Come see easy-care alpaca

Anthony Medcraft knows his inquisitive herd and now he wants the rest of the region to know just how easy it is to care for alpaca.

The owner of Featherston's Dreamweaver Alpacas and other alpaca breeders are throwing their farm gates open this weekend to help raise public awareness about the woolly animals on National Alpaca Day, Sunday, May 4.

Mr Medcraft, who has been breeding alpaca since 1997, said they are an easy-care animal.

"They are perfect for small lifestyle blocks, a low input animal.

"They are easy to train. There is no crutching or dagging and shearing the fleece is only done once a year. They don't need any work really and have an easy temperament."

Alpaca have "great eyesight" and are very inquisitive animals, according to Mr Medcraft's 9-year-old daughter Rachel.

"They are loveable," she said.

"They are terrific with kids," her father said.

The fleece fetches from $10 to $12 per kilogram and comes in many natural colours ranging from white through to browns and black, Mr Medcraft said.

"It's a beautiful fleece which comes in 25 different natural colours. It is a mid-20 micron fleece," he said.

During Sunday's open day there will be displays with products on sale and spinners on site to show how the wool is spun.

Mr Medcraft's property and one in Carterton will be open from 11am to 4pm. Please phone to confirm if it is raining.