Alpacas are bred and raised for the quality of the country farming lifestyle and to produce exquisite fleece. Alpaca fleece is shorn generally once a year and processed into fabric, yarn, rovings for hand-spinners, or felt. End products include everything from cuddly teddy bears to blankets, scarves, hats, coats, suits and more.

The popularity of alpaca products is growing worldwide by leaps and bounds as they are more and more widely distributed. When people feel alpaca, they love it!

Raising alpacas offers not only a wonderful lifestyle but also tremendous investment and tax advantages.

Alpacas are gentle animals whose good nature and mild temperaments make them a joy to raise. Most bred dams produce one cria per year, the gestation period being about 11.5 months. The crias stay at the mother’s side for about six months. Since alpacas are herd animals, they stay together and spend most of their time grazing and sleeping.

Alpacas need food, shelter, protection from predators, and regular preventative health maintenance. They eat grass, hay and grain (llama/alpaca pellets are often available at feed stores or can be ordered and shipped). Shelter can be anything from a three-sided lean-to or run-in to a full-fledged, heated barn. Their coats do offer them significant protection from the weather, but they will do best with a way to get out of the cold and snow. Fencing requirements will vary depending on the type of wildlife (of even stray dogs) to be found in your area. Similarly, veterinary requirements vary from location to location. In places with deadly meningeal worm, monthly worming treatments are required. In other places worming is done quarterly, biannually or based on the results of fecal testing. Alpacas are given annual vaccinations as well. Some alpacas will need to have their toenails and teeth trimmed on a periodic basis.