Waratah co-op among others changing the alpaca industry

7 June 2016

TO many in the agriculture sector, the alpaca industry has been known predominantly for showing.

However, thanks to the work of groups like NSW-based organisation Waratah Co-Op, the alpaca fleece industry has taken off domestically and internationally.

Record shipment of alpaca fleece to China signals new industry for Australia

from ABC.net.au

Record volumes of alpaca fleece are being shipped to China in what is hoped will set the industry up as a major new arm of Australian agriculture.

A regular fixture of bed-and-breakfasts, wineries and boutique hobby farms, the long-necked animal is more likely to be associated with the cottage industry than big-scale farming.

But alpaca farmers from across the country are banding together to ramp up their herd sizes and meet burgeoning demand in Asia.