Alpaca Farming
Alpaca Farming For Profit

Anyone new to alpaca farming may at first feel overwhelmed by the terms used in the trade of fiber production and alpaca breeding. 

There are different words used to describe different aspects of the fleece. The blanket is the term used for the fleece that covers the main part of the body. It stretches from the shoulder part of the neck all the way to the tail at the back and down the flanks to the belly and haunches. This is considered most suitable for spinning. Fiber from the rear area is referred to as the britch.  Fiber quality is measured in microns, which is one millionth of a meter and refers to the width of a single fiber of alpaca fleece. The longer single hairs found amongst the finer fiber, especially on a huacaya alpaca, are called guard hairs. Thicker and hollow-shafted, they are also known as medulated fiber. Crimp is a term for the wavy crinkle of huacaya fiber. The word handle is sometimes used to imply softness, and character is employed to describe the properties of the fleece in general. The result of an entire shearing season’s produce is known as a clip. 

Breed back refers to an arrangement whereby the option remains to breed a female that was purchased in pregnant state with a herd sire from the farm she was obtained from. Rebreeding applies when the cria of such a pregnant dam dies. In an arrangement to board your alpacas on someone else’s farm, that person will be agisting your animals. 

Camelid refers to the family to which the alpaca belongs, alongside of llamas, camels, vicunas and guanaco. Llamas and alpacas are occasionally also called by the collective name lama. 

The breeding male and female alpaca are referred to as the sire and dam respectively. An adult female is sometimes also termed a hembra whereas an adult male might be called a macho, words no doubt recalling the ancient alpaca culture in Peru. A castrated male is called a gelding or sometimes a pet male and the word cria refers to a young unweaned alpaca. The first thing a young cria will drink is colostrum, the rich milk a dam produces just after a successful birth. A young alpaca that has been weaned is referred to as tui, but that term may also apply to a young alpaca’s first coat, considered to be the finest it will ever produce.

The spit test is sometimes used as an indicator of pregnancy. A male is paraded before a bred female. When she spits him off, it is taken as a sign that she no longer needs his contribution.

Alpaca terminology may vary according to region. Fortunately, there are a number of online glossaries where alpaca farming definitions can be looked up.

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There are facilities that offer first aid workshops for those new at alpaca farming and it may be useful to attend one, as this will help you in setting up a first aid kit for your alpacas. 

Some of what you will need include disposable gloves for hygiene, needles and syringes. Scales and buckets will also come in handy. A stethoscope will enable you to listen to your alpaca’s heartbeat and a thermometer will help to take its temperature to diagnose fever. A sterile, water-based lubricant will help to ease the use of the thermometer and could also come in useful when assisting with a cria birth. Some other birthing necessities include iodine and something to clamp the umbilical cord. A plastic bottle and lamb teat may be needed should a cria require hand feeding. A chlorhexidine scrub with solution may be useful in disinfection and cleaning wounds. Telfa dressing, which is non-adhesive, can be applied to raw sections. A Vet wrap can be used to bandage the tail during breeding. Blankets and towels will always be of use for wounds or to dry new borns. Scissors, duct tape, cotton rolls, garbage bags, salt and gauze sponges can have multiple uses. Also include betadine ointment or udder cream as well as betadine solution. Do not forget to keep your vet’s contact details handy. 

While alpacas generally have an efficient immune system, they do occasionally fall prey to some diseases, harmful conditions or infestations of parasites. Alpacas can contract rabies and mouth and foot disease. Rabies can be managed with a vaccination if your area is high-risk. Mouth and foot disease, which wreaks havoc with herds of cattle, sheep, goats and swine, can be contracted by alpacas, although they appear slightly less susceptible to it. The West Nile virus, spread by mosquitoes, can be deadly to alpacas. Alpacas can also fall prey to Bovine Viral Diarrhea Disease.

Alpacas are vulnerable to both heat stress and cold stress. With their warm fleece alpacas can easily overheat, but setting up sprinklers in their pasture could help them to endure high temperatures. Cold stress can affect crias born out of season, therefore a breeding programme should aim towards birthing the young alpacas in the warmer seasons. 

To prevent foot problems, you should be prepared to trim the nails every eight weeks. Do not wait until they begin to curl in or out. 

