The future for Australian alpaca fleece producers has received a positive boost, with federal funding now secured to provide professional wool classer training for breeders.
The Australian Alpaca Association received $16,866 through the Industry Skills Fund and more than 2000 breeders will benefit from the funding.
The Federal Governments commitment will aid in making the shift towards producers supplying the national and international alpaca markets in Malaysia, China and UK with graded fleece.
Commercial alpaca breeder Greg Crease, Nurrenyen Alpacas, Parkesbourne, near Goulburn, produces about 180 kilograms of alpaca fleece per year and welcomes the professional training opportunity.
“The funding will improve producers ability to market their product to manufacturers and supply a desirable quantity and quality certified product,” Mr Crease said.
“We will now be able to complete the whole production process from start to finish ourselves; this will help a lot given we are commercially orientated,” he said.
Mr Crease and co-principal Jonathan Chia began their alpaca enterprise in 2009.
Running 80 alpacas on the 40 hectare property, with 27 crias currently on the ground, operating a commercially focused operation has been top priority since day one.
Mr Crease said he chose Huacaya alpacas for their operation, as they produce a bright white fleece which is able to be processed into various products.
“We felt it had more potential in the commercial industry then other breeds, being so similar to sheep wool,” he said.
Using the SRS (Soft Rolling Skin) breeding system to class their herd, a focus on confirmation, fineness, density, length of fleece and luster has become paramount to producing favourable and profitable qualities.
Breeding their own dams and leasing quality sires, Nurrenyen Alpacas, have now built a fine and superfine fleece herd.
Marketed as individual fleeces to local processors, it is then, that their product is classed and bailed for manufacturers.
However, Mr Crease said “the main win” from receiving the training is now they are able to complete both the wool classing and bailing on-farm.
“The funding will allow us to shear and bale straight away into the desirable quantities for commercial clients; it will no doubt improve our ability to market to manufacturers,” he said.
“The training is a vital first step to becoming a successful commercial operator.”
Hoping to begin the course in July, once qualified in 2017, Mr Crease believes it’s a step towards the alpaca industry being recognised as a competitive fleece producer.
“The investment is recognition of the development and success the alpaca industry has built over the past 25 years,” Mr Crease said.
“Alpacas have become a new rural industry in Australia and the training will only enhance this; it’s an acknowledgment and tool to secure the potential of both the wool and meat industry.
“Through the training, I hope more markets will see the opportunity to use the fleece and therefore, we will make even more of a contribution to the Australian economy”
