Introduction:
Alpaca farming has rapidly become one of the most respected alternative farming enterprises in the agricultural sector here in the Netherlands and in Europe. Alpacas can provide healthy financial returns, breeding enjoyment and a wonderful lifestyle. We offer the largest range of high quality and selectively bred black alpacas for sale in the country. We are happy to talk through your requirements and through our own herd and the large network of associated breeders, find the right alpaca that is for your plan and goals. To see our sales list of stock currently available, please click here
Why do we farm alpacas in the Benelux region?
Alpaca fashion on the catwalk
Alpacas are farmed in the Netherlands for their fleece and for pedigree bloodstock. Only a small portion of the world alpaca fibre market is being met. This demand is driven by the Italian, Chinese and Japanese fashion houses and is currently being partially met entirely by Peru and Australia.
Like Australia, America and New Zealand, Holland and European alpaca industries are stud stock based. This means that these countries are building up the numbers of pedigree alpacas while improving productivity through selective breeding. Australia now has 350,000 alpacas and their fibre company Australian Alpaca Fleece Limited (AAFL) are now making real headway. AAFL have been the catalyst for Australia verging on becoming a fully commercial fibre industry.
Until the Netherlands reaches approximately the same number of alpacas (critical mass) the alpaca will be rare and all breeders will make money from breeding and selling pedigree stud stock both in the domestic market and also throughout Europe, the Middle East and India.
The goal of the European alpaca industry is to increase numbers of highly productive and healthy alpacas and to one day satisfy the global demand for fleece.
Starting out with alpacas:
Anja and Peter Winkelmolen
When we first started with alpacas, we were lucky enough to visit some experienced breeders farming alpacas abroad. These people were enthusiastic, reliable, trustworthy and above all, they were planning on being in the alpaca industry for the long term. These breeders shared their knowledge and experience freely and they went out of their way to teach us all we needed to know about selecting our first alpacas and then how to correctly look after them.
We have taken our experiences and added them to our knowledge in order to give our customers the same level of service and enjoyment when they start out with alpacas. Our aim is to help, support and guide our customers so that they have the chance of achieving their goals.
Here are some tips to use before you buy:
- Contact the Alpaca Association Benlux (AAB) and become a member. Ask for some back issues of the industry magazine.
- www.alpaca-benelux.com
- Arrange to visit as many farms as you can. Don’t be afraid to travel in order to visit farms that you find interesting.
- Ask to get involved with on farm activities such as husbandry or shearing as you get a real feel for alpaca ownership under these conditions.
- Handle as many alpacas as you can. The more alpacas you handle and inspect the quicker you will learn and become more comfortable and confident.
- Read old magazines, books and websites. There is a lot of information available on the internet.
- Go to alpaca shows where alpacas are being shown and judged. Talk to exhibitors and handle their alpacas and learn.
- Participate in workshops and courses held by the AAB.
- Try to buy from a breeder who is committed to the alpaca industry, is experienced, is investing in the latest genetics with their herd sires and above all is aiming to be in the alpaca industry for the long term. Try not to buy from a local breeder for convenience only.
Purchasing from us:
When you purchase alpacas from us we ensure that our alpacas are:
- Easy to handle with a good temperament.
- Correctly conformed.
- Breeding stock is fertile and comes from a family where the dams give birth easily and lactate well.
- Females are selectively mated to one of Inca Alpaca’s elite herd sires using proven scientific breeding methods.
- Breeding stock come with a certificate of Health to insurance standard.
- Certificate of mating and confirmed pregnancy by ultrasound scan.
- Full husbandry records.
- Performance history including fibre histograms and fleece weights.
- Information on covering sire and progeny/siblings including photographs and performance records.
- Comprehensive After Sales backup
To see our current range of animals for sale click here
Sales Procedure:
Alpacas are amazing with children
After initial contact has been made we encourage the interested party to visit our farm. This will enable us to show how our land has been set up for alpacas. We look at fencing, shelters, barns, pens and feeding. We also move alpacas into holding pens where they can be inspected, evaluated and handled.
We encourage interested people to visit us as many times as they feel necessary before making the commitment to purchase stock. We offer a service free of charge whereby we talk over the goals and business plan of any alpaca enterprise and then we tailor a package of alpacas fit for the purpose. Whether the customer is looking for two pet males or a large breeding herd we offer the same level of advice and service.
Once stock has been selected and a price agreed we draw up a basic sales agreement. Following the selection we instruct our veterinarian Dierenartsenpraktijk De Keizer to visit Alpaca Farm Tienda Molino and carry out a full veterinary health check and certificate on all breeding stock that are being purchased. This certificate can then be used by the buyer to insure the alpacas if they wish.
When the alpacas have passed the veterinarian inspection we raise an invoice and all documents will be emailed and/or posted to the customer so the sale can proceed. Once payment has been received we will transfer the Alpaca Association Benelux pedigree certificate into the buyers name free of charge.
Collection or delivery is then arranged and the alpacas are transported to the buyers farm when they are fully ready. Anja and Peter will usually visit the buyer’s farm prior to delivery to ensure the farm is fit for purpose and to make sure the buyer’s are ready to take possession of their new alpacas.
After Sales Service:
Once the alpacas have been delivered please expect to hear more from us. The alpaca industry is a very tight knit group of like minded friendly owners and here at Alpaca Farm Tienda Molino we take great pride in supporting our customers and helping them with training and advice for years after the deal is done. Due to the development of our black breeding programme many of our customers use our herd sires in their breeding programme so we keep in touch and work together. We also look to our customers to breed high quality black stock and we use their herd sires to breed with our females. We also regularly get together for training, on farm workshops, courses and we see each other at shows.
To learn more about alpaca ownership and to book an appointment to come and see us, please click here for our contact details.