Moralee Farm Vineyard

Tucked into the rolling foothills of the South Downs in West Sussex, just twelve miles from the English coast, Moralee Farm is a small, family-run holding that combines two very different passions: the breeding of elite Huacaya alpacas and the cultivation of English sparkling wine. Founded in 2017 by Claire Holloway, the farm has grown steadily into a respected name for those interested in alpaca ownership, alpaca-derived products, and an emerging South Coast vineyard scene.

A farm born from a love of alpacas

Moralee Farm was founded in 2017 with a clear mission: to breed for improvement. The focus is on white and light-coloured alpacas carrying exceptionally fine fleece with award-winning genetics, raised in a gentle, loving and caring environment. The herd is kept in small, friendly groups that are used to human contact and receive plenty of attention, producing calm, well-handled animals that are a joy to work with.

The breeding programme is supported by close links with Bozedown Alpacas, who supplied the initial herd of breeding females and continue to provide access to their award-winning champion studs. That means the genetics behind the Moralee herd are some of the strongest in the UK, and the Sussex countryside plays host to progeny of genuinely elite bloodlines.

The South Downs vineyard

South-facing slope, maritime climate

The vineyard at Moralee Farm may be small, but it sits on a south-facing slope of the grounds - a textbook location for cool-climate viticulture. With the English Channel only twelve miles away, the maritime influence moderates temperatures, while the chalky, free-draining soils of the Downs mimic the geology of the world's most famous sparkling wine regions. The combination of climate, aspect and soil is known to create some of the best conditions for award-winning English sparkling wine.

Planted in 2016, first harvest in 2019

The vines were planted in 2016 and the farm celebrated its first, small harvest in 2019. The team is still eagerly awaiting its first commercial vintage, but the early signs from this tiny but perfectly formed vineyard are genuinely exciting. Like many of the most exciting small producers in Sussex, Moralee Farm is poised to join the next wave of English and Welsh sparkling wine producers reshaping the country's reputation for méthode traditionnelle fizz.

Services for aspiring alpaca owners

Beyond the vineyard, Moralee Farm offers a range of services for those looking to keep alpacas themselves:

• Sale of breeding females - well-handled, genetically strong females that are ready to join a new herd.
• Drive-by stud services - access to high-quality males without the need to keep a stud on the property.
• Male field pets - gelded males that make excellent field companions or hobby-farm additions.
• Finest-quality yarn - produced from the fleeces of the youngest animals, ideal for hand-knitting projects.
• Raw fleeces - sold directly for spinners and crafters.
• "Black Gold" alpaca fertiliser - the farm's signature soil amendment, available at the farm gate.

Black Gold: alpaca manure for the garden

One of the most popular products to come off the farm is known affectionately as Black Gold - the alpacas' own manure, marketed as nutrient-rich "Alpaca Beans".

Why alpaca manure is so prized

Alpaca manure is perfectly suited to any plant, whether indoors or out, and is particularly excellent for growing vegetables. Unlike many other livestock manures, the beans can be spread straight onto plants without burning them or needing to be rotted down first. The slow-release nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium work to enhance the soil, and because the droppings are lightweight and dry they are easy to handle.

Alpaca manure is known to improve soil quality and its ability to retain water - a real boost for hungry crops and thirsty flower beds.

Black Gold prices

• 1 x 12kg bag - £6.00
• 2 x 12kg bags - £10.00

Orders are taken by email at blackgold@moralee.farm. Black Gold is currently only sold at the farm gate, so a visit to the South Downs is required to pick up your bags.

Tips and advice for new alpaca keepers

Moralee Farm maintains an extensive Tips & Advice section, reproducing in detail the British Alpaca Society fact sheets on the most important husbandry topics. This is a genuinely useful resource for anyone considering alpaca ownership for pleasure or business.

Huacaya alpacas: teddy bears to comical cria

The farm focuses on breeding Huacaya alpacas, which look like enormous teddy bears when in full fleece and surprisingly slender and comical when newly shorn. Alpacas are herd animals and need to be kept in groups of three or more, although they will happily live alongside sheep, chickens and horses provided they have the company of their own kind to feel safe.

Reproduction and mating

Alpacas are non-seasonal breeders and will demonstrate year-round sexual activity. Females do not show distinct periods of "heat" but instead prolonged periods of sexual receptivity, with ovulation generally induced by the act of mating itself. Copulation can last between 5 and 55 minutes, with an average of 15 - 20 minutes, and the gestation period is around 342 days, although anywhere from 320 to 380 days is considered normal. A single mating can achieve conception rates of 75 - 80%, with most pregnancies implanting in the left uterine horn.

Birthing and cria care

Most births occur during daylight hours, typically between 0800 and 1400. Normal labour is divided into three stages, with stage two (delivery of the cria) usually completed in 30 - 45 minutes. A healthy newborn cria should be active almost immediately, sitting in the cush position within 5 - 10 minutes, standing within 2 - 3 hours and suckling within 4 hours. Birth weights of 6.5 - 8 kg and temperatures of 36.8°C - 39.2°C are normal. Re-breeding should generally be delayed until 15 - 20 days post-partum.

Body condition and nutrition

Body condition scoring uses a 1 - 5 scale, assessed by palpating the central backbone near the last ribs. Mature females should weigh 60 - 75 kg and males up to 100 kg. Alpacas eat roughly 2% of their body weight per day and prefer shorter pastures, with a diet ideally containing 20% fibre. They are highly efficient at extracting nutrients from forage and benefit from a daily supplement to ensure they receive all the minerals and vitamins they need.

Herd protectors and livestock guardians

Alpacas have a well-documented instinct for protecting sheep and goat flocks, especially during and after lambing and kidding. The British Alpaca Society recommends using fully grown, castrated adult males of at least 18 months to two years of age. Guardian alpacas should be introduced to the pregnant ewe flock about 4 - 6 weeks before lambing to allow time for bonding, and they can remain active and useful for at least 15 years.

Injections, ticks, vitamins and toe nails

The advice section also covers best-practice techniques for administering intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, control of the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus), the importance of vitamin D and selenium supplementation (with clear warnings about the narrow margin between therapeutic and toxic doses), and the regular trimming of alpaca toenails - usually every three to four months and at shearing, particularly on lighter-coloured animals whose nails grow faster and thicker.

Visiting Moralee Farm

Moralee Farm is a working farm and stud, and visits are arranged by appointment. Enquiries can be directed by email to claire@moralee.farm, or sent via the Contact page.

The farm is active on Facebook, where updates are shared on the alpaca herd, the vineyard's progress, and the eventual release of the first vintage of Moralee Farm sparkling wine.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Moralee Farm?

Moralee Farm is located in the foothills of the South Downs in West Sussex, around twelve miles from the English coast.

When was Moralee Farm founded?

The farm was founded in 2017 by Claire Holloway.

Does Moralee Farm sell wine?

Not yet. The vineyard was planted in 2016 and produced a small first harvest in 2019, but the team is still waiting for its first commercial vintage of English sparkling wine.

What is Black Gold?

Black Gold is Moralee Farm's own brand of alpaca manure, sold as a slow-release organic soil amendment. A 12 kg bag costs £6.00, or two bags for £10.00, and it is currently available only at the farm gate.

What services does Moralee Farm offer for alpaca keepers?

The farm sells breeding females, offers drive-by stud services, and provides male field pets, yarn from young animals, raw fleeces and Black Gold organic fertiliser.