The Joys of Owning Alpacas

Alpaca ownership is a life 'style' rather than a 'job'. We live a simple life with our alpacas and have had the good fortune of meeting many wonderful friends in this community of alpaca breeders.

Our family loves the outdoors and alpacas allow us the opportunity to be outside daily surrounded by these curious, peaceful animals. Our boys enjoy having acreage to roam and alpacas to entertain. Alpacas require very little care from us and in return give us endless enjoyment. There are many awe-inspiring momemts - the birth of a cria, watching mischievous young alpacas play by chasing each other around the pastures to see who is the fastest, sunsets over the pastures of grazing alpacas.

We have found an enjoyable means to raise our family and as a bonus Lesa enjoys working with the soft, luxurious fiber produced from our alpacas year after year. A much more desireable end product compared to other livestock that go off to be slaughtered at the end of the season.

If alpaca ownership sounds interesting to you and you would like to experience this lifestyle, we invite you to visit us soon!

Alpacas Are a Profitable Investment

NEWS FLASH!  

Alpacas in the News - Wall Street Journal 10/3/08 

"When Stocks Tank, Some Investors Stampede to Alpacas and Turn to Drink" written by Jennifer Levitz (partial article quoted below)

"Peggy Parks, a 49-year-old auditor in Johnstown, Pa., turned to an unusual farm animal.  'I've lost a fortune in stocks, and my 401(k) is falling through the floor.  I feel comfortable in alpacas,' she says.  She invested $56,000 in a small herd that she believes has a better outlook than most mutual funds because of the animals' breeding potential.

The national Alpaca Registry Inc., in Lincoln, Neb., says registrations are on pace to rise 7% this year and currently stand at 140,297.  Ms. Parks says a female of 'medium quality' can fetch $10,000 and that prices have been rising, supporting her hopes that she'll see a profit on her alpaca portfolio in five years."

Alpacas Make Wonderful 'Pets'

People of all ages are attracted to alpacas as 'pets' for many reasons - whether you are a fiber artist looking for your own fiber animal or needing a livestock to mow your fields. Alpacas are relatively small livestock, easy to care for and require little acreage. They are very curious and intelligent and make wonderful 4-H animals as they can be easily taught to lead on a halter, perform tricks and maneuver through obstacle courses with kids.

'Pet' alpacas are usually non-breeding male alpacas that have been culled from the breeding program. Many are sold when they reach weaning age, usually 6 months old. Alpacas are a herd animal and require companion alpaca(s).

As selective breeders, not every male born at our farm will become a future herdsire. We usually have young males available for sale as 'pets' and if we don't, we are happy to contact other breeders for you. Our 'pets' are halter-trained and friendly. A pair of 'pet' alpacas can usually be purchased for $500 - $1000 depending on the quality of their fiber.

Alpaca Facts

Types: There are two types of alpacas - suris and huacayas. Huacayas comprise 90% of the registered alpacas in the US and have a soft, wooly look with crimpy fiber. Suris have a dreadlock look with silky, stronger fiber with no crimp.

History: Alpacas are the oldest domesticated animal (6,000 years) and originated from South America (Bolivia, Chile and Peru). Alpacas were first imported to the US in 1984 and the last import was in 1998. Alpacas are very adaptable and hardy herd animals that can survive in any environment.

Stats: Adult alpacas are 3' to 4' tall, weigh 100-175 lbs and live to approximately 20 years.

Care: Alpaca are very easy to handle and raise. Minimal care is required and consists of daily feed, annual vaccinations, de-worming treatment as required, occasional trimming of toe nails and shearing the fleece annually. Three-sided shelters are adequate with fencing to keep predators away. Adequate acreage for pasture grazing.

Breeding: Female alpacas are first bred at 18-24 months of age and males start breeding at 2-1/2 to 3 years old. Female alpacas are able to breed anytime of the year as they are induced ovulators. Gestation period is approximately 11 months with one cria (baby) per pregnancy usually. Births are normally trouble-free and unassisted and the female alpacas can be rebred 18-21 days following the birth of their cria.

Fiber: Alpacas fiber is stronger and warmer than wool, has no lanolin and minimal guard hair. Alpacas produce 22 different natural colors, more than any other animal. Alpacas are sheared annually with adults yielding approximately 4-10 lbs of fiber which sells for $2-$8/oz for raw fiber, rovings, batts and finished yarns. The fiber is in high demand and considered a luxury fiber by fiber artisits.