3 HAWK ALPACAS
Alpacas have been around for centuries. They are from Chile, Bolivia, and Peru up in the Andes mountains. South America is also home to Vicunas, Lamas, and Guanaco and all these species are part of the Camilid family.
Other then the Vicuna, the Alpaca possess the finest fleece of the South American Camilids. Alpaca fleece was used in the clothing of the royalty in the ancient Inca civilization. They were first introduced to the United States from Chile in 1984. At present there are about 50,000 Alpacas in North America. There are two types of Alpacas; they are the Huacaya which is fluffy and looks like a teddy bear and the Suri which has the fleece that hangs in ringlets. They both possess soft fleece but the Huacaya is crimped or waved versus the ringlets. The majority of the Alpacas in the United States are Huacaya.
Alpacas must be registered with the Alpaca Registry and are all DNA'd to confirm their progeny. This is a way to track the heredity of each Alpaca. They must be registered before they can be entered in AOBA certified shows.
If you are interested in Alpacas and planning on purchasing these fabulous creatures you will want to become members of AOBA. They have a library with great articles about Alpacas, can answer your questions, and direct you to an Alpaca Farm near you. When researching, you will want to gather information from various breeders to get a better understanding of the differences between Alpacas originating from the 3 South American countries. Be sure you purchase Alpacas you like and will go well with the plans you have for your farm. Massive crimp versus wave is not necessarily a good thing.
A Better Way of Life
If you are tired of the rat race of the public business life, then Alpacas may be the new lifestyle you are looking for. Alpacas eat about 2 to 3 pounds of forage per day and they receive a cup of specially formulated pellets to suplement their diet. They are vaccinated once a year and wormed at 30 day intervals or 3 times per year depending where you live in the United States. They are not expensive to keep and they give you alot of pleasure in your life. They can also be depreciated on your income tax return.
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General Prices and Terms
Alpacas are a life style that you can enter slowly or as quickly as you want. You can keep you present job and start you life with Alpacas by purchasing your starter herd and have them agisted (boarded) while you prepare. Prices are variable depending on the age of the animals. You can also purchase bred females or maiden females with a free breeding along with your herd sires. Most Breeders will finance your purchase up to 4 years. The land necessary is minimal. 6 - 8 Alpacas can be on 1 acre of land in some areas of the country.
For more information on my Alpacas or Fleece products feel free to contact me and/or set up a farm visit. All inquiries welcome.
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