The incidence of parasites could cause debilitating weight loss in alpacas. A regular de-worming schedule prevents this. A number of plants are toxic to alpacas and should be eliminated from their pasture. Some of these include but are not limited to acorn, arrow-grass, azalea, black locust, bear grass, buckwheat, buffalo burr, ragweed, buttercup, castor beans, nightshade, snakeroot and various types of cherries and berries.

Prevention and preparation is far better than cure, when it comes to alpaca farming.

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If you wish to make the most of your alpaca farming operation, you may want to investigate some of the helpful resources available.

You could probably do no better than to investigate ‘The Complete Alpaca Book’. Filled with over 600 pages of photographs, tables and other material, this useful reference book would probably go a long way towards answering all your questions about alpacas. It is compiled by Eric Hoffman and features the expertise of 14 co-authors who are each experts in their field, such as Jane Wheeler, PhD on the history of camelids and Robert J Van Saun on nutrition. There is a comprehensive section on fiber characteristics and processing. Various aspects of genetics and health are also covered. It provides a detailed overview of all factors of the fiber and fleece growing industry. 

Mike Safley, a former president of the Alpaca Breeder’s Association and a seasoned judge of alpacas at agricultural shows shares his knowledge in various publications on alpacas. He includes the expertise garnered from discussions with Peruvian breeders over a period of fifteen years in ‘Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle’, speculates on the history and evolution of the alpaca in ‘The Alpaca Chronicles’ and discusses breeding standards in ‘Ideal Alpacas: From Myth to Reality’.

If you prefer learning through watching live action, there is an ‘Alpaca Care’ DVD that demonstrates various procedures such as worming, shearing and birthing in different episodes. Cria care and the selection of breeding females are also covered. There is even a section on how to trim the nails of your alpacas. 

Those who believe in the benefits to be derived from computerization may wish to investigate some of the herd management software available on the market. 

The Alpafarm program has a track record of eight years and is compatible with various Windows operating systems such as XP, Vista and Windows 7. It allows you to individually capture the details of each member of your alpaca herd and to organize them according to their current status or recent activity. A free trial version can be downloaded from the website. 

Herd Master focuses on the British registry, but includes data from America and Australia. The program is available through a monthly fee rather than a one-off purchase, but allows for a 90-day trial. 

Alpaca Herd Works are available in versions for Windows or Mac. A calendar feature allows you to schedule activities. The program is available on 30-day trial. AlpacaEase can also be used with Windows or Mac. There is a calendar and financial component to the program and it can be uploaded on a 30-day trial basis. 

Alpaca Database is a Microsoft Access program designed to capture herd information. It is free. 

Some of these tools should definitely nudge your alpaca farming business a little closer towards success. 

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One of the growing trends in the farming communities today is alpaca farming. However, because there have only been alpacas in the United States for the last few decades, we still have a lot to learn about these animals. There are a few facts that are important to know in order to have animals that are both healthy and happy.

To keep your alpacas as healthy as possible, be sure to deworm them regularly. Alpacas are more susceptible than goats and sheep, so extra care must be taken to keep them free of internal parasites. The overall health can be effected by parasitic infestations, as well as the digestive system. It is also important to find a veterinarian that specializes in alpacas and llamas, as they are related to camels, not sheep and other typical farm animals, and cannot be treated as such.

Alpacas come from cold climates, which means they don’t do well in the summer when it gets extremely hot. Their fleece is designed to keep them warm, so too much heat can cause them to get heat exhaustion, or they may even overheat to the point of death. The easiest thing you can do for your alpacas to help with this is to provide shade. If you live in an area where it gets particularly hot, you may even consider having an air conditioned barn where they can go to stay cool.

The natural curiosity of alpacas can get them in trouble, if you allow your pasture to have things that may be dangerous, such as old equipment or other debris. Even fallen tree branches can be dangerous to your alpacas as they can get tangled in them, or get cut on the branches. Be sure to keep your pasture cleared of anything that is potentially harmful for your animals.

