About Amber Valley Alpacas
Terry and I started Amber Valley Alpacas in 2006 and it’s been a steep learning curve ever since, but although there is such a lot more to learn we have just about mastered the husbandry and psychology of these unusual but appealing animals.
I am very happy that I jumped in at the deep end and enrolled on a number of courses such as fleece courses, judge training courses and attending both of Cameron Holts Advanced fibre lectures…. money well spent as we had already purchased 4 pregnant females and these courses allowed us to make decisions about our future breeding program.
We are now concentrating on improving our fleece quality by selective use of some of the country’s best stud animals. Our aim is to breed quality hucaya and suri females and ultimately produce UK stud males with advanced fleeces.
Terry & Ingrid Ruston
Our Location
We're located in Heage, which is part of the scenic Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England. 12 minutes from Junction 28 M1 & 5 minutes from the A38 & A6
A brief history
Terry my husband is from an engineering backround but has always involved himself in my farming enterprises, raising calves, sheep & numerous equine activities. It was Terry who was keen on the Alpacas I a little sceptical , I eventually agreed to go and look at some Alpacas. We bought 3 pregnant females. And everything else is history!
It’s taken a while for us to get used to the fact that they are not like other domestic animals, they don’t readily come for food, herd and generally act totally differently to all farm animals.
We have come through the first ups and downs but believe we are now on the right track for us.
We wouldn’t change a thing!