Alpacas an industry of warmth

TREE changers Samantha and Stephen Schwebach were in search of a rural lifestyle and alpacas fit the bill perfectly.

Soft touch: Eden Rise Alpacas Samantha Schwebach with her daughter Ava, 10, and some of their favourite alpacas. Picture: Chloe Smith

TREE changers Samantha and Stephen Schwebach never expected to fall in love with alpacas when they moved to Broadford six years ago.

Now running a fully fledged alpaca stud, the couple said the industry is as friendly as the warm-natured livestock.

“If you told me 10 years ago what I’d be doing now, I’d probably faint,” said Samantha, who runs Eden Rise Alpaca stud with Stephen and their two daughters, Claudia, 12, and Ava, 10.

“We went from living in town and then bought acreage and once we got there realised we couldn’t keep all the pasture down,” Samantha said.

“Stephen initially wanted a camel and I said no. The compromise was alpacas.”

The Schwebachs started with two wethered males — named Milli and Vanilli — and expansion happened quickly. “They were kind of like mushrooms,” Samantha said.

Now pushing about 100 animals, the family has seven breeding males and 20-30 cria due in autumn.

Samantha said alpacas made good herd guards, produced luxurious fleece and had an inquisitive nature that made them excellent animals for small acreages and people who were new to farming.

“We became very involved in the industry. It is very friendly and welcoming,” said Samantha, who also helps her husband in their family-run mechanic business.

The stud is 99 per cent Huacaya alpacas, which come in many colours and are suitable to be stud males, herd guards, pets and “grass munchers”.

“Our animals are very well handled. We appeal to a market that wants more of a companion animal,” Samantha said. “Someone they can feed and touch.

“We halter train our animals as well, which is a big asset when it comes to husbandry duty.”

Ava and Claudia help with halter practice and show the animals. Stephen’s mother knits fleeces into garments, which the family also sells.

The Schwebachs will show alpacas at the Seymour Expo.