Farm Bio-Security Foot and Mouth Disease

Bio Security at Little Valley Farm - PLEASE read before coming to our farm.

From one disaster straight into another. We have had two years of non-stop action. As I write this blog, we have just encountered our worst flood impact and are recovering from the March 2022 flood and the 2021 Flood and La Nina events. So now, with news from Indonesia this month, it's time to think and act on FMD - Foot and Mouth Disease and stop it from entering Australia and our farmland.

And if you haven't learnt anything from the 2019 fires and 2021 - 2022 floods, learn one thing ~ preparation. #everybitcounts


What is FMD - Foot and Mouth Disease?

Image Animal Health Australia

Image Animal Health Australia

With Australian borders freely open international travel is now back on the cards. If you're travelling to Australia from Indonesia, including Bali, you must take the appropriate precautions to help prevent Foot-and-mouth disease from reaching our farming communities.


The steps you can take include:

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect your shoes and boots before returning to Australia, or even better, leave them behind in Indonesia.

• Inform Customs if you've been in contact with cattle, pigs, sheep or goats, if you've been to rural areas, and/or if you're carrying animal material or food.

• Do not bring into the country any food, or medicine, including any alternative medicines. 

• If in contact with cattle, pigs, sheep or goats overseas, stay away from these species for at least 28 hours after contact – the virus can survive in your nasal passages

Things to do now for your farm:

  1. Have your farm Bio-security plan in place.

  2. Ensure all visitors are registered before entering your farm.

  3. Limit the number of access points for visitors.

  4. Shoe bath upon arrival and ensure all genuine hygiene practices are in place.

  5. Ask the question if your farm visitors have been to Bali, Indonesia, since June 2022.

  6. Ask all visitors to bring boots or indoor and outdoor shoes.

  7. Jump on the Animal Health website for more things you need to do, as they have some great resources.


There are some great resources on the Animal Health Australia website, so make sure you take the time to protect your farm, your animals and the whole of Australia. 

If FMD does enter Australia, thousands, if not millions, of livestock will be euthanized and then burnt. It also means that infected farms will not be able to have livestock on their lands for many years - this includes hobby farmers.  Yes, FMD does affect alpacas and llamas.

Keep up to date via the Agriculture Gov Au Bio-security and Animal Health website.

Euan and I were working and living in the UK when FMD broke out, and it was devastating and a reminder of how things can go so bad so quickly. Article from BBC on the 2001 UK FMD.

What is means to us?

Death to all our alpacas in the area and the ban on farming for many years. Heartbreak and heartache watching our beloved livestock being put the death.

Frequently Asked Questions and our BIo-Security Polcy read here.

Hunter Valley Alpacas

For those needing help or advice after the Hunter Valley July 2022 floods.

We are there for our amazing animals through fire, flood, drought, and illness. If you have alpacas and are stuck in the current Hunter Valley flood, please contact me for support or advice. No question is too big or small or silly - just ask as someone else may have the same question as you.

I am not a vet but may be able to offer some guidance and pathways to other experts.

Floods for us are a way of life here, but this one was huge. We were prepared; donkeys and alpacas are all up at the house. The water covered our paddocks and took out the use of some sheds for now. It's raining today, so fingers crossed we will see some more sun tomorrow.

Feel free to DM me.

Daniela Riccio Little Valley Farm - Alpaca Farm

Laguna, Wollombi Valley, Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley Alpacas

Photo of Miss Abs - the look on her face says, it all!

If you would like to direct message us or email dani (@) little valley farm.com. au

Alpaca Husbandry Session

Alpaca Husbandry Session

Suitable for people wanting to learn how to trim alpaca nails, conduct regular body scoring, carry out drenching and administering vitamins.  The essential hands-on experience for potential alpaca owners or current alpaca owners. 

Your animals deserve to be happy and healthy. With that in mind, you have an ethical responsibility toward their welfare by providing a safe and caring environment such as good food sources, clean water, and shelter  - so they can always reap the benefits of living on your farm. 

