Alpacas are just
like friends, Dunedin alpaca breeder Andy Nailard says.
Mr Nailard, who has been involved with the
animals for nearly four years, said all 60 of his alpacas had names.
Some of his alpacas were on display at the North
Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Show yesterday.
Six breeders were represented at the show and
there were also alpaca shearing demonstrations and displays of alpaca garments.
With a lifestyle block on Flagstaff Hill, the
Nailard family wanted an animal that was easy to manage.
They started with 10 alpacas and that has since
grown to 60. “The bug has caught,” Mr Nailard said.
The alpaca had more than met their requirements.
“The outcome has been more fulfilling than we
could ever have expected.”
He described the
animals as so hardy they were “bullet proof.” They were also very placid, with
the same intelligence as a dog.
Shearing took
place once a year and it took Mr Nailard about 15 minutes to shear an alpaca.
The majority of his herd were white, which
produced the finest fleece.
Alpacas were just
one of the many breeds of animals on show at the Oamaru showgrounds yesterday.
After bad weather at the carnival on Tuesday
night, including a hail storm, conditions were fine yesterday.
Hundreds of people enjoyed watching the
immaculately-presented animals and viewing the many trade displays.
One of the highlights was a tractor parade,
immediately after the traditional grand parade.
Commemorating 100 years since the tractor was
introduced in New Zealand, it featured a range of both modern and vintage
models.
Some well-known locals drove tractors in
the parade, including police constable Bruce Ward. PHOTO: SALLY RAE Andy Nailard with
one of his alpacas at the North Otago A and P show.