In the wild, alpacas live in very tight knit social groups, and they greatly depend on having other alpacas around them. If you have not yet begun your alpaca farming adventure, be sure to begin with at least two alpacas. It is important because one alpaca by herself could become aggressive and territorial, and will not accept any new alpacas as a part of the herd. This makes it very difficult and will create stress in the original alpaca as well as any new additions. The less stress your alpacas have, the better your alpaca farming adventure will be.

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If you are involved in alpaca farming or are thinking about it, it is important that you understand the importance of showing your alpacas, and how to do so to get real results.

Showing is important because it helps to get your name out there in the alpaca farming world, and it displays the high quality of your alpacas. It allows you to meet with other alpaca farmers that also have high quality animals, and you can find buyers for your own alpacas. Winning or even placing will automatically increase the value of your alpacas, as well as their cria.

There are basically two things that you need to do well in a show, a good pedigree and a registered alpaca. If your alpaca is not already registered with the ARI, you should be sure to do so. An alpaca can only be registered if both her dam and sire were also registered. If your alpaca doesn’t qualify for ARI registration, there are many other organizations to choose from.

The next thing that you need is a good pedigree. A pedigree explains the quality of the heritage of the alpaca, as well as specific information on that animal. It will include things like color, disposition, fleece weight, fleece microns, and genealogy. The farther back you can go with your alpaca’s heritage, the better it will look, especially if it is an impressive one. You should keep a pedigree on all of your alpacas whether you show them or not, as it is a huge advantage for breeding and selling purposes.

To prepare your alpacas for shows, you will need to halter train them, get them used to being handled by strangers, and acclimate them to a trailer. It is important that you have a friendly, calm alpaca to present to the judges that isn’t stressed out from a trailer ride.

Halter training should be started at an early age. The alpaca should learn to readily accept wearing the halter, and learn how to follow whoever is leading her on the lead rope. She should be willing to stand calmly when at a stop, and should not protest when people put their hands on her. The more you touch and handle your alpacas, the more used to people they will be, and the better they will stand for the judges.

The last thing you want to do is to acclimate your alpacas to the trailer. You can do this easily by leaving it open and placing food inside. You can then allow the alpacas to get on themselves, and they will begin to see the trailer as a good thing. The more you promote your alpaca farming business by taking your alpacas to shows, the better they will do.

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The earliest examples of alpaca farming can be found high up in the Andes in South America, where the species originated.  The high altitude and poor grazing opportunities of its native environment has turned the alpaca into a highly adaptable creature. It can withstand the freezing nights, because of its warm fleece. It thrives on grasses that are low in protein and females are conditioned to birth their young mainly in the morning, affording them the best chance of being dry and strong by the time the icy night falls.

In ancient times, the South American people depended on alpacas not only for warmth, but also for meat. Alpaca cloth was highly treasured among the Incas and they were experts in the process of hand weaving. Particularly sought after in their society was the fleece of the vicuna, a wild cousin or perhaps forbear of the alpaca. Alpacas also participated in religious ceremonies, as they were associated with Pachmana, the Earth mother. They were considered to be on loan from the gods. Legends suggest that they were sometimes left as gifts on the Peruvian mountain Ausangate.

Spanish colonialism had a negative impact on the alpaca farms of the Incas. Not only were the alpaca killed in an attempt to subdue the native population of South America by destroying their wealth, but mining activities in Peru also led to declining numbers, as did the introduction of European livestock.

The first attempt to introduce alpacas to another continent was the enterprise of Charles Ledger. Having successfully bred and tended the animals at an alpaca farm at Chulluncayani, he managed to arrange what seemed like a promising business venture concerning an alpaca farm. He gained official sanction from the consular staff in Sydney in 1852 and set out to obtain the alpacas. By the time he returned with this stock, after a difficult voyage, enthusiasm for South American camelids had cooled. Suffering huge financial losses, his animals, which comprised llamas, alpacas and vicunas were auctioned off, some ending up in the hands of vagrants or asylum inmates.

In England, Titus Salt fared a little better. Having acquired a consignment of alpaca fiber, he pioneered a successful weaving process and ended up running one of the largest factories of his area. He later became the mayor of Bradford.

Even today, well over ninety per cent of the world’s alpaca population resides in Peru, Bolivia or Chile. Peru’s dominance of the alpaca industry may see a serious challenge from the east in the near future. China is now believed to be the largest importer of alpaca fiber and with imports of livestock from Australia there are strong indications that the Chinese may be moving towards alpaca farming themselves.