The best way to keep your herd healthy and productive is by keeping them vaccinated, with updated vaccinations and parasite control. It's important that you watch the herd constantly so they don't get sick especially as we now are experiencing dramatic seasonal changes. 

 You may think that alpacas are indestructible, but they're not. When one of your alpacas becomes sick it can be difficult to tell how much damage the illness has done because these animals will rarely show any signs of being ill or injured. This makes prevention more important than cure!


Alpaca Husbandry what we will do:

  • Quietly move alpacas into the holding pen 

  • Learn how to safely and quietly herd them  

  • Pen, handle and hold each alpaca 

  • Handling difficult alpacas. 

  • Trimming their toenails 

  • Vaccination, Vitamins, Drenching (oral or injection) 

  • Body Scoring each alpaca 

  • Checking eyes 

  • Recording notes for each alpaca 


This is only for adults and for people who are interested in owning alpacas or current owners who want to know more. It’s a great introduction to see if they are the right fit for your farm and become confident when handling them. You will see the good side and the not-so-easy to handle alpacas and how we do it. 

The morning is around 1.5 hours and we will end the session up at the house with a relaxing morning tea. 

What you need:

- Closed shoes for safety 

- Please wear long pants/jeans for safety

- Sunhat 

Time: Approx 1.5 Hours (one and half hours). 

This event is not suitable for children and please do not bring your dogs to our farm.  We run this event only 2-3 times a year. We keep the numbers limited so hands-on learning time is maximized.  There is also our alpaca management manual if you would like to purchase that also on the day.  We will go ahead in moderate rain and would only cancel if there is a threat of fire, flood or deluges. 

Alpaca Husbandry Session exclusive to Little Valley Farm

This workshop is free of charge for people who have already attended our Sunday alpaca workshop and is the next step to gaining hands-on experience and confidence in handling alpacas.

Expect to get a little farm dirty at this Alpaca Husbandry Session.

Alpaca Workshop for new and potential owners

We have been a little distracted after all the rain and the horrible March 2022 floods. We are currently re-designing our shearing shed and alpaca barn for the next lot of exciting cria births.

Our next workshop will be held on Sunday, August 7th 2022, at 10:30 am. This workshop will introduce you to the wonderful world of owning and caring for these majestic animals on your own farm.

There will only be six places available, so jump online to book your adults-only workshop. I will be working on a kids workshop shortly, but we need to get through the Winter days first.

In the meantime, subscribe to our website for quarterly updates.

Alpaca Workshops at Little Valley Farm Hunter Valley

Next adults only alpaca workshop: Sunday 7th May 2022

Alpaca Husbandry Hands-on

Hi everyone, we will be holding an alpaca 'Husbandry Hands-on' event next month.

It's suitable for people who would like to get hands-on experience in cutting toenails, body scoring, giving oral vitamins and checking eyes for health.

We will be going through the entire herd and checking each one. It's full-on and has lots of handling, so enclosed shoes, sun hat and a refillable water bottle to keep hydrated.

Then you can hang out with the alpacas and get to know them after the event. The time for handing is approx 1.5-2 hours. 

No charge if you have already attended our main workshop. It's really to give people the next step in hands-on / exposure to handling alpacas and being confident with them.

Adults only due to safety and insurance.

Only open to people who have already attended our main workshop. 

Only 2-3 people at a time for this event.

If you are looking for accommodation, we have the shearers studio for a minimum of two nights' stay ($600), or you can stay one night at Noyce Brothers Wine/Grays Inn Wollombi, about ten minutes away right in the heart of Wollombi Village. Check out the Noyce website for their rates. https://www.noycebros.com.au/

Date: early July 2022 — at Little Valley Farm - Alpaca Farm.

We will aim to make this a monthly event for our LVF VIP members.

