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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
www.arroyosecoalpacas.com
"Where the West Meets the Best"
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