| This page is
filled with a variety of things from basic alpaca information to our
thoughts and observations as alpaca owners. We will add to this page
from time to time as we learn and grow. Small Stuff You Need To Include In Your Beginning Budget Our Fuzzy Pals - An Essay by Christine Browning (March 2005)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alpacas are members of the camelid family which is made up of llamas, camels, guanacos and vicunas. They come from the Andes Mountains in South America which includes parts of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. There are two types of Alpacas: the huacaya (wah-kai-ya) and the suri (surry). Huacayas have thick, crimpy fleece that is fluffy and almost gives them a stuffed animal appearance. The Suri has long, straight, lustrous fleece with little or no crimp at all. Alpacas measure around 3 feet tall at the back. They have long necks and big beautiful eyes! The adult alpaca weighs anywhere from 120 to 200 lbs for an adult male. They travel and live in herds and can not thrive and may actually die without the companionship of other alpacas. They do not require large amounts of land - 1 acre is sufficient to hold 5 - 10 animals depending on the quality and quantity of the pasture. Alpacas are shorn once a year with an average yield of fleece between 4 - 10 lbs. After different degrees of milling, the fleece is ready for spinning into yarn which is ideal for weaving, knitting, crocheting or felting. The gentle and curious nature of these amazing animals makes them the perfect livestock for the entire family to enjoy. We’ve only been in the Alpaca breeding business for a short time and for us it is has already been a wonderful, rewarding experience. You hear a lot of people talk about the “Alpaca Lifestyle” and we have found that to be an accurate description. The actual day-to-day care of these animals is minimal - feed and water daily, scoop the poop on a regular basis, herd maintenance once per month, etc. Generally not very involved or time consuming unless you have a very large herd. But the bigger picture is so much more than that. From the Shows to visiting other farms and associating with the many wonderful people involved, Alpacas have become a huge part of our lives. We were fortunate to find wonderful breeders for our first purchase who really took us under their wing and helped Blue Note Alpacas get off to a great start! I can’t overstate the importance of finding someone you feel comfortable with and trust. Especially someone you know will still be there for you after the purchase. After all, we’re talking about the welfare of your animals, not to mention an awful lot of money! Just as important is Research, Research, Research! You’ve got the Internet ... Use It! And if you don’t ... Get It! I spent countless hours at the library and on the Internet reading webpage after webpage. I still do. You literally have the world of alpaca breeders at your fingertips. AOBA has an extensive library for members and the Forum on Alpaca Nation is also a wealth of information. Not to burst anybody’s bubble but let’s dispel one big myth in our alpaca world ... alpacas, as a general rule, do not like to be hugged! It’s fun to think that they love us and want to be with us and yes, some are more affectionate than others but as a general rule, they prefer not to be touched. Alpacas are very gentle and sweet animals that don’t bite but they can and will spit and kick! I have not been spit on (yet) but sometimes get caught in the crossfire. I have been kicked - not on purpose but it definitely hurt and bruised! It’s like some kind of a jujitsu move. And don’t underestimate the power of those toenails! Lesson learned ... always wear jeans! Small Stuff You Need To Include In Your Beginning Budget Beyond the basics of shed,
fence, etc. here are some things you will need at the beginning. This
is not a complete list and I will continue to add things as I think
of them. One of the best things I did was take a Neonatal Class before our first cria was born. Fortunately, he didn't need me but I felt much more at ease knowing that I could help if necessary. And let's not forget the administrative costs. I certainly don't want to discourage anybody from this business but newcomers need to be aware that it is just that, a Business and as such you have a lot of little costs attached to it. Sometimes we feel like we are being nickel & dimed to death! So, don't forget your showing fees, membership fees, registration fees, logo, business cards, accounting fees, website, etc. The First
Show The Color Checker does just that ... check the color of the animals (blanket fleece closest to the skin) to make sure each animal is entered in the appropriate class. It's not quite as easy as it sounds. You'd be surprised how many different shades of fawn there are! I probably learned more from this position than any other. The Gate Keeper signs in the animals for each class and keeps track of 1st and 2nd place winners for the color championship. This is a fun position as you get to meet lots of people and view many alpacas. The Ring Master assists the judge by directing the traffic, delivering notes to/from the judge, handing out ribbons, etc. Here's a general
list of what you need for the show: Our Fuzzy Pals - An Essay by Christine Browning (March 2005) You look out the car window and say “Look everybody! Llamas.” and don’t realize one thing, they aren’t llamas they’re alpacas. Not many people know what alpacas are. Most people, whenever you mention alpacas say, “What’s an alpaca?” So here’s my answer for all you wondering people… Alpacas in general. Alpacas are in the camelid
family, as well as camels, llamas, guanacos (wan-u-koes), and vicunas
(vi-koon-yas). So yes, alpacas do spit just like all camelids do.
Many people mistake alpacas for llamas because they are so closely
related. In my opinion, alpacas are closer to vicunas than any other
camelid because of their similar size and shape, although, they descended
from guanacos. Alpacas Fleece Alpacas have longer wool
with better quality than llamas, and alpaca’s wool is straighter
and finer than sheep’s wool. Taking Care of Alpacas As well as being one of
the oldest livestock animals, alpacas are the easiest to take care
of. Alpacas don’t really need lots of land; you can keep 5-10
alpacas per acre. Feed, feed buckets, hay,
hay container, water, water buckets, good amount of land, shed, vitamins,
minerals, probiotics, electrolytes, poop-scoop equipment, fan and
an extension cord. All of the items listed above (except for the land and the shed) plus…A banner, materials for other people (flyers, business cards, etc.), items to sell (yarn, clothing, etc.), chairs, table (to set materials and items to sell), coolers (for any food or drinks you want to bring), registration, and, health papers.
I’ve told you now what alpacas are, so are you still wondering-I didn’t think so. Now, next time you look out the car window maybe instead of saying “Look everybody! Llamas” you’ll say “Look everybody! Alpacas.” Christine
Browning
Please check back often for updates to this page.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
