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Why Alpacas?

Why do people in so many countries call alpacas the world's finest livestock investment?

For any investment to be valuable, it must possess certain qualities which make it desirable. Gold is scarce, real estate provides shelter, oil produces energy, bonds earn interest, stocks are supposed to increase in value, and diamonds symbolize love. Alpacas share many of these investment attributes.

The alpacas industry in strong and growing, and their value has stayed in steady growth since they came to the states in the '80s. They are scarce, unique, and the textiles produced from their fiber are known in the fashion centers of Paris, Milan and Tokyo.

There are excellent profit opportunities and tax advantages available to alpaca breeders. Historically, the alpaca's value has sustained ancient cultures, such as the Incas of Peru, and today alpacas are the sustaining economic force for millions of South Americans. 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 be a rewarding lifestyle. The business of alpaca raising can create a lucrative income in relation to the time invested by the owners.

Alpaca breeders enjoy nurturing their animals every bit as much as receiving the profits they provide. The man who created the Beefmaster cattle from imported Limousine stock made the following observation: I know a lot of doctors and lawyers who would like to be cowboys, but I don't know any cowboys who would trade places with them. 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

At this point, it was time to convince the other half of this would-be adventure! While still doing as much research as I could, I started talking "alpacas", sharing all the information that I came across. Finally, I knew that I was on the right track when Bill started "talking alpacas" back to me! We were on our way. Of course, we still had the family and friends thinking I had gone off the deep and poor Bill was right there with me. But we took our time and found out all we could before even visiting a single farm.

We began with the purchase on 1 bred female, a yearling male and a gelding. Knowing what I know now, I probably wouldn't have purchased a breeding male but perhaps 2 geldings and left the rest of my purchase money for females (See my page on purchase planning). I then went and purchased 3 breeding females from other breeders. So our initial starting herd was 4 breeding females, 1 future herdsire and a gelding.

Being in the graphics business I began to get our website up and did advertising locally about our farm, all the while helping Bill get the farm ready for our herd to come home.

Finally 5 months after our first purchase, we had them coming home. It was very exciting and WHAT A LEARNING CURVE! With not many farms in Illinois at the time, we really had ourselves to rely on. I found myself calling people across the country to ask questions and getting mentoring. It was a scary time but we wouldn't have changed it for the world.

Since in the alpaca industry, we have made some wonderful friends, raised some champion alpacas and helped several farms begin their adventure.

Pick up the phone, give us a call. We love to talk alpacas and visit. If we can help answer questions for you about the industry, we are more than willing to help. And if we don't have the answer,we can probably out you in touch with someone who will.

It's hard to believe that it has been 5 years and our alpaca herd is now over twenty and includes one sweet Lily the llama and 20 guinea hens.

As we continue to watch this industry grow by leaps and bounds, we are proud to be a part of it. Illinois is no exception when it comes to growth in the industry, going from a handful of farms in the state in the year 2000, to presently over 100 registered alpaca breeders in 2006 and still continuing to grow. Saturation in the state...no way! For the size of our state we have a minimal amount of farms in IL and plenty of room for growth, compared to other states.

There is nothing like sitting on the porch and watching the crias play in the pastures or our grandchildren out in the pastures amongst the alpacas leisurely grazing. It's a life like no other. We are truly blessed.

• Visit as many websites as you can. Start with a Google search for anything that contains the word alpaca, alpacas, etc.
• Find books on line on the care and maintenance of alpacas (See our Services Page)
• Visit www.aoba.com, the national organization of alpaca breeders. Request information about alpacas from AOBA.
• Search out alpaca owners in your area. Ask to visit their farms.
• At your farm visits ask all the questions you can think of and then ask for information that you may not have specifically known to ask about. There will be plenty. I am still thinking of things that I wish I would have known when I was first looking at purchasing. Be sure to take a notebook so you can write down this information and file it according to farm name. You'll find information you may want to bring into your farm later on. There will probably also be things you want to avoid. Write it all down for future information.
• Build a relationship with a breeder you are comfortable with. Ask if they are would be available to mentor you - even if you don't buy from them.

• BEFORE you purchase - think about exactly what you are going to try to do with your alpacas: for the family enjoyment; 4-H project for your children; learn to spin and do fiber arts with the fiber; establish a breeding business; raise alpacas for showing and selling Show Stock.....there are many different things you can do with the future of your alpaca ownership, and where you want to go truly determines how you should start your business.
• Put together a business plan and decide how you are going to pay for your first purchases.
• Try to see where you want your business to be at year 2, 5, 10, or 15...Are you creating a future business for your children?
• Talk to local veterinarians in your area. Do they service alpaca farms in your area? If you have trouble finding a vet, call area farms and ask who they use and how they like them.
• Don't purchase females that are ready to birth unless the seller is willing to keep them at their farm through that birthing. In the first three months establishing your farms, you will have plenty of other things to worry about and learn without also having to learn birthing right from the start.
• Ask farms in your area to call if they have an impending birth...you may be able to get there and watch first hand. It is a wonderful experience and great opportunity to learn.