Apr 11
30
Guide to Purchasing Your First Animals for Alpaca Farming
Alpaca Farming is one of the fastest growing types of new farms all across the globe for a very simple reason: alpacas are gentle animals that are among the easiest to care for and they require very little land for proper care. In deciding that you want to start an alpaca farm, you may have come across two main types of purposes for farming: Fleece (wool) production or breeding stock to sell.
A well-established farm is able to perform both functions. However, if you are just starting out, you will want to choose your first animals with only one purpose in mind and then expand from there as your farm grows. As you search the different sources available to you, keep in mind the general purpose for your farm. The alpacas are so personable, soft and gentle, that it is easy to be distracted as you inspect an animal.
A fun focus is to use your animal for their fleece. There are two types of alpaca fleece both very soft and highly valued as a natural fiber. The Suri Alpaca has long silky hair with no curl, or crimp to it, this is the rarest type of alpaca. The other type is called huacaya, pronounced wa-kye-ya, and their hair is dense and curled, much more wooly. Because of the crimp in the huacaya fleece, it is easier to spin into yarn. You may also see the term Accoyo, this refers to huacaya alpacas that were bred off the Accoyo Ranch in Peru, these animals are often considered to have the finest fleece of all breeding stock.
A more serious endeavor is to use your animals for breeding; while this is fun also, it will demand more attention and more foresight as you must make sure the animals you produce are not only healthy, but meet the physical standards of the breed or they will lose value and you will have a more difficult time in selling them. There are Canadian, North American, International Judging Standards and many more – all with basic conformation standards that you will want to keep in mind as you match your breeding stock.
Now that you have your basic guidelines, you should visit some online breeder sites; see if there are any close to you which you can visit. If most breeders are far from you, you can have your alpaca shipped to you, but do your homework! A bad transporter can seriously stress your new animal and though it may have left the breeder in top shape, you may be treating diarrhea and weight loss for the first few weeks. So make sure your transporter takes frequent breaks and provides fresh water and feed at each stop. Make sure you draw up a very specific contract if you are buying long distance.
If you are inspecting an animal for its fleece, you will be able to feel the texture, and see the natural colors – many animals have more than one color. And you will be able to judge if you will be able to use this fleece without having to dye it, a big plus for selling organic products. Or if you want to dye the fleece, a lighter colored animal may be the best choice for you.
If you are inspecting an animal for breeding purposes, then you want to take into consideration if the female has given birth before, ensuring she is fertile. The same for any males if you plan to purchase a herd sire. If you are looking at both male and females from the same breeder, make sure they are not closely related, as this can lead to poor health and some conformational weaknesses in the offspring. You should draw up a purchasing contract that includes assurances from the seller that the animal will meet health and reproduction criteria. You can also purchase a female that is already pregnant. Baby alpacas are called cria.
A big warning, alpacas are herd animals and their health may suffer if they do not have at least another alpaca pastured with them. For new owners there are a few ways to deal with this fact of alpaca ownership. Many owners buy a gelded (non-breeding) male to go with a pregnant female. These males are usually gelded because of some physical feature that breeders do not want in the offspring, but they are wonderful animals and sometimes less expensive than other alpacas. Other new owners, that are fortunate to live close to the seller, may draw up a contract to keep their animal right there until she gives birth or they buy a second alpaca. The boarding contract will usually cover all care for the animal, but all vet costs are customary paid by you, the new owner.
These gentle animals can live on one acre for up to 5 alpacas, making them a perfect choice for small hobby farms. They are full of personality and light eaters. They adapt to most climate conditions and give you a luxurious fleece. Your alpaca farming should be fun and, if you choose your first animals well, you may be making a profit within a few years of starting your new farm.
