Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Since Sept 27, 1879
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Depending on Dorothy AgriSeeds P2 P14 second
Showing and breeding alpacas is a labour of love for farmer Margaret Williamson.
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PHOTO SUSAN SANDYS 230620-SS-0096
A soft spot for alpacas By Susan Sandys
susan.s@theguardian.co.nz
Ashburton farmer Margaret Williamson likes to keep a strict line between pets and livestock, but that’s not always easy when it comes to alpacas. “They are like a dog, except they are out in a paddock,” she said. Soft and furry with large eyes framed by luscious lashes, the cute creatures love a good stroke
on their long necks. Margaret and husband Lindsay own Ardara Farm and have about 25 huacaya and suri alpacas as part of their larger farming operation on Grahams Road. They breed them, and shear them once per year, selling some of the fibre, while Margaret also uses it for her own knitting and spinning projects. “Most of the time they are easy to handle, and they are usually
quite friendly. My girls, if I call them, now they will come to the gate, but I don’t teach all my animals to be best mates,” she said. As well as alpacas at the arable and livestock property, there are black and coloured Corriedales, Belted Galloway and Speckled Park beef cows. The alpacas are amongst the most social of the lot, enjoying not only the company of humans but needing the compa-
ny of each other. Margaret will sometimes pass on individuals among her herd to friends on lifestyle blocks, but it is always best if they have another alpaca there as well. The Williamsons have been farming alpacas since 2004, and are among Alpaca Association New Zealand members who see potential in development of an alpaca meat industry. But that is yet to take off in
New Zealand, and in the meantime, Margaret admits sending animals to slaughter would not be the easiest thing to do. “I would be sending my best friends, you would have to farm them as a separate entity,” she said.
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