Joe H. Porter &
Daphne H. Heffler
Co-Owners
5612 Lander Benton Rd.
Monroe, NC 28110
704-283-7253
info@awesomealpacas.com
 

What is an Alpaca?  

Breeders say an alpaca is:

  1.  The cutest tax shelter ever.
  2.  The most expensive hobby farm ever.
  3.  An alternative to stress.
  4.  The sweetest little eyes you will ever see.
  5.  A beautiful face.
  6.  A curious and intelligent bundle of fiber.
  7.  A live teddy bear you can cuddle and love.
  8.  The greatest animal in the world.
  9.  A healer of the soul.
10.  Calm in the storm of modern life

Alpaca Facts

Alpacas in America

The first alpacas were imported into America in 1984.  There are over 50,000 alpacas now in the United States.  They can be found in every state with the greatest concentration in Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and California.  The average life span is 15-20 years.  Females mature around 18 months to 2 years. They have single births, beginning around three years of age. The gestation period is 11 months.  Males mature at 2 – 3 years of age.  Newborn alpacas are called Crias (pronounced cree a’s).  At birth they weigh 12 to 18 pounds.

Where did alpacas come from?

Alpaca History:  Alpacas are native to South America and have lived for thousands of years in the Andes Mountains.  They are members of the camelid family and are not used as a food source or as work animals, but for their luxurious fiber.  There are two different breeds of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. 

     Huacaya (pronounced wah ki ya):  These have a very soft, dense, and crimpy fiber that gives them a teddy bear appearance. Approximately 95% of all alpacas are Huacaya.

     Suri (pronounced surrey):  These have a silky, lustrous fiber that hangs from the body in twisted locks.  Suris are rare in that they make up the remaining 5% of alpacas in the world.

Why do people want to own alpacas?

Alpaca Ownership:  Alpaca farmers own alpacas for several reasons.  The most common are the lifestyle, tax incentives, fiber production, and the sales and breeding benefits.  Alpacas are relatively easy to care for.  They are not dangerous, do not butt, bite, have horns or claws.  They weigh between 100-200 lb, stand about 36” tall (at the withers/shoulder) and establish common dung piles which can be easily managed.  Feeding and watering a herd of 10 could be accomplished in about 30 minutes per day. There are some other basic needs such as shelter, protection from the heat, vaccinations and parasite medications which must be provided.  Their toenails need to be trimmed every couple of months and their fleece is sheared off once a year.  Alpacas eat grass, hay and not much of it! 

Who can tell me the tax benefits of owning alpacas?

Tax Incentives: There are tax benefits to owning livestock including alpacas.  Your accountant is an excellent resource for this information.

What can be done with the fiber?

Fiber Production:  Alpaca fiber is luxurious!  An alpaca produces from four to ten pounds of fiber per year.  The fleece contains no lanolin, is hypoallergenic, and is usually relatively clean and dry.  Many hand spinners process the raw fleece though some prefer to soak it to remove dust and debris.  Alpaca fiber is stronger and more durable than sheep’s wool and is valued for its unique silky feel.  This characteristic makes it very popular with hand spinners, knitters, and weavers, as well as the fashion industry.  Alpaca fiber has been described as “light as spun gold”. Alpaca fiber is available in 22 different natural colors from white to black, grey, fawn, and brown. The light colors may be dyed thus offering a variety of color choices. The most common alpaca garments are sweaters scarves, dresses and suits.

Are Alpacas expensive? 

Sales and Breeding Benefits:  The greatest industry benefit right now is in sales and breeding.  A female alpaca may sell for $15,000 to $35,000 while males sell for $3,000 to $10,000.  However, some males have sold for several hundred thousand dollars in recent years.  Stud fees for male alpacas range from $1,000 to $7,500.  These prices have remained consistent in the business for the past 20 years.

Why are Alpacas so valuable and why do people consider them to be an investment?

For an object to have worth and to be considered an investment it must possess certain qualities that make it desirable.  For example oil produces energy, real estate provides shelter, stocks and bonds produce interest, gold is rare and scarce.  Alpacas certainly have desirable qualities.  Alpacas are in strong demand and people pay high prices for them.  They are scarce, unique, and the garments produced from their fleece is known and valued around the world.  These animals are loveable, intelligent, and beautiful.  The intangible benefits of alpaca ownership include such things as the lifestyle, human-animal bonding, self employment, and establishing or expanding a family business.