David and Kathleen Van Gelder · 1040 West Glover Road · Irasburg, Vermont 05845 · 802.754.2021· Contact Us
ALPACA FAQs
Here are
questions we asked when we were first learning about alpacas... and now find
that people are asking us:
· Is raising alpacas eco-friendly and agriculturally sustainable?
· What is the price range for alpacas -- are they affordable?
· What if I don't want to breed alpacas but want them just as pets or to use their fiber?
· What kind of people own alpacas?
· Do I need a farm to own alpacas?
· I have land -- is it enough and what type of facilities do I need on it to raise alpacas?
· How often are alpacas sheared and what can I do with the fiber?
· I don't have a livestock or medical background -- can I do this?
· How do I find a qualified vet in my area?
· Is there a good support system for new owners and breeders?
· Are there attractive tax advantages to raising alpacas and how do I find out which ones apply to me?
Is
raising alpacas eco-friendly and agriculturally sustainable?
Yes, raising alpacas is indeed eco-friendly, environmentally sound,
socially conscious, and offers real potential in pursuit of agricultural
sustainability. Let us take a look at just how softly the
alpaca itself treads on the earth:
-
The main food alpacas consume is grass or hay, and not much of it -- a single, 60 pound bale of hay can usually feed a group of 20 alpacas for one day.
-
Alpacas produce rumen and chew a cud -- they are able to process this modest amount of food very efficiently.
-
Alpacas have short tongues and nibble only the tops of grasses and other plants -- they do not rip plants out of the ground, resulting in far less disturbance of the vegetation.
-
Alpacas have soft, padded toes and do not tear up pastures, which means quicker grass recovery that promotes pasture production
-
Alpacas make wonderful organic fertilizer, while cotton growers use massive amounts of chemical fertilizer
-
Alpaca fiber requires less energy and detergent to process than sheep's wool as it does not contain the grease present in raw wool
ALPACAS HAVEN'T "GONE GREEN," THEY WERE THAT WAY SINCE THE BEGINNING!
(This information
was taken from the article "Twenty-two Natural Colors and All
Green!"
by Jeff Merrifield, which was published in the Spring 2010 ALPACAS
MAGAZINE)
What
is the price range for alpacas -- are they affordable?
Alpacas are
affordable! Breeding fiber females
start at $2500. We offer
show stock females currently starting at $8,000 (some have been
known to sell for up to $100,000). Pet/fiber males are usually offered starting at
$500. Young, unproven
high quality stud prospects routinely sell for between $5,000 and $25,000.
The highest quality males with unique characteristics or exceptional
offspring on the ground have sold in excess of $750,000.
The factors which influence individual alpaca prices include color, conformation, fleece quality and quantity, age, and sex. Females sell for more money on average than males, but herdsire quality males demand the highest individual prices. Correct, well-conformed alpacas sell for higher prices.
Are
alpacas profitable?
Alpacas are shorn once a year, usually in the spring before hot
weather sets in. Each
animal will produce four to eight pounds of fleece a year. The
fiber can be sold to cottage
industries that revolve around hand spinning and weaving -- it sells
readily $20 to $40 a fleece to local artisans -- or sent to a fiber co-op, such as the one endorsed by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association
(AOBA) which provides a commercial outlet for all breeders. The
Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts
fleece from its members, and turns the precious textile into quality
alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for
their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and
demand for this every day luxury.
We are currently sending a portion of our fiber to mini-mills to be machine spun. The batches are separated by each animal -- therefore we know that a particular yarn came from a certain alpaca. The cost of producing the finished yarn is $3 to $4 and ounce, but it can be sold for $6 to $12 an ounce. If you take the yarn and have it knitted or crocheted into products, the profit per ounce increases substantially.
Fiber seconds, from the leg and neck, can also be felted into large pads by a mill. They can be sold in one piece or cut up to make vests, tote bags, and other profitable products.
Some companies are also willing to exchange seconds for desirable products that you can sell from your farm, online, or at fairs and farmers' markets.
Roving is much less expensive to produce and can be sold to spinners or woven into very profitable hats and scarves using very simple round and rectangular looms.
The profitable options options are widespread!
I
am reading terms I'm not familiar with -- cria, agist, gestation, camelid,
conformation, pronking...?
A cria (cree-ah) is a
baby alpaca, agist (a-jist) is another term for boarding, gestation
(jes-tay-shun) is the time of being carried in the womb from
conception to birth, camelid (ca-mel-id) is a group
term for alpacas, llamas, guanacos, vicunas and camels, and conformation
is the proportionate shape of an alpaca. When alpacas run for fun,
they prance and bounce through the air with all four feet off the ground
-- this is called pronking and is a joy to watch.
What
is the difference between a huacaya and suri alpaca, between a
Peruvian, Bolivian and Chilean, and what is an accoyo?
