The Amazing Alpaca

Alpacas originate from Chili, Peru and Bolivia. They have been raised successfully raised in the United States since 1984.

Alpacas are gentle animals that are raised for their fine soft wool. Many people refer to them as the investment you can hug due to their sweet gentle nature and soft appearance. Alpacas eat grain, hay and graze on pastures. They are clean, friendly, intelligent and disease resistant.

Alpacas can be raised on very small acreage or boarded here at Riverside Alpacas. Alpacas have soft padded feet so they are gentle on the land. The ease in which they can be raised, combined with their gentle nature attracts people from all walks of life. Alpacas are becoming an important source of income for many families. In the young family, alpaca farming can enable one person to stay home with the children. Many others look to alpacas as an early retirement. A large number of breeders are people who have two incomes and tend to their herd in the evenings. All of these types of people are enjoying tax advantages now. For any type of situation, alpaca farming can diversify your financial portfolio by investing in a high demand commodity.

Alpaca come in 22 natural colors of fine, luxury fiber which is in high demand worldwide. Alpacas are shorn annually to harvest this fine fiber. Shear weights on each alpaca can vary from 3 to 15 pounds. The fiber can be processed into yarn, either by hand or by a mill (see our mill at www.aplusalpaca.com) where fabulous yarn can be created from your own animal’s fiber. The yarn can be made into products for sale. Some other options for the fiber are co-ops and fiber pools where you can get products to sell or give as gifts. Many alpaca breeders earn enough from the sale of products to care for the animals.

Whether you are selling breeding stock or fiber and their products or building your alpaca herd for eventual retirement, alpacas are a great investment!