In 2001 Pucara Alpaca Stud along with their close friend, Chic Wilson of Noosa Alpaca Stud, purchased what was remaning of the famous Purrumbete herd.

The owners, Roger, Sue and Clyde Haldane, and the Purrumbete name, have dominated the Australian and U.S. alpaca industries like no other. Although they sold the last of their herd in 2001 and had not actively participated in the industry since 1999, in 2002 a majority of the National Huacaya Champion winners could be traced to Purrumbete heritage!

Long before Raul Ponzini coined the term "suri dominance", Roger Haldane had started breeding suri males over the Purrumbete huacaya females. All the huacaya produced phenotypically suri cria. Whether you agree with the suri dominance theory or not the results tell a story. In six years of crossing the Purrumbete huacaya females have always had suri babies when crossed to our selected a suri males, as have the suri cross females.

Roger saw the possibility of producing luxurious coloured suris which were gaining a premium in the market place. The results have been stunning. Pucara and Noosa were excited to be able to buy the program to continue their interest in suris that started with the import by Pucara of fifty U.S. suris in 1997.

Today Purrumbete has over fifty first crosses, thirty second crosses and some thirds, with a ton more due. The results are staggering. Many of the crosses are that good that they will be in the Pucara Suri show team some of them have won championships. If you follow suris you'll know they will have to be good because Pucara has had exceptionally good fortune in the show ring with their suris.

The results attained in the Purrumbete breeding program are testament to a well thought out breeding plan. If you wish you can purchase from the herd. Huacaya females mated to suri males, and some first and second crosses are for sale. Don't forget to check out the suri stud males used in the Purrumbete program if you're thinking of wanting to produce suri crosses yourself.

Suri-Huacaya crossing has produced great conjecture in some partitions of the alpaca industry, especially in the U.S.A. But for us we believe in our mentors. Our good friend from Peruvian Accoyo fame,Don Julio Barreda, has been crossing for four years! And well. Roger Haldane's story has been told. We aren't about to debate the matter with these two alpaca experts!

If you wish please contact us for further information on the Purrumbete cross program.

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