Why we became alpaca farmers?

We are business professionals looking for a rewarding retirement lifestyle with less stress.  We both love animals, so we could imagine spending our retirement days taking care of animals and enjoying every minute of it.

Pat never does anything without extensive research, so once we heard about alpacas, he dove into trying to find out if and why the alpaca business is successful and sustainable.  He found a wealth of information about raising and breeding alpacas from helpful alpaca breeders and many publications.  After visiting several farms, we purchased our first pregnant female alpaca.  We soon purchased our farm and an additional 5 female alpacas.  We agisted our small herd and moved them to our farm in the summer of 2005, after building a barn and erecting pasture fencing.  What a great day it was to get them “home” to “Talking Creek Farm” and begin our exciting farm life together with our alpacas, 3 Great Pyrenees dogs and 3 barn cats.  We haven’t regretted any of it – not once.

We hope you enjoy our website. Call us and make an appointment to come see first-hand why we love what we do. Thanks – Pat Riley & Cindy Rogers.

What are alpacas?

Alpacas originated in South America in the Andean Mountain region of Bolivia, Peru and Chile.  They are members of the Camelid family, along with camels, llamas and vicunas.  They are quiet, curious, intelligent animals that provide us a glimpse into nature’s world of wonders.   Alpaca fiber was used as early as 200 BC, and during the Incan Empire from the mid 1400’s to 1500’s, it was highly regarded as a luxuriously woven cloth.  Alpacas came close to extinction during the16th century Spanish conquest, but today are a natural resource worthy of protection in Peru, where 85% of the world’s alpacas reside.

Alpaca herds first arrived in the United States beginning in 1983 when importation restrictions were lifted.  Before that year, the only alpacas in the U.S. were in zoos or in exotic animal collections.  In 1999, all future importations were prohibited when the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI) was formed to protect the well-being of those alpacas residing in the United States.  ARI also called for registration of each alpaca using DNA typing and required DNA analysis of offspring of ARI-registered alpacas in order to allow them to be registered.  Today, over 100,000 alpacas are registered through ARI as America’s alpaca herd.  The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) is dedicated to the perpetuation of alpacas in America and serves as an excellent educational source for owners and potential owners of alpacas, and promotes alpacas to the general public through advertising and alpaca shows.

Alpaca farmers in the United States can select between the 2 different types of alpacas – huacayas and suris.  We chose to raise suri alpacas.  Why?  We liked their look and there are fewer of them in the U.S. than huacayas.  Both types of alpacas are a joy to own and it’s merely a personal preference as to which type (or both) you choose to raise.

The Financial benefit of raising alpacas:

Ultimately, in the future, when there are enough alpacas in the U.S. to produce enough fiber to entice the fashion industry to look to the U.S. to produce their fiber needs, the alpaca business will be a fiber market.   Now they have no choice but to go to South America, where the herds number in the hundreds of thousands.  Already, these producers of luxury clothing are watching and noticing the superior quality of U.S. produced fiber.  This is due to the care alpacas are given in the U.S. – restricted and selective breeding, better diets, better vet care, better day-to-day care – all which contribute to superior fiber quality.  And, the alpaca life-span has reached 20+ years in the U.S., compared to about 15 years in South America. 

Alpacas are sheared only once a year, yielding averages of 4-8 lbs of fiber.  With the U.S. reaching only 100,000 registered alpacas in late 2006, and with at least half or more of those being males, it will take many, many years before U.S. herds reach the number needed to be considered a viable fiber market to major clothing manufacturers.

So, we see the alpaca industry is a very lucrative breeding business that will eventually become a successful fiber market that will then complement the breeding business.  Here are the benefits:

• Breeding and Selling:  Alpaca farmers earn significantly more money by breeding and selling alpacas rather than their fiber.  Alpaca selling prices have stayed consistently high due to requirements in place by ARI, protecting U.S. herds from a flood of imports.  Prices vary widely.  Breeding females average between $12,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on her pedigree and show winnings.  Herdsires can sell for about the same.  Some award-winning herdsires have sold at auction for over $300,000.  Pet quality alpacas, used for fiber production, or as companions for weanlings, sell for as little as several hundred dollars.

• Investment Benefits:  A healthy, breeding female alpaca can have one cria (alpaca baby) a year, and are bred within 2-3 weeks after birth, giving them the ability to have a cria every year during adulthood.  Healthy alpacas can live past 20 years, so your initial investment multiplies, several times over.

• Tax Deferred Wealth Building:  As your herd grows you postpone paying income tax on its increasing value until you begin selling the offspring.  Once a foundation herd is established, most breeders will sell all or some of the annual offspring production to recover initial cash flow, which will also help keep acreage and building limitations in line.  As an active hands-on owner, all expenses attributed to raising and caring for your alpacas can be written off against your income.  These include feed, fertilizer, vet care, etc.  The depreciation of tangible property such as breeding stock, barns, fences, equipment, etc. can help shelter current cash flow from tax.

• Fiber Industry:  The unique and desirable characteristics of alpaca fiber – trying to reach that ultimate goal of producing sought-after U.S. alpaca fiber - keeps alpacas in high demand.  American consumers are discovering the unique qualities of natural alpaca fiber, including its lustrous sheen - its warmer, stronger, lighter-than-wool durability and its exquisite softness.  We hear from many people that alpaca garments they purchased many years ago are still as nice today as they were the first day they were purchased.

• Agistment:  Many alpaca owners do not have farm facilities.  They can purchase their alpacas and leave them in the care of an established breeder for an agreed-upon fee until they have adequate facilities to begin their own farm operation.  This gives many owners the opportunity to begin building their alpaca investment before they actually begin a hands-on farming operation.  Other investors will purchase alpacas purely as an investment and choose to have others care for their alpacas on a permanent basis.

What do I need to take care of alpacas?

• Land.  Alpacas live comfortably together at a ratio of 5 alpacas to one-acre of fenced pasture.

• Housing.  A barn, or covered shelter with access, provides refuge from winter or summer storms and the summer sun.

• Fencing.  Exterior pasture fencing is critical to protect alpacas.  They have no way to defend themselves, so it is essential to provide at least 5’ wire fencing to keep predators out.

• Grain/Hay.  Alpacas are given a ration of grain (specially formulated for alpacas) once or twice a day and graze the rest of the day.  Access to good quality hay is also advisable.

• Vet Care.  Alpacas should be kept on a routine schedule of periodic vaccinations and worming medications.  Many owners administer these routine meds themselves.  Alpacas generally do not get ill, but a good vet is invaluable and is someone you should get to know and respect.

• Insurance.  Alpacas are fully insurable against theft and mortality.  Insurance can be purchased for your stock regardless of age.

• Agistment (boarding).  IF you choose to purchase alpacas and have them agisted by a reputable alpaca farm, you need nothing but insurance.