Alpaca breeding a win-win for herders, grassland

Alpacas are helping herders protect grassland while increasing their incomes at one of China's largest alpaca breeding bases in Sonid Left Banner, Xiliin Gol League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The 280-hectare base belongs to Sonidalpaca, a company established in 2013 by Chi Haitao, a retired veteran turned entrepreneur. Chi started the venture with 78 high-quality alpacas imported from Australia.

The animals initially struggled to adapt to the cold. "In the middle of winter, they shivered so hard that they could not stand up," Chi said. The base built warm sheds and studied disease prevention and breeding techniques. After eight years, all 78 alpacas had survived and adapted to the local grassland environment, he said.

Large-scale breeding began in 2021. The base now raises 1,500 alpacas, generating a comprehensive output value of more than 5 million yuan ($747,000). In 2022, it was named an agricultural and animal husbandry science and technology demonstration park by Xiliin Gol League, Chi said.

Alpacas offer multiple sources of income. Their fleece is among the high-quality animal fibers recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. According to Chi, alpaca fleece is four times warmer than ordinary wool, and processed fleece sells for more than 2,000 yuan per kilogram, earning it the nickname "soft gold".

Alpaca meat is high in protein and low in cholesterol, making it a premium product in European and American markets, he said.

Alpaca-derived nanobodies can also be used in medical research into treatments for human diseases. In addition, the animals can be raised as pets or used in tourism. An adult alpaca sells for about 30,000 yuan, Chi added.

Chi, who is Han Chinese, has lived on the grassland for 13 years and has helped local ethnic Mongolian herders increase their incomes.

Under a cooperation model involving gacha — a village-level administrative unit in the Mongolian language — and local herders, the company encourages herders to raise alpacas supplied by the business. It then buys back young alpacas for at least 10,000 yuan each and purchases fleece for at least 1,000 yuan per animal.

"Raising 10 alpacas is equal to the income from raising 200 sheep," Chi said. All 500 young alpacas bred at the base this year have already been booked, he added.

The initiative has also helped strengthen the local collective economy.

"The alpaca industrial base has brought 390,000 yuan to our gacha's collective economy every year. We use the money to pay old-age insurance for herders, which has increased their sense of happiness," said Enkhbat, Communist Party of China secretary of Bayankhangai gacha.

Beyond its economic benefits, alpaca breeding can help protect the grassland ecosystem.

Alpacas consume about half as much as sheep, reducing pressure on pasture. They lack upper front teeth, so they nibble grass tops without pulling out the roots. Their padded feet also cause less damage to grassland, helping vegetation recover.

"For example, 600 sheep may graze a patch of grassland bare, while the grassland after 600 alpacas feed can still maintain good growth," Chi said.

Alpaca manure, meanwhile, is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which can improve soil fertility and structure and promote grass growth, supporting a more sustainable ecological cycle.

The company plans to expand its operations gradually and encourage more local herders to participate in alpaca breeding, Chi said.