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WHAT ARE ALPACAS AND WHY WOULD I
WANT TO RAISE THEM? AN INDUSTRY IN ITS INFANCY
What are alpacas? They look like small versions of their more common cousin, the llama. Their ultra fine, soft fleece is seven times warmer than sheep's wool and has no lanolin, so it doesn't cause allergic reactions. The fleece is shorn off once a year. Alpacas can be raised profitably on just a few acres. They are cute, quiet, docile, hardy, easy keepers, ecologically friendly, and there are only about 75,000 of them in North America. So you know what these numbers mean, it would take the fleece from more than 200,000 alpacas to manufacture one line of sweaters. Consider that alpaca fiber can be made into socks, scarves, sweaters, shawls, dresses, coats, hats, mittens, gloves, quilt batting, blankets, vests, slippers and exquisite worsted suits and outer-garments, to name just a few uses, and you realize how many animals it will take to develop the North American alpaca fiber industry. Alpacas have only been imported to North America since 1984. The national alpaca registry was closed in 1998, so there have been no imports since then. Peru has closed its borders to further exports, and many people expect Bolivia to follow suit. Meanwhile, worldwide demand for breeding stock will only increase, as more people come to appreciate the beauty and warmth of alpaca products. Alpacas have just one offspring a year (called a "cria"), so their numbers have increased very slowly in the past 22 years. Why is this such an exciting industry? Because it is accessible to new breeders. Most breeders in North America have twenty or fewer alpacas and do not plan to keep more, whether for reasons of space or to limit the amount of work taking care of them requires. Most of them have been breeding alpacas for fewer than ten years. And most alpaca breeders have no livestock background, but do have a desire to be part of a sustainable, ecologically friendly industry. Some breeders don't even have land, but board their alpacas with established farms. Alpacas are such easy keepers that these breeders can pay for the animals' upkeep and make a profit with the proceeds from their soft, luxurious fleece and the products that can be made from it, from selling offspring, or from selling breedings to a stud they own. Alpaca breeders love to show off their animals and talk about the industry. We are no exception. We urge you to visit our farm, put your hands into the fleece of these exquisite animals and look into their luminous brown eyes. If you can walk away without wanting to know everything there is to know about alpacas and the alpaca breeding industry, you are made of stern stuff indeed! We've been raising alpacas for more than four years. We've learned much along the way. We hope to help others avoid the mistakes we've made, and give them a good start as alpaca breeders. We can help with business plans, tax planning and legal issues, as well as animal husbandry, routine care, breeding and birthing issues. Lynn is a practicing attorney licensed in Wyoming and Colorado with 20 years experience in tax and business law, while John is a retired IRS manager with 34 years of experience in auditing large and small businesses. We love these animals and we want to see the alpaca industry thrive and grow. Wouldn't you love to be part of it? Lynn Boak & John Pippinger Arroyo Seco Alpacas
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