Rent-a-fox-guard
for Lambing or Kidding Season (New Service)
MANY farmers may have been
curious about alpacas as fox guards for lambing, yet not inclined to
purchase them outright, but Rivergum Rise Alpacas now has a handy
solution.
They offer the convenient
option to Rent-a-Fox-Guard, for farmers who want to try an alpaca during
lambing season and return it once the danger period has past.
This provides farmers with a
low cost way of trialing alpacas to increase lambing percentages.
According to Rivergum Rise
stud principals Anne and Darryl Sherman, most farmers put two castrated
males in with each flock about four weeks prior to lambing to allow
sufficient time for the alpacas to bond to the sheep.
The Shermans said it is
essential that the alpacas are castrated and that they are at least
18-24 months old.
They have sold hundreds of
guardians to farmers to reduce losses to foxes and have had reports of
significant increases in lambing percentages, with many farmers
returning to purchase additional guards to protect their other flocks.
Once foxes have crossed paths
with alpacas they will hunt elsewhere.
Many adjacent farms have
subsequently purchased alpacas after seeing their lamb losses increase.
Rivergum Rise are now located
in Corrigin and offer guardians for hire at $220 per head per lambing
season - a cost effective alternative to ownership.
Numbers are limited, so
booking early is the best way to secure a guard.
A non-refundable booking fee
of $100 is payable with the balance due at the time of pick up or
delivery.
Rivergum Rise will deliver
and pick up guards free of charge where there are 10 or more guards
required in the same shire at the same time.
With that in mind, it makes
sense to get a group of people together in the area.
When purchasing guard alpacas
at the end of the lambing season, $220 will be deducted from the
purchase price of $770.
This innovative new service
offers a fully tax deductible try before buying option allowing farmers
to decide on the effectiveness of alpaca herd guards.
For enquiries and bookings contact Anne & Darryl
Sherman on (08)9062 9027 or email
rivergum@rivergumrise.com.au .
So what’s the story with Fox Guards?
Most alpacas do exhibit protective behaviours against foxes. In fact
Rivergum Rise have sold over 400 wethered alpacas as fox guards and have
only had to replace three that did not appear to be doing the job.
Feedback from farmers is that lamb losses are reduced when alpacas are
run with sheep during lambing. Results range from significant to
amazing depending on environmental situations, the number of sheep and
alpacas, as well as paddock shape and size. One farmer reported that
where he had sheep in two neighbouring paddocks there were significant
lamb carcasses in the paddock with no alpacas, while there were no
carcasses found in the paddock with two alpacas. Natural predators of
alpacas in South America include mountain lions, large foxes and
condors.
Several years ago a few farmers were brave enough to
put two alpaca wethers in with their sheep, enduring the jibes from
their neighbours. This season, it has been their neighbours who have
been purchasing wethers to run with their flocks – evidence enough that
they’ve seen lower lamb losses next door. Whilst shooting and baiting
programmes create a vacuum for new predators, alpacas act as a deterrent
and increase pressure on other food sources, often a neighbour’s lambs.
At today’s lamb prices, an alpaca only needs to save about ten lambs to
recoup the investment – not bad since the average wether should survive
fifteen to twenty years.
Wethers require minimal attention – a 5 in 1
injection six monthly and shearing annually. An alpaca is equivalent to
one DSE and is quite at home running with sheep all year round. Wool
contamination is less than that from a sheep dog and there is a shearing
protocol that is accepted within the wool industry.
Alpaca wethers are now in short supply and a number
of farmers are now purchasing breeding females and are diversifying into
a lucrative new breeding and fibre industry to supplement other on-farm
income. One of the field day presentations will discuss running
alpacas as a business.
Alpacas are available from Anne and Darryl Sherman at Rivergum Rise Alpaca Stud 15 km west
of Corrigin off the Brookton Highway. Rivergum Rise stock over
400 alpacas (of all colours) including Huacayas and Suris and have a
wide range of ribbon winning stud males available for outside services.
For alpaca fact sheets, advice on farm workshops, sales and support,
please phone/fax 90629027 or email
rivergum@rivergumrise.com.au.