Alpacas and llamas in Finland
Pirkko Kivikari and Tommi Ylitalo were the first to import and start breeding alpacas and llamas in Finland. They imported the first alpacas in 2002 and the first hobby llamas in 2004.
In 2003 they built up a company, Suomen alpakkatuote Ay , with their friend vetenarian Heikki Sirkkola. Suomen alpakkatuote has imported 70 alpacas and llamas to Finland from Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. In 2003 we started Suomen alpakkayhdistys, an association for alpaca and llama owners and fanciers.
In summer 2007 we put up with two other breeders and professional therapists an association Suomen terapia-alpakat ja -laamat ALAT to start the animal assisted therapy with llamas and alpacas here in Finland.
Pirkko wrote a handbook for camelid owners with Heikki Sirkkola. It is the only book in Finnish about taking care of alpacas and llamas.
We put a great value on the breeding animals health, conformation and the sound character. Beside this they produce the fine fiber. We are written in the international camelid health care system WhoCares. Finnish alpaca and llama association, Suomen alpakkayhdistys, has a breeder's commitment which we have signed. We follow the British Camelids Code Conduct when selling alpacas and llamas. All our animals are registered in the European alpaca and llama register LAREU and also in the Finnish register.
Our herd
includes around 20 animals and we'll keep it that way to have a contact with
every animal on every day. They know us and their names and are like family
members. When crias leave from here they are halter trained and used to
handling . The whole breeding herd is halter trained and most of them are able
to participate in obstacle classes. We have been in several shows, expos and
other events with
our animals. They have been
in TV studios, shoppping centers, dog shows and birthday parties. Animals,
that are used to people and trust their owners don't stress much about these
happenings. Some of
them really love the camera man and are flirting with the audience!
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SUMMER 2011 CRIAS
Ylitalo
Alpacas
and llamas
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