One of the great things about alpacas is that everything they produce can be used in some way or another. Their fleece is very desirable and is the main reason for keeping them, but even their waste can be put to some good (and creative) uses.

Unlike sheep or cows, alpacas will always poo in the same place, creating a shared dung pile (and saving leg work for those who have to collect it). For those of you who haven’t seen it before, alpaca poo looks a lot like rabbit poo, it is in small pellets which dry out fast and don’t really smell.

Collection

Collecting alpaca poo is easy providing you follow a few rules:

• Pick it up daily, or it will dry out and become light enough to roll down a hill or fly away in a strong wind!
• Keep your dog away from the pile at all costs, dogs are attracted to the scent of alpaca poo and would chew their own paws off to roll around in the stuff (and eat it) yuk!
• Always wear gloves. Well, that’s just common sense.

If you feel that shovelling poo is somewhat below your station then no need to worry, our friend technology has come to the rescue with the amazing poo hoover (no seriously). Just install one of these babies and you’ll never need to set eyes on that stinky wheelbarrow again.

Creative uses for poo

The most common use for alpaca poo is as fertilizer. Alpaca poo can be used straight away because unlike other kinds of manure, it doesn’t burn the garden. Apparently it grows great veg, especially tomatoes.

In peru, alpaca farmers collect the poo and compact it into bricks. Once it has dried out it can be used as a biofuel source which burns like charcoal and doesn’t smell.

Finally, for the crafty amongst you, you could always try making alpaca poo paper!

alpaca photo and alpaca poo photo from flickr.