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One of the newer investment opportunities in the agricultural sector is alpaca farming. In the Andes Mountains alpacas have been herded and farmed for centuries, but a growth in the demand for alpaca fibre has increased the opportunities to operate a successful and profitable alpaca farming venture. Although the start-up costs of alpaca farming may sound prohibitive, alpaca farming is generally low cost and low maintenance once the operation is running smoothly.

Income from alpaca farming comes mainly from the alpaca wool, or fibres, but also from the meat. A few secondary enterprises, such as crafts, jewellery, manure and more, also provide an income. As ever-more people are moving towards rather using natural products, the market for alpaca garments and items has also shown a marked increase in growth.

Alpaca fibre has many benefits over other natural and synthetic fibres

• Alpaca fibre is warmer than sheep’s wool. However it does not contain lanolin, and therefore it is hypo-allergenic.

• Alpaca fibre is soft, luxurious and glossy. It is also not prickly and does not cause itchiness.

• Alpaca fibre is easy to process. It is easy to spin, either by hand of in a factory process, and weaves easily. It also accepts dyes very easily.

Alpaca fibre is used in producing a number of items

• Garments, like sweaters, coats and socks

• Rugs, blankets and even teddy bears

• Felt sculptures and other crafts

• Wool for home knotting

• Jewellery

Now that we have established why alpaca farming is profitable, we can look at the basics involved in running an alpaca farm, in order to better set up your business plan.

Alpacas are generally a low-maintenance livestock to keep. They are hardy animals that can fend for themselves against the harsh climatic conditions found in the Andes Mountains. They need far smaller grazing pastures than other livestock, such as cattle and sheep. An alpaca only needs to eat 1 – 2 % of his own body weight in grass and hay per day. They also eat fresh green leaves from bushes and plants. This means that in the dry months, when fresh grass is no available or scarce, an alpaca only needs 120 Lbs. (54 kg.) of hay for a whole month.

Alpacas only need shearing once every year, and this is done in spring, once the severe cold for the year has passed.

It will be worth your while to join an alpaca breeders or farmers association in your area, in order to learn from the experts, and to gain valuable networks which you can use to make your alpaca farming venture even more profitable.

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For thousands of years the Peruvians of South America have run successful alpaca farming enterprises. The alpacas were always used for their fibre, their meat and their milk. Now alpaca farming has become common in many countries, both for their fibre and their meat.

The main reason that alpacas are so highly sough after is for their fibre or wool. Alpaca fibre is soft and luxurious, and is a highly sought after natural fibre in the garment industry. Alpaca fibres are spun into wool, which is a beautiful and versatile natural fibre, as it easily accepts dyes, and is easy to use. The fibre is also hypo-allergenic and not itchy. Alpaca wool is warmer than sheep’s wool, and contains no lanolin, and is not prickly, but rather soft to the touch, and glossy to look at. Another benefit of alpaca wool is that it is flame resistant. The market for alpaca wool and fibre is large, and you will be sure to find a profitable market for your alpaca fibre.

Another benefit of farming with alpacas is that the meat is also highly sought after in many countries. The meat is tender, and healthy, as it does not have a high fat content. Selling alpaca meat can offer a generous additional income to your alpaca farm. The milk of alpacas is not generally used for income anymore, as the alpacas only produce enough milk for their offspring. The milk and cheese also have a strong taste, which not everyone enjoys.

Alpaca manure also supplies a good additional income. Because the alpacas do not eat fruits and seeds, their manure is clean, and can be used as it is, without first going through the composting stage.

Alpacas are hardy animals, which adapt easily to varying circumstances. They are used to the extremely harsh climate of the Andes Mountains. They eat only approximately 1 – 2% of their own body weight each day. Feed is made up of fresh grasses and hay. This means that an alpaca will generally eat approximately 120 lbs. (54 kg.) of hay per month in the dry seasons when grass is not readily available. They will also eat young leaves from plants and bushes. Make certain that no poisonous plants are in the paddock, such as acorns, bracken fern, fireweed, azaleas and more. Another tendency that alpacas show is to pick up and chew any plastics they find. This can be fatal, and therefore it is important to keep the paddocks clear of litter.

