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| ABOUT ALPACAS |
| HERD- SIRES |
| WHY EQNX? |
| GUEST BOOK |
| ALPACAS - the Livestock Alpacas are a fiber-producing livestock that originate from the Andes mountains of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. There are two types of alpacas-- Huacaya and Suri -- and even though they appear quite different, they are actually the same animal with very different fiber types. They are close cousins to camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicunas. They grow to be about waist-high at the shoulder and range in weight from 140 to 200 pounds as adults. Alpacas are ruminants, meaning that they graze, and have multiple stomachs to help them digest pasture grasses and hay. In addition to grazing on pasture whenever possible, alpaca ranchers provide their herds plenty of hay, fresh water, and the supplemental feeds to ensure proper vitamins and minerals are being taken in by the animals. Alpacas require only basic shelter and good fencing (primarily to keep other animals out, rather than alpacas in). Alpacas are thought to live for over 20 years. Alpacas typically begin breeding at about 2 years of age and remain active breeders for most of their adult lives. Alpacas normally deliver a single baby, known as a "cria", once per year. The gestation period ranges from 11 to 11.5 months. Alpacas continue to be bred "the old fashioned way" -- meaning that artificial insemination has never successfully been achieved. Embryo transfer, though possible, is not practiced in the United States. Alpacas are timid and docile creatures, making them very easy livestock to manage and keep. Unlike most forms of livestock, alpacas are safe to have around small children. They do not bite, but they may kick if startled from behind. (I've been kicked many times, and it's never hurt.) Like all of their cousins, alpacas do spit when annoyed sufficiently. Most often, they spit at one another while competing for food. Alpaca spit is stinky and messy, and it's best to avoid getting caught in the crossfire if possible! Alpaca fiber continues to gain respect and appreciation in this country and around the world. Some of its many positive traits include: It is as fine and soft as cashmere, it is washable and more easy to care for than wool, and it is both non-fading and hypoallergenic. To top it off, alpaca fiber is naturally produced in a variety of beautiful colors ranging from white to bay black with a multitude of shades of beige, fawn, and brown in between. Alpacas are also the only fiber yielding livestock that produces a "true black" fiber which is capable of being used in black garments without over dyeing. Other unique alpaca colors include rose-grey, silver-grey, and even appaloosa spotting. |
| ALPACAS - the Business While some people raise alpacas solely for the fiber they produce each year, the majority of ranchers are involved in alpacas as a "for-profit" business venture and raise them as breeding stock-- with the intention of producing high-quality offspring that can be sold to other breeders for use in their own breeding programs. The ultimate goal of this breeding effort is to produce a national herd of alpacas that generates many, many pounds of luxurious fiber each year in a variety of natural colors. The fiber of the future will be extremely fine (consistently less than 20 microns in diameter) and will also possess other desirable traits such as high-amplitude crimp, low coefficient of variation, high brightness (luster), and soft handle. Alpaca offspring are DNA tested at birth and their lineage is recorded in a database known as "the Alpaca Registry." Only offspring from registered alpacas may be entered into the registry. Since the importation of alpacas into the country is now banned, all future registered alpacas in the US will be descendants of alpacas living in the country today. There are many financial benefits to breeding alpacas. Quality female offspring typically sell in the price range of $8,000 to $12,000 in today's market. High-end breeding females, bred to champion males, frequently sell for more than $15,000 at auction. The majority of male offspring become fiber animals, but some sell to small farms to be used as herdsires in their breeding programs. Occasionally, a very special male comes along and becomes an "elite" breeding herdsire, typically after a very successful show career, and might be purchased by another breeder for prices in excess of $50,000. The highest selling alpaca of all time sold for $600,000! Herdsires are an important part of a farm's breeding program, and can contribute significantly to a farm's bottom line. The top studs in the country command breeding fees of $5,000 or more. Additionally, females that are bred to these "elite" males often fetch higher prices in the marketplace. Finally, there are many tax benefits to operating a farm business. Since breeding stock is a depreciable expense, a significant portion of an alpaca's purchase cost may be recovered through tax savings. Current tax laws allow for rapid depreciation in the first year of ownership. The 2008 Farm Bill made it official that alpacas are now regarded as "livestock" by the Federal Government and its various agencies. This important development not only brings additional respect to the industry, but also opens up new opportunities for loans and grants to assist alpaca breeders in running or growing their businesses. |
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