ALPACALYPSE NOW

We're all set for a woolly good time at the County Show's new alpaca section

New to Dorset County Show this year, we're excited to welcome around 120 alpacas to the Alpaca Section! Not to be confused with llamas, their bigger, grumpier relatives with the banana-sized ears, alpacas have small, blunt faces with short ears and gentle inquisitive temperaments. Their fine hair is coveted for its fleece: it is incredibly soft, is three times warmer than sheep's wool and is the second strongest animal fibre after mohair. Alpacas have been used for fleece production for thousands of years – originally natives to South America, they are part of the camel family, Camelidae. British alpaca breeding stock is prized across Europe, where the UK is seen as the number one country for alpacas.

‘We have breeders visiting the show from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway,’ says Tim Hey, British Alpaca Society halter and fleece judge, Dorset alpaca farmer – with a herd of more than 300 alpacas – and the man behind the Alpaca Section at the show.

‘We have around 120 alpacas being exhibited across the two days of the show, and they will all be available to meet in the alpaca section. We’d love it if visitors come along the lines to see the animals, chat to the exhibitors, meet and maybe handle the alpacas and perhaps learn a little about keeping them, either as pets or for business.

‘We held our fleece judging two weeks before the show, and the 100 fleeces will all be on display in the marquee too. In between classes we’ll be running a free series of talks and demonstrations – anything from how to keep alpacas, what they’re good for, what we’re looking for when we judge them – and what to look for when you’re buying them! We’ll make a good mix of education

Fun alpaca facts:

• Alpaca babies are called crias

• Alpacas live for 20 to 25 years

• There are no wild alpacas –the alpaca is the domesticated version of the vicuña and fun, and it’ll be entertaining for anyone to stop and watch, whether you have no intention of ever owning an alpaca, or are considering starting a herd!’

• There are two different breeds of alpacas: the huacaya (pronounced wa-ky-ya) and the Suri. Huacaya fleece is crimpy, fluffy, and has a springy bounce while Suri fleece is long, silky, and hangs in twisted locks.

There will be an alpaca selfie booth, kids alpaca art and various alpaca products on sale too.