COLEG Cambria Llysfasi has recently expanded its stock by investing in 55 Lleyn sheep, two Lleyn rams and two new baby alpacas, known as cria.

Sheep is one of the main enterprises of the farm at Llysfasi alongside dairy cows, dairy heifers and beef cattle.

The new stock will not only strengthen the existing livestock that we have on the 970 acres, comprising of hill, lowland and upland but will also benefit the students who are studying at the college and give them the opportunity to learn about different breeds and gain valuable work related experience.

Andy Read, deputy director of curriculum at the Llysfasi site said:

‘’The introduction of a new breed opens up lots of opportunities for the students to learn about different characteristics of breeds and reproduction, along with EID (Electronic Identification) tag reading and show preparation. All sheep and rams were bought locally at the Ruthin Farmers Auction whilst the alpacas have come from Bodfari”.

‘’On the farm, we are constantly trying to improve what we do and at times it makes sense for us to introduce a new breed to satisfy both the commercial element of what we do alongside the added benefit to students at the college,” added Dewi Jones, farm manager.

‘’The Lleyn breed has many strengths and if they prove themselves worthy, we will be looking to build up the flock over coming years. They will be managed alongside the Welsh Mountain and mule flocks already at the college.’’

Kath Roberts, one of the instructors at the animal care department in Llysfasi said: “We got the alpacas to expand our resources and give our students something that would stand out on their CV. 

“The fact that the animals are not normally farmed in Wales means that they provide a new and interesting challenge for all of our students not just the animal care students. They will have to be confident with training, caring for and shearing the alpacas.”

“The students have only started so they haven’t had much to do with the alpacas yet but they do think that they are really very cute. They are quite at home with the Welsh climate but they don’t like the wet. We bought them from a farm in Bodfari they are two boys and their mothers will be with them until they have been weaned in December.”