The alpacas of Rogier and Eveline van Bree in Heeze are not just any alpacas: they are the most beautiful in the Netherlands. For male Zoran it is even the fourth time in a row that he has become ‘Grand Champion’. His sister Anastasia was voted the most beautiful among the mares and is reserve champion after brother Zoran. “No, they never spit.”
The Van Bree family has been keeping alpacas, also known as mountain llamas, since 2008. “We had a piece of pasture and thought about what animals we wanted here. Roger was looking around and then it became alpacas,” says Eveline. “A year later we had our first foals and we loved it so much, those young animals in the meadow. From then on, there were only more.” Now they have about fifteen alpacas.
Alpacas originate from South America. The animals have been used there for hundreds of years for their wool, meat, skin and manure. They are often calm and strong herd animals. Their long eyelashes, long legs and soft wool make them very cuddly.
“Zoran basically has everything.”
Last weekend was the international Alpaca show in Tolbert, Groningen, where Zoran was declared Grand Champion. But what makes Zoran, the white alpaca, so special? “He actually has everything: a sturdy build, his legs are straight, good teeth and he has super fine, soft wool with good density. They call it a top coat. Zoran has ‘the whole package’ as the jury called it” , Roger says proudly. The jury was the American Wade Gease, also ‘The Alpaca Guy’ and a celebrity in the world of alpaca breeders.
It is the last time for Zoran to win a prize for a while, because the Van Bree family will leave him at home next time. “We also want to give other alpacas a chance,” says Roger. Sister Anastasia is still allowed to continue. She is special because she has the same build as Zoran, but does not have white but dark fur, ‘which is very nice’. The normal rule is: if the coat darkens, the wool becomes less fine and less soft, Roger explains. “Anastasia has the same build and the same soft wool as Zoran, that makes her special.”
“We train them on it, so that they get used to the touch of the jury.”
The jury therefore pays attention to wool and conformation and the scrotum of the stallions is also examined and felt. How is that for the animals? “We train them so that they get used to that touch. It doesn’t bother them and they are always calm,” says Roger. Although llamas are known for their spitting, this has never happened in a competition. “No, and besides, such a jury can have something.”
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