|
Luxurious fleece…
Alpaca fleece is very nice! You need to
feel it to believe it. It's a 100% natural product that
comes in 22 identified color categories. It is very
strong, extremely soft and warm, even when very, very
thin. It's a favorite among hand-spinners and crafters
and it's also a huge hit in high-end fashions for coats
and dresses.
Once a year, an alpaca's fleece is shorn
off in a process that does not harm the alpaca at all.
The fleece can then be processed into rovings, yarn,
blankets or other products. Many farms have their own
alpaca products stores, and some farms send all their
fleece to cooperatives. Ask us about fleece and fleece
products here at Gilliland Alpacas!
 What
is an alpaca?
Alpacas originated in the Andean mountains
of South America, from the countries of Peru, Bolivia,
and Chile. They have since been exported all over the
world. Alpacas were imported into the US in larger numbers
beginning in the 1980's and have since captured the
hearts and imaginations of thousands of Americans, offering
us a viable opportunity for a traditional farming lifestyle.
As of 2010, there are nearly 4,000 alpaca farms who
are members of the national owner's organization, Alpaca
Owners and Breeders Association. And there are just
over 200,000 registered alpacas in the US according
to the national registry: Alpaca
Registry, Inc. as of July, 2010.
The National Registry
To ensure and protect their value, and
to track their genetics, alpacas are registered with
the national registry, the Alpaca Registry, Inc.(ARI).
The registry was closed to new imports in the late 1980's
to protect the US alpaca market. Now only offspring
of currently registered alpacas can be registered. This
has successfully kept the value of alpacas steady through
the present date.
Types of Alpacas
There are two types of alpacas in the
US: huacayas (WAH-KI-YAHs) and suris (SUH-REEs). Huacayas
are in appearance more like sheep with woolly fleece
that grows straight out from their bodies. Suris differ
in that their fleece is more like hair, falling in locks
and hanging down around their bodies. The ratio of the
US huacaya population to suris is about 80% huacayas,
20% suris.
Alpacas Versus Llamas
Alpacas are members of the camelid family
along with camels, llamas, and vicunas (another native
of South America). Alpacas are much smaller than llamas.
One quick and easy way to recognize the difference is
in their ears: alpacas have straight spear-shaped ears
and llamas have curved, banana-shaped ears.
Llamas, being larger, are sometimes used
for pack animals on hikes and camping treks, and often
used to guard alpacas from dogs and other wildlife threats.
Most alpacas have very fine fleece that
is wonderful for all sorts of products, but llamas sometimes
have much more and much coarser guard hair that must
be removed from their fleece before processing.
Do They Spit?
Yes, they do! However, it is usually at
one another over breeding matters or food. Also, temperament
is a characteristic that seems to pass down from one
generation to the next. Alpaca breeders often consider
this trait when making their breeding decisions to ensure
that we have less spitting going on in future generations.
Breeding and Raising Alpacas: The Benefits
and The Lifestyle
Living on a farm is an American dream,
and alpacas are making this a viable dream come true
for many people. Due to the continuing strong sales
value of alpacas, breeding and raising alpacas can be
a profitable venture. It's also a magical adventure
and a lot of fun!
A for-profit farmer can deduct farm expenses
and depreciate the cost of alpaca purchases over a period
of years. The tax consequences can be of great importance.
As alpacas can have up to one baby per
year, there is the potential for doubling your assets
each year!
Caring for Alpacas
Alpacas need food, water, and shelter.
They eat grain that can be purchased from a feed store
or ordered from suppliers if it's not available locally.
They also eat grass or hay year-round. Full grown alpacas
weigh between 120 and 190 pounds, and so do not eat
a lot of hay compared to other types of livestock such
as horses and cattle.
Alpacas need to be treated for worms periodically;
consult your local veterinarian for a worming schedule
that may include treatments from biannually to monthly
depending on the area of the country. Alpacas are given
annual vaccinations as well.
They have toenails that many need to be
trimmed periodically and some alpacas may need to have
their teeth trimmed. Some alpaca breeders do this themselves
and others have their veterinarian take care of the
this.
Alpacas do not generally challenge the
fencing; we recommend fencing that does not allow them
to poke their heads through and take a chance at getting
stuck. Other fencing considerations would take into
account the type of dogs or wildlife that needs to be
kept out.
Shelters in use range from a three-sided
lean to fully enclosed, heated barns. There are all
manner of shelter possibilities!
Alpacas often have problem-free deliveries
of their crias, intervention is needed only in the event
of a problem in which case you might require the assistance
and guidance of a veterinarian.
Once your farm is set up, alpacas are
relatively easy (and fun!) to care for.
Reading Recommendations
To learn more about breeding and raising
alpacas, we recommend that you consider some of the
following books. Some may be purchase from Amazon.com
while others can only be obtained through specialized
llama/alpaca suppliers such as the following:
Stevens
Llamatique 800-469-5262
Useful
Llama Items 800-635-5262
Quality
Llama Products 800-638-4689
Secrets of the Andean Alpaca by
Maggie and Richard Krieger
The Complete Alpaca Book by Eric
Hoffman
Caring For Llamas and Alpacas - A Health
and Management Guide by Claire Hoffman, DVM and
Ingrid Asmus
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care
by Smith, Timm and Long, DVMs
The Color Chart with the different colored
strands of alpaca fiber can be purchased from the
Alpaca Registry
 Visit
The Farm!
The best way to learn about alpacas is
to visit a farm. Here at Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas,
visitors are always welcome. We want to share our excitement
and enthusiasm with you. Call or today to arrange a visit!
|
