Are you considering Alpacas? Below is general
information about the animals and the business of Alpaca farming itself. We would love to help answer any questions
you may have. Please feel free to contact us. Thanks for taking the time to visit our site!
About Alpacas
Alpacas have existed with man for thousands of years. The Incans clothed themselves
in alpaca garments. Alpacas played a central role in their society located on the Andean Plateau in South America.
Alpaca fleece is one of nature's most luxurious fibers. It is as soft as cashmere
and is warmer, stronger and lighter than wool. It comes in 22 basic colors (more than any other fiber producing animal).
Their are two types of alpacas, Huacayas and Suris. They are both gentle and easy
to handle. The lifespan of an alpaca is approximately 20 years and adults are approximately 36 " tall at the withers.
They usually weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. Their gestation is approximately 335 days. Females can usually
begin their breeding careers at approximately 18 months of age. A male usually matures at about 3 years old.
Approximately 99% of alpacas are found in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Arequipa, Peru
is the center of the alpaca textile industry today. A substantial amount of the yarn and products are sold in Japan
and Europe.
The first alpacas came to the United States in 1984. They are now also found
in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Alpacas can no longer be imported from South America to the United States. The
registry was closed to protect our national herd and further U.S. herd growth. Alpacas are still very scarce,
unique and in high demand. Our industry is currently based on the sale of quality breeding stock.
Several organizations were formed to ensure the value and future of alpacas in the United States:
The Alpaca Registry (ARI) is an alpaca database which maintains records of genealogy and
blood typing of North Americas alpacas. It began in 1988. To be a registered animal, each newborn alpaca must
be bloodtyped to ensure its lineage. This way the buyer is assured they are purchasing an animal with a correct
history based on its DNA typing. The vast majority of alpacas found in the U.S. are ARI-registered and sell for premium
prices compared to that of a non-registered animal.
AOBA is another organization formed for our industry. It stands for Alpaca Owners
and Breeders Association. They were formed in 1988 to promote public awareness and growth of the alpaca industry
in the U.S.
Alpacas As A Lifestyle
The ease of care and the profitability of alpacas has attracted people to our industry.
Some use alpacas as a primary source of income and others choose it as a part-time business venture. An increasing number of
people are also using alpacas as retirement income. Still, it is a source of great pleasure for both.
Alpacas can be raised on a relatively small amount of acreage and are clean, quiet and intelligent
animals. They are also gentle on the land due to their soft padded feet and they leave delicate terrain undamaged.
Why Invest In Alpacas?
Why alpacas?
For a business asset to be valuable, it must also be desirable. History shows that
desirable commodites can increase or hold their value much easier than items that have no qualities
to make them valuable. (For example-oil, gold, real estate, etc.) Alpacas share many of these types
of attributes.
There are many tax consequences of owning alpacas. Anyone interested in the tax aspect
of the business should consult their tax adviser.
Important Tips
As with any livestock business, there are inherent risks in owning alpacas. Many people insure their animals though livestock insurance companies to prevent certain types of loss.
There are many farms which will allow financing and agistment options.
And, we encourage you to make as many farm visits as possible to see if this business will
fit with your lifestyle.
We also encourage people to study the genealogy of the animals you are considering purchasing.
There is a variation of quality of animals in this business. Educating yourself helps insure you make a great
initial investment.
We love working with our animals and we love this industry. We have great hopes for
our futures and the future of the industry in America. There are plenty of farms who would love to provide you with
more information on our industry. Again, the best advice we can give you is to educate yourself as much as
possible and ask lots of questions! Please feel free to contact us to talk alpaca or schedule a farm visit!
