



















| |
WHY
ALPACAS?
What
makes alpacas so desirable? Bottom line -- they are both profitable
and enjoyable. |
 |
Alpaca
Facts and Advantages |
Alpacas have been domesticated for over 5,000 years and played a central
role in the ancient Inca civilization that was located high in the Andes of
South America. They were treasured for their incredibly soft, luxurious
fiber, and believed to be a gift from the gods. Like the Andes, the climate
of Northern Vermont promotes all the qualities that are sought after in
Alpacas. Is it any wonder that many local farms here in Vermont have now
begun to raise these "gifts of the Gods"
|
Alpacas
are clean, safe, quiet, intelligent and disease resistant. They have a
charismatic manner, do very well on small acreage and produce a luxury
fiber which is in high demand. |
► Alpacas are safe, they don't
bite or butt. Even if they did, without incisors, horns, hoofs or claws,
little harm can he done. |
|
► They are small and easy to
handle -- about 36" tall at the withers and weigh about 150 pounds. |
► Alpacas belong to the camelid
family, eat grasses and chew a cud. |
► Females begin breeding at
between 14 and 18 months of age producing approximately one cria (baby)
per year -- a pregnancy averages 11.5 months -- during a reproductive life
of 15-20 years. Males begin breeding at about three years. |
► Alpacas produce one of the
world's most luxurious natural fibers which is clipped from the animal
without causing it injury. Soft as cashmere and lighter, stronger and four
times warmer than wool, it comes in 22 basic colors with many variations
and blends. It is enjoyed by spinners and weavers and is in high demand
around the world. |
► They are intelligent, which
makes them pleasant to be around and easy to train. |
► Alpacas do not require
butchering in order to be profitable. |
► Clean up is easy since
alpacas deposit droppings in only one or two places -- very tidy!. |
► They are considered
disease-resistant animals, which lowers insurance and veterinarian costs. |
► Alpacas are adaptable to
varied habitat, successfully being raised from Australia to Alaska and
from 15,000 feet to sea level. |
► Rare outside of South
America, they cannot be mass-produced. |
► Alpacas require minimal
fencing and can be pastured at 5-10 per acre. |
► They are easy to transport
which allows them to be traded across the country or around the world.
They lay down in a moving vehicle -- some owners will transport one or two
alpacas in the back of their minivan. |
► Alpacas have a relatively
long and trouble-free reproductive life span which averages about 20
years |
They can be fully insured
against loss. |
► The factors which
influence individual alpaca prices include color, conformation, fleece
quantity and quality (density, uniformity, fineness), 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 with quality fiber sell for higher prices.
|
► Alpaca owners enjoy a strong
and active national organization. The Alpaca Owners and Breeders
Association (AOBA) and the Regional Affiliates support all owners and
breeders by thoroughly addressing every aspect of the industry. |
► The Alpaca Registry has a
state-of the-art system to document bloodlines. Alpacas must be blood
typed in order to be registered. Virtually every alpaca in the U.S. is
registered. |
► The newly formed Alpaca Fiber
Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts fleece from its members and
turns the precious fiber 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. |
 |
Alpacas: The Earth-Friendly Farm Animal |
|
Alpacas
have been domesticated for more than 5,000 years. They are one of Mother
Nature’s favorite farm animals as they are sensitive to their environment in
every respect. The following physical attributes allow alpacas to maintain
their harmony with our Mother Earth: |
► Their padded feet leave even
the most delicate terrain undamaged as they browse on native grasses. |
► The alpaca is a modified
ruminant with a three-compartment stomach which converts grass and hay to
energy very efficiently. They eat much less than other farm animals --
one bale of hay will feed 10 alpacas per day. |
► Its camelid ancestry allows
the alpaca to thrive without consuming very much water, although an
abundant, fresh water supply is necessary. |
► The alpaca does not usually
eat or destroy trees, preferring tender grasses, which it does not pull up
by the roots. |
► A herd of alpacas
consolidates its droppings in one or two spots in the pasture controlling
the spread of parasites and making it easy to collect and compost for
fertilizer. |
► Gardeners find the alpaca’s
rich fertilizer perfect for growing fruits and vegetables. |
► An alpaca produces enough
fleece each year to create several soft, warm sweaters -- this is the
alpaca’s way of contributing to community energy conservation efforts. |
Investment and Tax
Benefits |
 |
There are
major tax advantages of alpaca ownership including the employment of
depreciation, capital gains treatment and, for active hands-on owners, the
benefit of offsetting your ordinary income from other sources with expenses
from your farming business. Wealth building by deferring taxes on the
increased value of your herd is also a big plus. |
► Alpaca
Compounding -- Alpacas reproduce almost every year and about one-half of
their crias (babies) are females. When you retain the offspring in your
herd, they begin producing babies, therefore increasing your herd size.
|
► Tax-Deferred
Wealth Building -- As your herd grows, you postpone paying income tax on
its increasing value until such time as you begin selling the offspring. |
► Tax Advantages
-- Raising alpacas at your own ranch for profit, leasing or agisting
(boarding) your animals can offer some very attractive tax advantages. |
► Fiber Sales --
Fiber is often and readily sold to cottage industries that revolve around
hand spinning and weaving for an average of $2 to $6 an ounce. Each animal
will produce five to eight pounds of fleece a year. A North American fiber
co-op, endorsed by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA),
offers an additional fiber outlet for all breeders. |
► Your Investment Can Be Protected -- Alpacas can be fully insured against
loss. |
 |
Lifestyle Advantages |
|
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, stress-free lifestyle. |
► Can provide both income and
pleasure -- impressive financial returns are combined with a fun hands-on
lifestyle which has captivated people searching for a simpler and more
rewarding way of life |
► Wonderful travel
opportunities to attend the many alpaca events around the country,
including local and state fairs, alpaca farm open houses, auctions and
conferences. |
► Opportunity to get involved
in selling products made from alpaca fiber as a hobby or an additional
home-based business venture -- spinning and weaving of fiber is a skill
that can lead to profits. |
Click
Here to Go back to Home Page
|