The New Zealand Alpaca Association is encouraging people to once again get up close and personal with alpaca to educate themselves about the animal at the national Alpaca Farm Open Days this weekend.

Lindy Buchanan and baby Andrew admire Benji the alpaca.

Two farms at Katikati and one in Tauranga are opening their gates to the public on Sunday, May 4, from 10am-3pm, in a bid to introduce people to owning alpaca for farming purposes or as pets.

Helping those keen to enter the alpaca industry is one of the NZ Alpaca Association's aims, which is why it's encouraging farms to open to the public for people to learn, understand and love these 'beautiful creatures”.

Tauranga alpaca advocate Philippa Adamson, of Rimu Creek Alpaca Stud, says the alpaca industry is a growing farming industry – and alpaca are friendly enough to also be kept as pets.

The fleece is very usable and there are two fibre pool collections the fleece can be contributed to, providing a source of income for alpaca owners.

Many alpaca farmers also use the fleece for spinning, knitting, felting and weaving. The fleece is very soft, hypo-allergenic and has thermal properties.

Fleece and products made from alpaca fleece can be purchased at the farm open days.

A live animal export industry is developing, which is expected to increase during the next three years, says Philippa.

Stocking rates for alpacas can be quite high, with as many as 100 grazed on a four hectare block.

Shorn once a year, alpacas are described as a very hardy animal, easy to handle, and are naturally quiet and inquisitive by nature, says Philippa.

To visit a farm near you, visit www.alpaca.org.nz or call Philippa on 07 543 0724.