There are two recognized alpaca
fleece types: that of the huacaya (wa-kye-ya) which has a
fine, dense, crimpy wool-like structure with excellent insulating
qualities and the suri (sir-ee) which has a longer, twisted,
silky textured fiber with no crimp. Both are distinct
and have excellent value. 90% of the alpacas in the world are
huacayas and 10% are suris.
Peruvian, Bolivian and Chilean refer to the country of origin of an alpaca. In competitions this information is not a factor -- alpacas are judged and ranked on the correctness of their conformation and the quality of their fiber.
An Accoyo denotes an animal with lineage traced to the herd of Don Julio Barreda, a famous Peruvian breeder.
What
are the average stats for alpacas -- size, weight, life expectancy,
breeding age, gestation period?
Alpacas are small and easy
to handle -- they are about 36" tall at the withers and weigh about
150 pounds. Female alpacas begin breeding at between 14 and 18 months of
age, while males begin breeding at about three years. The females produce
approximately one baby per year during a reproductive life of 15-20 years.
Their gestation period averages 11.5 months.
Can
I lease an alpaca?
Yes, it is the the
quickest start to owning alpacas with the least initial investment!
For a set fee of you may lease a bred dam (mother) for the duration of her
pregnancy and own the cria (baby) when it is born. Once it is weaned
-- usually at 6 months old -- you may sell it, agist (board) it, or take it
home with you.
Please
click HERE for more details.
What
if I don't want to breed alpacas but want them just as pets or to use
their fiber?
If an alpaca does not have
the characteristics necessary for breeding, it can be purchased very
reasonably ($500-1500) as a pet/fiber quality animal and would be
registered as a non-breeder -- reclassification to a breeding status
must have the approval of the breeder from whom you originally purchased
the animal. Many families and spinners own pet quality animals.
It is important to note that alpacas are herd animals and need the company
of another alpaca or llama -- therefore pet/fiber animals are often sold
only in pairs to new owners.
What
kind of people own alpacas?
Raising
alpacas is a rewarding experience for families with children and also for
couples approaching retirement who want to blend an income producing
business with a peaceful agricultural lifestyle.
Spinners and weavers may own pet quality animals as a source of
fiber for their hobby or home-based business.
Do
I need a farm to own alpacas?
No, we (or a breeding farm
of your choice) can be "your farm". For a small daily fee,
usually $3 to $5, your alpacas can be agisted (boarded) -- indefinitely or
until you are ready to take them home -- and receive excellent daily care
and professional vet services.
I
have land... is it enough and what type of facilities do I need on it to
raise alpacas?
Alpacas can be pastured at
5-7 per acre. They require minimal fencing, a supply of fresh water
and shelter to provide shade in hot weather and protection from the
elements in extremely cold winters. Because alpacas are gentle
animals without any means of protecting themselves, owners often use
electric fencing, guard llamas or a livestock guardian dog for protection
against predators. We have Argus, our Akbash guardian dog -- click HERE
for more information.
I
don't have a livestock or medical background -- can I do this?
Yes, with the help of an experienced
breeder, a skilled vet and the desire to learn, you can do this. If
you do not desire a "hands-on" alpaca experience, you can choose
to agist (board) your alpacas on a breeding farm where they will receive
excellent daily care and vet services -- please click HERE
for details.
How
do I find a qualified vet in my area?
We will be happy to help you locate a
vet -- basically, it is a process of asking other alpaca or llama owners
in your area, checking with established camelid vets in your state,
checking with your regional associations and interviewing candidates.
Is
there a good support system for new owners and breeders?
Yes, excellent support is already in
place through the national organization (AOBA), regional associations and
established fiber co-ops. You can also expect a high level of
support from the breeder you buy from, other owners, and your own skilled
vet.
Are
there attractive tax advantages to raising alpacas and how do I find out
which ones apply to me?
Raising alpacas at your own
ranch for profit can offer some very attractive tax advantages -- all the
expenses attributable to the endeavor can be written off against your
income. If you choose to lease and/or agist (board) your animals,
many advantages still apply. A helpful publication is the Farmers
Tax Guide IRS Publication 225 which is available from the Cooperative
Extension or online
from the IRS. Please
click HERE to view a full
copy of the investment and tax information as presented on the
website of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA).
We advise you to seek the advice of your accountant to design an investment
plan that best suits your financial profile.
Can
I insure my alpacas?
Yes, alpacas can be
fully insured against loss which protects your investment.
Still have
questions?
Please feel free to call (802.754.2021), email or visit -- we are happy to help!
You Are Invited...
We are located in Irasburg, a small town in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont -- very easy to find and just a few minutes off of Exit 26 on I 91.
Whether you are interested in purchasing or would just like to know more about alpacas, we would love to meet you and have the opportunity to show you around the farm and introduce you to our alpacas.
We are looking forward to hearing from you -- just call 802.754.2021 to let us know when you are coming and to get detailed directions.
Kathleen and David
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