About Alpaca Power

About Alpaca Power & the Chalford Herd

Alpacas grazing at Alpaca Power

Where health, welfare, & integrity come first.

Breeding true black and coloured Huacaya alpacas with strong, balanced frames, correct conformation, and enduring fleece quality.

We focus on producing healthy, resilient alpacas and luxurious, soft-handling fibre year on year - supporting both animal welfare and a sustainable fibre industry.

We believe the alpacas we are privileged to breed deserve knowledgeable, thoughtful homes in which they can truly thrive.

We offer training, consultancy, and lifelong support to those who choose our animals and join the Alpaca Power family.

True black crias

Chalford Kaitlyn

Racing in for a health check

From Passion to Practice: The Journey of Chalford Alpacas

It started with a rented field.

In 2002, while working as a qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN), I was searching for an animal-based enterprise that aligned with my professional values. Having first encountered alpacas in Sydney, Australia, I discovered a small but emerging alpaca industry in the UK.

After extensive research, I began with a small group of female alpacas — a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and a steep learning curve. I had no clear idea where the journey would lead, but one thing was certain: I was completely captivated by these intelligent, gentle animals. Chalford Alpacas was born.

The Struggles of Getting Started

I vividly remember the challenges of sourcing quality coloured alpacas, navigating health care decisions, and the lack of clear, evidence-based guidance available at the time. Each question led to another, and I quickly realised how much conflicting advice existed.

That experience shaped our ethos.

Rather than simply breeding alpacas, I made it my mission to support, educate, and empower others — helping them experience the joy of alpaca ownership while keeping welfare firmly at the heart of every decision.

Training Courses

Excellence in Black Huacaya Alpacas

As our herd grew, so did our knowledge and ambition. In 2005, we moved to our own farm and invested in infrastructure designed to minimise stress, improve handling, and support efficient, low-impact management — for both animals and people.

True black Huacaya alpacas soon became our focus. Recognising the limitations of a small gene pool, we made a deliberate decision to build unique bloodlines by importing high-quality stud males from overseas.

Today, the Chalford herd is distinctive within the UK. Our alpacas do not carry black genetics common to many other herds, offering genuine genetic depth for breeders seeking something different.

While we stepped away from halter showing in 2010, we previously achieved Black Championship success and the Small Breeder Award at the British Alpaca Futurity Show. We continue to support fleece shows but prioritise keeping our animals settled and stress-free at home.

As our herd grew, so did our knowledge and ambition. In 2005, we moved to our own farm and invested in infrastructure designed to minimise stress, improve handling, and support efficient, low-impact management — for both animals and people.
True black Huacaya alpacas soon became our focus. Recognising the limitations of a small gene pool, we made a deliberate decision to build unique bloodlines by importing high-quality stud males from overseas.
Today, the Chalford herd is distinctive within the UK. Our alpacas do not carry black genetics common to many other herds, offering genuine genetic depth for breeders seeking something different.
While we stepped away from halter showing in 2010, we previously achieved Black Championship success and the Small Breeder Award at the British Alpaca Futurity Show. We continue to support fleece shows but prioritise keeping our animals settled and stress-free at home.

Recently Shorn Pregnant Females

Sharing Our Passion: Helping You Achieve Your Alpaca Goals

More than 20 years on, our passion for alpacas remains as strong as ever.

With decades of experience, a herd of over 80 alpacas across solid black and most colours, and a commitment to evidence-based husbandry, we aim to help others achieve their alpaca ambitions — whether that’s:

Keeping alpacas as well-loved field companions
Establishing a thoughtful breeding programme
Developing an alpaca-related business
Or simply learning how to care for these remarkable animals properly

We also hope you enjoy learning more about our herd and how we manage and support them throughout the year.

Enjoy,
Helen

Consultancy

The name Alpaca Power comes from Honda – ‘The Power of Dreams’.

Soichiro Honda was always dreaming of the future. Usually while he was creating it. The dream started Soichiro first saw a car. He dedicated the rest of his life to making it a reality.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

We manage our herd using a prevention-first philosophy. Our alpacas are handled and trained using calm, respectful Camelidynamics-based methods, resulting in relaxed, confident animals.

Our farm benefits from permanent biosecure infrastructure, including buried badger-proof perimeter fencing, isolation and quarantine facilities, and robust biosecurity protocols. As a result, our biosecurity practices are regularly described as exemplary.

A Progressive, Considered Breeding Programme

We select breeding males and females based on favourable traits, structural soundness, fleece quality, and novel genetics. Working collaboratively with UK and international breeders, we have developed a core herd that reflects long-term planning rather than short-term trends.