Photo of Karine as she is a real character. She loves neck rubs, and when she is bored, she walks off. Her cria is super sweet and confident just like her mum.

How to become a LVF VIP member? Book in for our Alpaca Workshops for new owners.

If you have not attended our main workshop, you can check out our dates and prices here. 



Alpaca Workshops for new owners

Getting ready for our Sunday workshop the first for Winter 2022.

Warm coats, beanies and gumboots are essential. It will be well worth it hanging out with these adorable alpacas.

If you have missed out on your workshop place we will be running a special Saturday edition on 11th June 2022 at 10:30am - places are limited so jump online to book.

#littlevalleyfarm

Alpacas at Little Valley Farm Hunter Valley

At Little Valley Farm, we have been working with alpacas since 2012. We pride ourselves on friendly, healthy and absolutely adorable alpacas. Our workshops are beneficial for potential alpaca owners or people who want to learn more before starting their alpaca journey.

Come, learn and fall in love with our Hunter Valley based alpacas.

Regional Travel is ON in NSW from June 1

Richmond says it’s ok.

Regional NSW travel from June 1st.

Come back to the Hunter Valley soon and stay with us.

Read all about the Riparide experience by Charlotte Curd here.

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Alpacas for Sale - Perfect for Your Hobby Farm! 

Looking to add alpacas to your hobby farm? Little Valley Farm in the beautiful Hunter Valley has a select number of alpacas now available! 🦙💚 Established in 2012 by Daniela, we’re passionate about raising friendly, well-handled alpacas. Our alpacas are perfect for hobby farms and new owners, with wethers and females currently for sale.

👉 Plus, we offer hands-on alpaca workshops to help new owners learn how to care for these amazing animals. Visit us in Wollombi Valley or contact us to learn more!

🌱 Little Valley Farm - Sustainable Farming Since 2012

Alpaca Yarn Get it online

I love Suki and all of the girls; they are my life. We spin their fleece into amazing wintertime jumpers that keep me warm every season!

Suki's personality is quite an original. She is quirky, inquisitive, and the first one to push the other girls out of the way so she can eat out of your hand. You can hear her saying nom, nom, nom whilst happily chewing away. She has lovely dense, soft fleece and has passed on her lovely fleece to her offspring.

She is also a snake bite survivor, and we are lucky to have her and her cria, Oberon, with us today.

How blessed we are to be able to hand spin the fleece, knit it and wear the garments that will last a lifetime. Thank you, Suki, our quirky alpaca.

The many funny faces of Suki above.

For a limited time only, you can purchase Suki’s yarn online from our shop cart.

We are selling the yarn in 2, 4 or 6 yarn balls in our kraft Gift Case.

These photos were taken on my iPhone today and I have tried to capture its natural colour. They also come in this handy kraft gift box. 8 PLY approx 75-80 g each yarn ball. Get it now before they disappear and you have to wait until we shear and spin again. It’s all handspun so expect rustic and many variations.

Daniela

NSW DPI Get Ready Animals Evacuation Plan for Livestock owners

Euan talking to NSW Department of Primary Industries for the "Get Animals Ready" campaign right after the 2019/2020 bushfires.

How times have changed since the 2019 bushfires and this month the focus is on our flood evac plan - Let’s hope we and all the other livestock owners do not need to use it.

Have you updated your fire and flood plan this year?

NSW Department of Primary Industries NSW SES Australian Alpaca Association #littlevalleyfarm #huntervalley

Source: https://youtu.be/tBcEoA5Z7P0

10 Dreamy Places to Stay in NSW This Summer with Outdoor Baths

“We are so happy and excited that Little Valley Farm has been added to the list of Top 10 Dreamy Outdoor Baths in New South Wales! 

It’s an absolute honour for us, as we know all other places on the list and how wonderful they are.

