Oak View Alpacas are based in South Gloucestershire, and have been breeding alpacas for nearly 20 years. Our first six pregnant alpacas were purchased from a local breeder in Somerset, but we had to travel to Cumbria to inspect our future herd all in full fleece. In July 2003 we took delivery of six shorn alpacas who looked completely different to the ones we had seen a few weeks earlier. All different colours, qualities and dispositions. They taught us a lot, especially how important your farm set up is. Small numbers of alpaca and large paddocks do not make for easy handling, post and rail fencing will keep ponies in, but not alpacas and putting the gate in a corner makes it easier to herd alpacas through. We spent a lot of time chasing them and realised we need to change fencing and layout to make our lives easier. Numbers swelled and as the quality improved we started to show, happy in the knowledge and belief that alpacas are viable, rewarding and relatively straightforward to keep. Alpacas are the most colour diverse, fibre providing animals alive and whatever colour you prefer, there are customers for the fibre. Whether raw for hand spinners or commercial processors, or for felting and stuffing duvets to finished products such as socks, gloves, scarves or whatever the fashion industry can dream of using it for.

From as early as 2006 we have taken alpacas to shows where we show them in halter classes, always coming away with rosettes, not always the one you strive for. During this time Garry has been involved with stewarding and has completed BAS judge training courses, and can now be found as the ring steward at many of the UK shows. He can also be seen on the BAS Caring for Alpacas DVD.

 Our European adventure started in 2013 with the export of alpacas to Italy and then Garry going out to shear them. By shearing time, we had been contacted by other breeders and the list had grown to 8 farms. Subsequent trips to France and Spain for shearing led to more exports and meeting more European breeders at courses and shows in the UK has helped to spread the name of Oak View Alpacas. Shearing in 2015 took Garry back to Italy, France, Spain and to help a breeder start shearing in Belgium.

Our herd fluctuates depending on the time of year, we generally have suitable stock, but if we don’t have what you require, we have many friends in the industry and can help you find what you are looking for. Don’t just assume that alpacas are out of reach, we all had to start somewhere, check our sales page and give us a call if you want to talk “alpaca”. Be assured that we adhere to the BAS code of conduct, with regard to breeding and sales, and all our animals are micro-chipped and registered.

To that end anyone wishing to visit at any time by appointment can be assured of a warm welcome, free sound advice and ongoing support.