LIVESTOCK
Alpacas: They’ll give you years of pleasure
K
eeping alpacas for
breeding purposes or
for the production of a
From page 35
times. No herbicides are
registered for use on lentils in
South Africa. It is also known
that lentils are sensitive to
herbicides of the
sulphonylurea group and
luxury fleece is a growing
agribusiness. These South
American members of the
camel family are found all
enquiring and sensitive
over South Africa, including in animals, which are able to
Gauteng. They are intelligent, survive on grazing and a small
amount of supplementation.
An average alpaca weighs 50
– 80kgs and stands 82 –
Leave them unshelled until
100cm at the shoulder.
you are ready to use them.
Keeping an alpaca can be a
Unshelled green-pod lentils
long term commitment, as
will keep in the refrigerator
they live for 15 to 20 years.
for one week. Dried, shelled
They make efficient use of
lentils can be stored in a cool,
land, are kind to the soil and
dry place for ten to twelve
Continued on page 39
months. Lentils can also be
sprouted.
Seed is available in limited
quantities from small seed
merchants.
Lentils require 80 to 110 days
to come to harvest.
In South Africa lentils are
grown for human consumption, but in some parts of the
world the plant is used as
winter fodder for livestock
and sprouted lentils are
sometimes fed to chickens.
VEG GARDEN
simazine is not safe for use
on lentils.
Lentils are commonly used
like dry beans or peas. For
dried seeds, harvest as soon
as pods are cream coloured
to light brown and mature.
Lentils can be enjoyed hot or cold, in stews and soups, or in salads
of various types.
37
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