We are also lucky enough to share our home with amazing guests. Thank you Urban List!”
— Daniela, Little Valley Farm. Laguna Hunter Valley

Read the full article on URBAN LIST click here 

Located about 90-minutes north of Sydney in Laguna, this charming farm brings together a trifecta of great concepts—getting off the grid, alpacas, and outdoor baths (of course naturally). There are two main types of accommodation here but if you’re keen to slip into an outdoor tub of bubbles and essential oils for total relaxation, you’ll want to knock on the door of the T4615 Red Rattler. This converted 1950s train carriage packs a spacious bedroom with a queen bed, a camp-style kitchen, an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, hammocks, deck yoga, and a trusty outdoor bath that overlooks paddocks of cute ‘pacas. Book your stay here. 

Book your next glamping experience for four adults on our eco-farmstay.

Read more here or jump on sign up to waitlist for availability.

New Little Valley Shearer’s Studio coming up Autumn 2022 so don’t miss out on this and get in now so you can enjoy our preview special rates.

Source: https://www.theurbanlist.com/sydney/a-list/nsw-places-to-stay-with-outdoor-bath?fbclid=IwAR08O3_zaG7m09BVEWMM222hW2vfN4awhS3pV-NxlphQIt-mloBh7_ysXtE

Does every farm need to have biosecurity measures?

Does every farm need to have biosecurity measures?

That’s a YES, 100%.

A biosecurity plan for your farm is essential. You should practice some measures now, but this will only prepare you to the extent that it's effective if everyone can understand and use these tools properly.

We will discuss our bio-security measures at our workshop and how we manage it at Little Valley Farm with our livestock.

Jump on our waitlist for our February and March 2022 workshops.

$159 per adult and $39 for children.

We do run adult-only workshops the first week of the month (subject to change) and then the last week of the month, adults and children.

Our workshops are kept small and are held outside on the paddocks to be Covid safe. Small groups of 6 people means we get to know everybody and learn and question time is maximised. The workshop includes our alpaca guidebook for you to take home.

We have been working with alpacas for ten years now and would love to be part of your alpaca journey.

If you are on Facebook this is a video we were asked to do by Hunter Local Land Service a couple of years ago. Watch here.

Jump on our Little Valley website to read more.

Dates coming up:

Sunday 13th February at 10:30 am - adults only

Sunday 27th February 10:30 am - adults and kids.

Sunday 6th March 10:30 am - adults only

Limited spots so book early and do send me an email should you have any questions.

We love what we do and want to share it with you.

Contact Daniela here.

Also, don’t forget to jump on our LVF mailing list for special events, updates and previews. We don’t spam as we prefer to be outside working with the alpacas - its much more fun!

Alpaca Suri Fleece available for sale

Shearing is done every October at Little Valley Farm. Fleece sorting is done randomly or when I get inspired to sort, spin and add it onto the website. It all takes time, and there is always a lot of beautiful fleece sort through.

So, where you can purchase our unprocessed fleece or handspun alpaca yarn? Jump on our website at @littlevalleyfarm.com.au or visit the stunning homeware and lifestyle shop in Laguna called @LagunaLuxe next to GNTP.


I have just added three saddles of fawn SURI fleece to the website so you can order online and we will post them to you. P&P charges will be added to the shop cart.

Click here to order online as the next lot of fleece won’t be available until October 2022 after shearing day.

Little Valley Farm is based in Laguna in the Wollombi Valley, Hunter Valley. We are only 90 minutes from Sydney but feels like a million miles away. To check availability for our couples only glamping experience contact Daniela via email.

Frequently Asked Questions here.

Little Valley Farm In the Media

Shelters for Alpacas

Alpacas need shelter, please don’t let others convince you of anything different to that fact. The most essential & basic shelter are trees, they can provide deep shade in Summer and protection from rains and wind in Winter.

A permanent structural shelter with sides, is extremely important particularly for the protection of newborn cria and recently shorn alpacas. Simple shelters of poles and shade cloth can be erected in the absence of trees, but we highly recommend having a permanent shelter or shelters.

