The British Alpaca Society

BAS Code of Conduct for the sale of alpacas

Members of the British Alpaca Society agree to undertake and abide by the following code of conduct when offering alpacas for sale.

All persons wishing to advertise alpacas for sale in Alpaca magazine or on the Society website must be current members of the British Alpaca Society and have signed this Code of Conduct for the sale of alpacas.

1. To ensure the proper well- being of the alpaca by advising the intended purchaser of the requirements laid down in the Guide to Welfare, to avoid selling alpacas which might be kept alone, and to ensure that adequate grazing is available to accommodate the increase in herd size if breeding animals are being purchased.
2. To advise on the long term commitment pertaining to alpaca ownership.
3. To declare any known faults in breeding ability, conformation, temperament and ancestry, where this relates to the intended purpose of the purchaser.
4. To offer after-sales help and advice whenever needed by the purchaser.
5. To provide the purchaser with proper records of date of birth, breeding history, medical history and last worming and vaccination dates. Also to provide the BAS registration certificate duly completed with change of ownership details.
6. To ensure the alpaca is in good health, with all routine husbandry completed.
7. To declare a female believed pregnant only when mating has been observed and subsequent putting back to a male does not result in further mating.
8. To declare a female confirmed pregnant only when supported by evidence of an ultrasound scan test, or a blood progesterone assay, or a current veterinary certificate of pregnancy.
9. Not knowingly to sell line bred, or inbred stock, or related male/female pairs without declaring them as such.
10. To  ensure the animal you are buying is registered with the BAS.
11. To ensure that the animal you are buying is transferred to your ownership on the BAS registry
12. To recommend membership of the British Alpaca Society.
13. To be honest and truthful in all matters relating to the alpaca(s) being offered for sale.

If you find that an alpaca breeder does not adhere to the above – move on for there are plenty of others that do.