The Business of Alpacas:
Alpaca as a Commodity
Historical Value
History has validated the value of the alpaca.
Livestock, or animals raised for profit, was an investment long before financial stocks were sold on the New York Stock Exchange. The richest families of ancient times counted their wealth by the size of their flocks of sheep or herds of cattle. Today, wealth as a result of livestock ownership is not as common, but tending to a graceful herd of alpacas can also be an exciting way to earn a substantial cash flow and live a rewarding lifestyle. Alpaca breeders enjoy nurturing their animals every bit as much as receiving the profits they provide. A retired doctor who is now a full time alpaca breeder had this to say:
“I would rather raise alpacas than anything I’ve ever done. Breeding alpacas is a labor of love and very profitable”
Since 1984, alpacas have appeared, almost simultaneously, in several countries where they had never been seen before. The U.S., Canada, New Zealand, France, Australia and England have all acquired the foundation animals for national herds. What makes this animal so desirable? Bottom line: alpacas are both profitable and enjoyable.
The Alpaca Advantage
* Alpacas are safe, they don’t bite or butt. Even if they did, without incisors, horns hoofs or claws, little harm can he done.
* Alpacas are small and easy to handle.
* Alpacas are useful: they produce fine and valuable fleece as well as make wonderful pets.
* Alpacas are intelligent, which makes them pleasant to be around and easy to train.
* Alpacas are beautiful; they come in over 22 colors, and are clean and pleasant to be near.
* Alpacas do not require butchering in order to be profitable.
* Alpacas do not require special shelter or care.
* Alpacas 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.
* Alpacas are rare outside of South America and cannot be mass-produced.
* Alpacas require minimal fencing.
* Alpacas can be pastured at 5-10 per acre depending on the feeding method used.
* Alpacas are easy to transport, which allows them to be traded across the country or around the world.
* Alpacas have a relatively long and trouble-free reproductive life span.
* Alpacas can be insured against loss.
The Fibre Advantage
* Suri alpaca fiber can easily be worn against the skin.
* Alpaca is lighter and warmer by weight than wool or cashmere.
* It is a natural fiber with 22 shades and very little lanolin so it can be processed without chemical cleaners or dyes. Because it contains almost minimal lanolin it does not attract allergens like pollen and dust. Those who cannot wear wool can comfortably wear alpaca so it is also referred to as hypoallergenic.
* It is durable and easy to clean. Other than mohair, alpacas produce the strongest animal fiber in the world and is recognized for its durability. Exhibiting natural restorative properties, alpaca, with respectful and minimal care can last a lifetime just like the extraordinarily preserved fine woven garments that were recently discovered in Peruvian ruins dating back 2500 years.
* Its thermal properties allow it to breath and easily regulate the perfect temperature around your body. Alpaca fiber has adapted to the needs of the animal. Each individual fiber has microscopic air filled cells which means that the alpaca has developed more natural thermal and wicking capacity in its fiber than almost any other animal.
* Alpaca is water repellant because of the minimal natural lanolin content it subtly retains and can resist the solar radiation effectively. These characteristics guarantee the animals a permanent and appropriate coat to survive the extreme changes of temperature as found in the Altiplano.
* Highly regarded by outdoor enthusiasts, garments made from alpaca offer wonderfully cozy, featherweight warmth that sheep’s wool, goose down or even the new synthetic fabrics like Gortex and polar fleece cannot possibly begin to compete with.
* Alpaca is incredibly versatile and can be very easily blended with wool, mohair, silk, cotton to achieve a range of qualities in the finished product .
* The uses for this amazing natural fiber are only beginning to be developed. As the quality of U.S. fleece continues to improve and the quantity continues to grow, the need for this fleece can only increase. Let your imagination run wild. If it can be created in any other material, it can be created in Alpaca.
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