Alpacas (Pics)

[SalmonNilla]

Any other ifishers out there raise alpacas?
We have been breeding alpacas for four years now and this spring we got our first female cria (baby alpaca). So we are pretty excited. Here she is.


just minutes old

drying in the sun

This spring we also had a boy cria born



For those of you asking "What's an Alpaca"?
It's a member of the Camel family also related to Llamas. Alpacas are fiber animals. There are two types of alpacas, huacayas and suris. Huacayas are fluffy like a teddy bear and suris have fleece that drapes like dreadlocks. We only have suris. We raise them for the "wool". We do not eat them. We do not pack with them. We just shear there fleece once a year. They have super soft (softer than Cashmere), very warm fiber that can be spun in to all kinds of wearable products. It's not itchy like wool is and it comes in at least sixteen natural colors. They are originaly from Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Most of our animals were born in the USA but our oldest girl is an import from Bolivia.
If you find yourself in Eugene this weekend June 23,24,25 stop by the lane county fairgrounds horse arena and say hi (Just ask any of the breeders to point you to John and Angie). We are having a fleece show and marketplace. I'll show you a few of our animals and let you feel their fleece in person.
They really are neat animals.

[Molly B]

Where do you sell their fleece? How much does it go for?

[divebumor]

Congrats on the new cria My in-laws have been raising Alpacas for alittle over a year and they had 2 boy and two girls this year and I understand your excitment. You said you have suri they have Peruvian Huacayas.
Great pictures.

[Bartman]

we just bought 12 acres, and my wife has voiced that she would like to get some alpacas. what would looking at as far as cost for the animals ?? what kinda of return are you getting with the fleece??

[SalmonNilla]

I will answer both of your questions when I get a little more time. I'm working really late tonight. Thanks for being patient.

John.

[Drachir]

Cool Pics John!! :grin:

Give me a call tonight if you get home by 9 PM.

[SalmonNilla]

Molly B - Many alpaca breeders sell fiber right at their farms . Hand spinners often will buy raw fleece right off the animal and process it themselves. Some people send out the fleece to be processed into yarn and sell that. If you are looking for fleece you can go to and event like the Alpaca Marketplace and Fleece Show which is going on this weekend in Eugene at the fairgrounds. There is a big fiber fest in Canby too. You can also buy at many breeders farm websites or at Alpacanation.com
The prices for fleece vary depending on type, color, has it been processed or is it raw, quantity, etc. It generally goes for around $2 - 4$ and ounce.
We sheered one of my boys recently and got about 5 1/2 pounds.

Bartman - Animal prices vary. You can get non breeding animals for $300-$600 generally, if you just want a fiber herd. If you want top quality breeding stock ( which is where the money is right now) you can expect to pay $14,000 -$40,000 for good females and males $6,000 and up. The highest selling alpaca ever recently sold for upwards of $600,000. But you can breed to good studs for $1,000 - $5,000. If you want to talk more shoot me a pm. If your serious I'd recomend joining the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association and your local afilliate. There is also an auction in Hilsboro next weekend that is fun and educational. You need to pre register to attend.

[sinker]

I'm surprised there's been money in these for the length of time they've stuck around.

Figured it was going to be another pot bellied pig or Emu fad.

Seen an alpaca farm up on San Juan Island that had a giant vaccuum they pulled behind their tractor to suck up manure so the fields looked "pretty" when customers came to see them. Growing up with horses and cows I never imagined I'd see someone on a giant vaccuum in the field.

[Hare's Ear]

I bought an alpaca wool jacket in Peru a few years ago. Amazingly lightweight considering the thickness. And very warm.