Haughty alpaca posing by lupins!

Down the road in Burwood there is a herd of alpacas - lots of colours and sizes but all with the same haughty expression.

although it's hard to look your haughtiest with a piece of grass hanging out of your mouth!

Alpacas are not used for transportation, even of goods - they are not strong enough to carry a significant load. Their larger cousin the llama was bred as a beast of burden. Alpacas have been used for light carting, but it is more of a novelty than useful.

Alpacas have two main purposes - their fibre and their meat. In the US, only the fibre is used, but in their countries of origin, they are a high protein, low fat meat source. They are better for the environment than cattle or pigs, as well - their foot pads do not damage and compact the ground as much as those of hoofed mammals, and they do not rip out entire plants, like sheep and goats.

Alpaca fibre is wonderful stuff - warm, lightweight, hypoallergenic, non-itchy and fire resistant. It has been used for clothing, insulation and even garden compost (only the worst grades).