Nickelby Alpacas commenced in August 2004 with the purchase of our first 3 animals. This was a very exciting time since I had been involved in farming all my life with the family farm and the breed Charolais.   Alpacas were certainly different from beef cattle and much easier to handle.   I soon was heading off to sales and auctions and it wasn't soon after that I purchased my first coloured alpaca, a lovely mid brown girl.   Unfortunately we had a few hiccups in the beginning with phantom pregnancies, ovarian cysts and just general problems getting the girls pregnant. The plus was I got to know my fellow breeders in the district well as they offered help and the vet certainly knew how to get to my place if there was ever an emergency!

 

Today after a number of births and a couple of other purchases, our small stud is now up to 15 animals. We finished our Autumn matings in early May so all being well we will have 9 cria(babies) running around the stud between Feb-April 2009.

 

We have had two births this season, a little boy and a little girl. Bunty and Ana and they are the best of mates. Ana never worries about where her mum is but is always looking out for little Bunty.

 

It was decided early on that since I was a photographer and in the arts, all the babies on the farm should have a literary or theatrical name, hence we have had Heide, Fleur (from the Forthsyte Saga), Hamlet, Juliet, Bronte, Emma, Ana (her mum is Miam so a bit King and l so it is Miss Ana) and Bunty (had a tough birth so he was named Bunty after the tough kid in Seven Little Australians) We are always welcoming suggestions for new names, so put your thinking caps on before you come to visit..

 

There are plans for ajistment to be a key feature of the stud. We have 67 beautiful acres that we would like to see full of alpacas so if you are interested in becoming involved in the industry then please have a chat, we can certainly assist. We also have alpacas for sale that you can take home or leave with us to look after. As we are in the heart of the Gippsland Gourmet Country tourism region then a visit to your alpaca can easily coincide with a trip to the award winning wineries and restaurants or maybe an overnight stay at one of our wonderful Bed & Breakfasts.