We have several different types of permanent shelters at Little Valley Farm. A 4 x 4 metre or larger is useful and can be used on your annual shearing day or in extreme weather conditions such as rain and windy conditions. Not all alpacas will use the sheds but it gives them the option and is extremely useful for penning them when necessary.

Fresh drinking water is a must in or around each shelter especially if penned. Alpacas will drink two to ten litres per day.

Feed bucket to help keep the feed dry avoiding mould build-up and helps reduce feed wastage.

Alpaca ‘Summer Palace’

Here are some examples of sheds we have. Below is our Alpaca Summer Palace with lots of extra shade provided by the trees and excellent cross ventilation inside. The shed has 1/2 earth and 1/2 brick floor. They prefer the earthen floor, we like the brick which stays drier longer. The shelter has opening shutters to control wind and light. Cold rainy days we close them but mostly they are open. The back are has two gates which can be closed if we need to catch them. The alpaca’s love sitting out the front of the shelter looking over the paddocks and towards the house.

Below is our Twin Shed is nicely situated in between two paddocks, so it is convenient when we do our weekly paddock rotation of the alpacas and mini donkeys. It also provides us a couple of pens to catch the Alpacas.

It has lot of cross ventilation and plenty of trees for deep shade on the northern side. The summer western sun is an issue but they move towards the large trees down the paddock on hot and sunny afternoons.

The drinking water trough is close by and they love the dirt floor to roll about in.

Twin Shed placed in between two paddocks

Twin Shed lot of gates to help create small pens and plenty of ventiliation with a solid wall to avoid the wind and rain.

Want to read more about managing your own herd? We have some great reading material to get you started. Click here. Attending one of our weekend workshops. Click here for workshop info.

More about Daniela and Euan at Little Valley Farm here.

Take it slow in 2022 in Laguna Hunter Valley

Welcome to 2022! Happy New Year to everybody.

What’s happening the year.

Get in early and book your Valentines Day midweek escape with us or Easter with your buddies on the Train and the new Shearers Studio. Enjoy our early bird discount when you book for four adults.

littlevalleyfarm

Farm Workshops

Alpaca workshops are back and better than ever. Our workshop will help new alpaca owners get started or provide the opportunity for people who already have their hearts set on owning a herd to learn more about these majestic animals.

It is a great way to introduce yourself to an entire herd of wool-bearing friends at your feet? So book in for our first workshop for the year on January 9th. Check dates with Daniela as we will add more for Summer and Autumn 2022.

Train Stay

Imagine a life without stress, where you can do nothing but relax on the train hang out deck overlooking the beautiful scenery of alpacas and mini donkeys. Imagine never having to answer any calls or check your phone!

Spend your evenings enjoying wood-fired pizza and the glow of bonfire and evening stars: nothing but great friends, good wine and excellent food.

So now is the perfect chance to experience our unique getaway with your loved ones. The four-person country escape in the vintage Train and new Shearer's Studio. Two adults in the train and two adults up in the Shearers Studio. Early bird bookings get 20% off - $1200 only $960

Dates for Easter 2022 are currently available from Thursday, April 14th for four adults.

Valentine’s Day from Monday 14th February for two adults currently available.

PROMO CODE: EARLYBIRD20% for 4 adult bookings only.

Photo Charlotte Curd for Riparide and Matt Hoospool

Little Valley Farm is based in Laguna in the Wollombi Valley, Hunter Valley. We are only 90 minutes from Sydney but feels like a million miles away. To check availability contact Daniela via email.

Frequently Asked Questions here.

Little Valley Farm In the Media

Photo Shoot Location - 'Alpaca parkland'

If you are looking for a great location or backdrop for photo shoots consider our picturesque working Alpaca farm with a great diversity of spaces and buildings. Each season has its charm from colourful Autumn, lush Summer, crisp Winters and our brief welcome Springs. We have hosted major fashion brands, music video clips and some incredibly talented overseas photographers who have stopped in here on their tours in Australia.

