvian herd names Accoyo and Alianza, with our current stud males boasting Hemmingway, Caligula, Super Sam, Jolimont, Iceman, and Vengador, to name but a few influential North American Super-Studs, on their pedigrees. With such a sound foundation, we are able to offer prospective buyers a wide choice of Alpacas in White, Fawn, Brown, Black and Grey, across a wide age range and a broad price band. Having been breeding carefully for a number of years we are also able to offer for sale a number of males who are of Stud quality. Such males are only offered if we are confident; they will promote and enhance high quality breeding practises. Such policy means we castrate 98% of our males so always have a wide selection of high quality fibre producing geldings, available for sale. Our breeding programme has enabled us to support heavily the British Alpaca Show circuit, and our policy of showing many different Alpacas rather than just a small select few, has meant we have won many ribbons over the years.
We are confident that our approach has established The Alpaca Stud herd as a source of prime and importantly, reliable high quality genetics.
Training:
Nick is an approved BAS Judge Trainer and this added to his livestock background means we can offer training at all levels. We endeavour to ensure that new clients are able to understand and perform basic husbandry tasks with their participation in practical “hands on” husbandry courses. We also, during selection procedures and or courses, teach the fundamentals of alpaca selection i.e. what to look for in a good alpaca.
Sales Policy
When we sell an alpaca it will be sold with our own enhanced warranty which offers unrivalled peace of mind. Most importantly, any alpaca selected from our herd will be frankly discussed with the prospective purchasers to ensure they fully understand the package they are buying, be they pets, pregnant females, Stud Males, Huacaya or Suri. All of our alpacas are for sale and our pricing structure is based on quality and age, not on rarity and gullibility! In those rare instances where client and Alpaca do not “gel” we will replace the Alpaca.
Support:
Our ethos is to support our clients thus ensuring our own success. This means we are available at all times to offer support, be it for aminor or major herd health problems, or for more detailed help on such issues as breeding programmes or Planning permission application. Herd assessments are offered and have been popular with both our own clients, and those of other breeders. If we do not have an answer, we can usually find someone who does.
We have launched recently a completely new concept for the British Industry, Alpaca Master. In essence, this is a system of evaluation ultimately providing positive guidance and evaluation of our clients’ breeding progress, based on positive trait assessment. For more information on this go to Support Information.
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