One of the first questions us alpaca farmers are asked is why alpacas. I have made a list to answer this question.
Have you ever felt that the job you go to everyday just isn't fulfilling you the way it once did? Tom and I felt this way too. We wanted to do something for ourselves. As a little girl I always wanted to have a ranch. Both of us love animals and so we went in search of what we could raise. Alpacas, which I never even heard of or seen before moving to Arizona, caught our interest immediately. After researching we learned that alpacas could eventually support our current way of living if we worked hard at it. Work hard we do, but it is so much more gratifying knowing that it is your business you are trying to grow. Not to mention everyday stress seems to flow out of us when we deal with our alpacas. We couldn't think of a better way to bring up a family, so back to our grass roots we went. We haven't regretted our decision and enjoy the work we do on and for our ranch.
Since alpacas are at the bottom of the food chain, hunted by other animals, they are natuarally cautious and shy. They prefer to run away from humans. However, if trained properly as a cria the alpaca can be a friendly, loving animal. Alpacas do not have teeth on their upper front palate. Therefore, they are not considered a biting animal. This makes them an ideal livestock to have while raising children.
The bottom feet of the alpaca are padded just like you would see on the bottom of a dog's foot. This pad allows the alpaca to walk on grass without damaging it. Also, when the alpaca grazes they tend to cut the blades of grass rather than pulling it out by the roots the way cows and horses do. The best part about alpacas is that they have a communal dung pile. Since they only go in one spot they will not burn your pasture.
Alpacas require low maintenance. It costs me less than a dollar a day to feed four alpacas. This includes timothy hay, Mazuri Alpaca Chews (both the maintenance and reproduction/lactating/growth kind), grain, and alfalfa. There are worming medications and additional vaccinations, but the overall cost will depend on the area you live in and the parasite schedule you place your alpacas on. Your vet can help with the recommended schedule. Other than that you will need to cut toe nails as needed. Again this will depend on the environment you have your alpacas in. If you have a cement floor barn then the nails will naturally grind themselves down. If you have a dirt floor you may need to trim more often. Don't forget that since the alpaca goes in a communal dung pile you will spend less time cleaning up poop. Lastly, the alpaca does not need more than a three sided stall. The structure is simply to keep them out of the sun or strong wind gusts when they want. You decide on the structure based on your financial situation.
Alpaca fiber is a luxury fiber. It is stronger than wool and feels softer than cashmere. The strands of fiber themselves are smoother compared to sheep's wool. Therefore, people who are allergic to wool due to the prick factor seem to have no problem wearing alpaca. There are other benefits to wearing alpaca like the fiber can hold its elasticity (huacaya fiber that is) and is more water resistant than other fibers. The fiber feels lighter, therefore you are not weighed down by wearing the item. Alpacas come in 22 natuaral colors with varying shades within each color. The fiber can be easily dyed to create your own custom look. I don't want to forget about its luster too. Alpaca fiber shines. With all of these benefits it is no wonder alpaca fiber is called "the fiber of the gods"! All you need to do is feel to believe.