Lessons Learnt on the Land

We recently learnt the importance of questioning and of independent research when determining how best to stock your paddocks.

After moving from a 350sqm property to a 30-acre property a couple of years ago, we quickly learnt how nature impacts your spare time once spring comes around.

We needed a solution that did not soak up those sunny spring weekends. After being approached a number of times by local farmers needing land for their livestock, we made a handshake deal without putting much thought into the process.

While it can be a great solution that offers the benefit of grazing without maintaining your own stock, it can also lead to unexpected complications if you intend to mix your own animals in with another's. After purchasing a few alpacas - two young ones and a much older one - we found that within two months they had all unexpectedly and suddenly died. It was a sad experience for us, and a difficult loss to explain to our children.

After the sheep were moved to another property, we engaged the services of a local and experienced vet to help us understand why our alpacas died. Their manure samples revealed that some of the farmer's sheep carried a high worm burden, clearly not affecting them but ultimately fatal to our young and vulnerable alpacas.

We now have a plan to decontaminate the paddocks and to start again next year, cautiously and with more knowledge. The 'don't knows' we wish we did know were about checking the vaccination and worming regime of animals on our property and getting advice about the amount of animals per acre.