Herd the news? Australian alpaca numbers near 400,000 after baby boom

Most alpaca farmers run hobby farms or side businesses despite Australia having the second-largest alpaca herd after Peru

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Australia has the second-largest alpaca herd in the world behind Peru, but most still view the leggy camelids as the stuff of hobby farms.

Alpacas were introduced to Australia about 25 years ago and were initially primarily used as livestock guardians. Paddocked with sheep, they will kick and chase dogs and foxes that get too close to the lambs.

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Emily Middleton is a journalist in Gilgandra, NSW