Around the world, alpacas are in strong demand and people pay high prices for them.
They are scarce, unique and the textiles produced from their fleeces are known in the
fashion centers of New York, Paris, Milan and Tokyo. They offer excellent profit
opportunities and tax advantages
What attracts people to raise alpacas? The joy, ease of care and potential profitability.
Alpaca breeders come from all walks of life. Corporate executives, doctors, lawyers,
retired individuals and young couples who want to spend more time with there families.
For some, alpacas are a primary source of income, for others a part-time business
venture, but a pleasure for both.
This simpler lifestyle is made possible since alpacas can be raised on relatively small
acreage and they are clean, safe, quiet, intelligent and disease resistant. They have
soft padded feet, are gentle on the land and can be easily transported, which makes
it easy to move from one location to another (back of a van, back of a suburban or
even the back seat of a car). They have a relatively long and trouble-free reproductive
life span, and can be fully insured against lost.
The market for alpacas has been moderated by the effects of relatively slow herd growth.
Female alpacas usually begin breeding between 15 and 18 months of age, while most
males can successfully impregnate (or "settle") a female at about three years. The
females produce one baby (known as a cria) per year (twins are uncommon) during a
reproductive life of 10-12 years.
The current alpaca industry is based on the sale of quality breeding stock, which
commands premium prices. Factors that influence individual alpaca prices include
color, conformation, fleece quality and quantity, age, and gender. Females sell for
more on average than males, but herdsire quality males have historically commanded
the highest individual prices. The range of value for females has remained fairly
consistent during the two decades that alpacas have been available to the public in
North America: generally between $15,000 and $25,000. Females with unique
attributes have been known to sell for $90,000 or more (current highest selling
female in 2005 is $180,000). Proven, top-quality herdsires typically sell for
$20,000 - $50,000 and the highest quality males with unique characteristics or
exceptional offspring on the ground have sold in excess of $200,000. The current
world record in 2005 is $750,000 for 1/2 interest bringing this herdsires value to
over $1.5 million. That herdsire now belongs to a farm in Northern Virginia.
Actually the 3 highest selling herdsires belong to farms in Northern Virginia.
We are proud to say our herd consists of these nationally recognized bloodlines.
There are essentially two ways to own alpacas. The first approach is to simply
purchase the animals and begin raising them. The second approach is to purchase
the animals and place them in the care of an established breeder.