Typical Autumn colour, misty mornings with blue clear skies and first frosts. 3rd week of May is peak colour.

Winter with Felix. 50 acre farm with Red Rattler train is a well loved feature.

Summer with Local Land Services, small farm educational video and shoot.

Spring Wedding photo shoot.

Summer Music video using paddocks, creekline & train.

Do platypus live in our creek? How many wild dogs are roaming the hilltops?

With the help of Hunter Region Landcare Network, Wollombi Valley Landcare, and Local Land Service, we’ve set up a few motion-sensitive cameras in critical locations around our bushland and creek-line.

We aim to monitor and track wild dog, feral pig, feral cats, and feral goat activity and hope to monitor platypus activity.

This year we have noticed an increase in dog visits and several native animal carcasses have been left on our paddocks including wallaroos and a wombat. The most recent attack was a wombat found early on a Monday morning following an alert from the Alpacas. He had been badly mauled by a Dog so we took him to Cedar Creek Wombat Hospital for treatment. He survived thanks to the great work at the Hospital.

We have never seen the elusive platypus in our creek but know they were there once here. The good news is that they were spotted two kilometres down the creek last week and they are known to live further up Watagan Creek.

Over the next thirty days, the infrared cameras will hopefully pick up some activity. The programme is managed by HRLN and LLS and is accessible to Wollombi Valley Landcare owners. If you wish to get involved please drop an email to Victoria from Hunter Region Landcare Network on the email ~ lowerhunterlandcare @ gmail.com

Alpaca Fleece For Sale - Little Valley Farm

We have just completed our shearing for Spring 2021, and now our alpacas are ready and relaxed for the hot Summer days ahead. Freshly shorn and out of the sun, they enjoy the shade of the old Liquid Amber trees.

Biscuit and Flirty pictured here.

I will be spending the week sorting out which fleece we should spin and felt for our Summer 2022 projects. So far, we have counted 40+ saddles to work with and more for me to clean and sort out.

So if you love spinning or felting alpaca fleece, we have a range of white, fawn and brown fleece for your home projects. We have mostly Huacaya and some long fawn Suri fleece available.

Our alpaca fleece sale will start early November, and we will have saddles ready for spinning from $10, $15, $20 and $30. Our saddles have been partly skirted, (we have removed the neck and leg fleece). But, of course, there will always be some vegetation matter and dirt as they love to roll in the ground just before shearing.

Huacaya or Suri fleece?

Alpaca garments are often sought after for their softness and warmth. The two types of alpacas, Suri and Huacaya, offer different qualities in wool that can be used to create unique pieces of clothing. Learn more about the difference between these animals, so you know which type is best suited to your needs!

Alpaca fleece sales

Our sale day will be held up at our house, and please note, we are open via appointment only. Our fleece sales do not include feeding the alpacas as we are limited with our time and workload already. Also, please do not bring your dogs to our farm due to our strict bio-security policy.

As we are a COVID safe business, you will be required to QR code check-in on arrival.

Feel free to email us for raw fleece sales and what you are looking for. If you can’t make it to our farm we can post our fleece to you. Jump on our shop cart to view prices.

We will also have some more alpacas coming up for sale November-December. Simply email to be added to our livestock waitlist.

www.littlevalleyfarm.com.au/shop

Check out these adorable faces below?

Alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley

Alpacas are fascinating animals, but they require special management. Join us for our unique alpaca workshop that is perfect for people living on small farms or acreage. A great introduction to see if alpacas are the right fit for your farm.

Date available:

Sunday 10:30 am November 14th - Now booked out.

Sunday 10:30 am November 21st - Booked out. *

Saturday 10:30 am December 4th - Booked out. *

  • email us to be added to our waitlist

Click on the photo below to book.

Book online click here.

Book online click here.