Alpacas very seldom require special housing for the winter and severe weather, as they are hardy, and well able to withstand the cold. When they have been freshly shorn, this however is not always the best option in severe weather. Extra vitamins and minerals will be needed in cases of poor quality grasses and hay and water found in the area, but generally are also not needed.

You will find that alpaca farming is an exciting development in the agricultural sector, that is well worth investing in.

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Alpaca farming is a lucrative business opportunity that enjoys a growing demand, though information on alpaca farming is few and far in between. Alpacas are friendly animals that are extremely good natured and warm, making the entire process of rearing them an easy task.

Since this form of farming is yet to catch up and is still in the nascent stages, there aren’t many guidelines that are available for those who wish to start alpaca farming. A business plan should include important factors such as the viability of the project with respect to the geographical area that one wishes to start farming, the soil quality and the availability of feed for the alpacas. This method of farming does not require any special equipment and can be carried out successfully by using simple implements like feeding buckets and watering bins. A poop bucket is an essential along with grooming equipment like nail clippers and brushes.

Alpaca farming depends largely on the quality of the fiber that is produced by the alpacas and so it is very important to purchase alpacas from reliable and well known breeders who are famous for the high quality alpacas. This way one is ensured of high quality alpacas even amongst the offspring, which would open gateways to better markets worldwide. The alpacas should be purchased when they are big enough to be weaned but small enough to get friendly with. Larger alpacas tend to remain aloof and will not blend well easily with either the human hands or with the rest of the herd.

While starting an alpaca farm, the business pan should also include the number of people who will be employed and the exact roles that each person will be expected to carry out. Though this may sound plain, it is an essential step that will ensure that the right number of hands are hired and that all essential roles are filled before starting the farm.

The most essential step that should be included while selecting to breed alpacas is to identify key markets that one can supply to and to work backwards by ensuring the quality that these markets desire is provided. This way one is assured of definite returns and the quest to find suitable market after rearing alpacas is avoided. Catering to market needs is a sensible and a better approach as it would ensure that the supplier as well as the buyer is assured of meeting requirements.

Alpaca breeding is a relatively simple breeding process that combines good sense and great marketing styles.

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Alpacas are cuddly animals that are well known for their high quality fiber which makes alpaca farming a lucrative business. The demand for the high quality fiber acts as a great money spinner while providing the chance to be amongst adorable and friendly animals. Though alpacas are confused with the more popular llamas, they are a lot shorter than llamas and are not used as beasts of burden.

The area that is available for farming is essential criteria for deciding on the number of alpacas the farm can contain. As a general rule one acre can sustain between 8 to10 alpacas, so the greater the area available, the greater the number of alpacas that can be bred.

In order to have a fully functional farm, one needs certain basic equipment required to run the farm well. Feeders store the hay from which the alpacas feed, and a cover on top of the feeder will protect the hay during winter. A source of water or a water tub provides the animals with water whenever needed and ensure that the alpacas don’t get thirsty. Alpacas also need leaders and halters to restrain them and a truck for transporting them. A shovel and a wheelbarrow would be required to collect their poop while nail trimmers and grooming aids are other essential equipment. A weighing balance and a first aid kit are additional mandatory requirements which will come in handy in the farm.

Breeding alpacas requires time as male alpacas should be over 3 years and female alpacas over 18 months before they can be selected for breeding. Moreover, these animals have a gestation period of 370 days and since these docile animals originate from cold climates they should be maintained in similar conditions.

Alpaca farming will not yield great profits to begin with owing to the prolonged period of growth and gestation that is associated with alpaca breeding. However, when driven by passion and commitment, this method of farming will soon begin to generate profit. The animals are friendly and endearing which prompts many people to take up alpaca breeding more as a hobby than as a definite source of revenue.

The exquisite fiber that is obtained from these animals is their claim to fame. These fibers are world renowned for their softness and their ability to trap essential heat, which makes them the ideal fiber of choice for sweaters and ponchos.

Alpaca farming is a source of great joy as these animals lend warmth and happiness while their fiber will keep the cash registers busy for breeders.

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