Friday, August 1, 2008

Rearing Llamas and Alpacas

The foul and putrid stench stuck my nostrils and I was forced to wrinkle my nose, while still keeping a straight face as I entered the arena. My gaze wandered for a while before locking into a pair of glassy eyes. Intrigued, and slightly amused, I approached those pair of eyes, half expecting a wad of spit to slap me in the face, yet thankfully that did not happen.

 

Drumming my fingers against the edge of the pen, I paced slowly, trying not to break eye contact, anxiously waiting for an approach. I realized my pacing was making her nervous, so I stopped and stood right in front of her, and relaxed my otherwise stiff posture.

 

I reached my hand out towards her head which was a few inches away from me. Running my fingers through that soft fur, it felt like little silk worms were weaving constantly at her crimp. Even cashmere doesn’t feel that soft. Maintaining these animals must be real hard work I thought.

 

“I see you’ve met my alpaca, Grayson,” said a voice behind me, accompanied by a tap on my shoulder.

 

I turned around to find a sweet looking old lady standing there, a stack of pamphlets cradled in her arms.

 

 “Welcome to our llama and alpaca festival,” she said, shaking my hand and introducing herself as Kathy Kenworthy, Grayson’s owner.

 

Kenworthy was just one of the many breeders who participated in The Pennsylvania Llama and Alpaca Association’s (PLAA), Llama and Alpaca Festival at the Agricultural Arena in The Pennsylvania State University. Breeders, volunteers and families were buzzing around individual pens, either tending to their llamas and alpacas or just observing them in amazement.

 

“The purpose of the Festival is to educate the public about llamas and alpacas,” said Festival Coordinator, Sonja Leach.

 

The breeders at the festival were not only engaging the public in the festival but were also answering the queries people had about them.

 

Kenworthy spoke at length about Grayson and her other alpacas, stating how easy they are to look after. She stressed how effortless both llama and alpaca farming is to manage.

 

Although both llamas and alpacas come from similar regions of Peru and Bolivia there are differences between them. The most obvious one is size. Llamas are much larger than alpacas, about 2-3ft taller. Alpacas are also more expensive than llamas, almost 3-4 times more. Alpaca’s unlike llamas are not beasts of burden and are bred primarily for their fiber. One of the best ways to distinguish between an alpaca and a llama are its ears. The llama’s ears are curved inwards, often referred to being ‘banana shaped’, while the alpaca’s ears are straight.

 

Even though these animals may not originate in the United States, they are not hard to look after.

 

“It is easier looking after alpacas than it is looking after our two dogs,” said Lisa Rudy, an alpaca breeder.

 

Before starting a llama or alpaca enterprise, it is advisable to visit as many existing llama or alpaca organizations as possible. Almost all the breeders I talked to, strongly recommended attending seminars and festivals in order to equip yourself with the knowledge you need.

 

“My husband and I only got into farming a month and a half ago, but we did do our research before hand,” said Rudy.

 

Although the rearing of these animals is manageable, the initial investment one would need to make is expensive. The animals itself are expensive.

 

The llama price range can vary from $200 to $1000-plus for males and $400 to $3,500-plus for females. This price variance depends upon the age, sex of the animal (males usually cost less), quality of breeding or show stock, and location of birth or bloodlines (recent imports sell at a much higher price than domestic llamas because of improved genetic potential). Llama owners need to consider which of the creature's multiple uses will fit with their goals. Llama owners who plan to market breeding llamas will probably need to get pedigreed animals.

 

The price ranges for alpacas, like llamas, also depend on age, quality, and sex. Prices can range from $10,000 to $30,000-plus for good-quality females and from $1,000 for a gelding (used for companions and fiber animals) to as much as $60,000 for a prime herd sire.

 

“Because of the small number of alpacas in North America, the main market for alpacas will probably focus on breeding stock for some time,” said Leach.

 

 Alpaca producers getting into marketing of breeding stock should purchase registered and blood-typed stock. When considering a llama or alpaca operation, find out whether any permits or licenses are required for raising llamas or alpacas in your state.

 

Besides the animals, one will also have to invest in land and good quality orchard grass.

 

“It’s not that bad though, you can raise up to 4 alpacas on an acre of land,” said Kenworthy.

 

Since llamas and alpacas both have flat plantar pads on their feet unlike other livestock, they do not damage the landscape and they also double up as ‘lawn mowers’. This reduces the cost of maintaining the farmland.

 

Feeding these animals is also inexpensive. According to Rudy, “Two bales of hay a week is enough to feed up to six llamas.”

 

Alpacas are also simple keepers, requiring pasture, good grass hay, and pellet supplementation for free range minerals. Rotational grazing of llamas and alpacas can help utilize the pasture to a greater extent. Water needs to be accessible at all times. Using pastures to meet most of the nutritional needs of the animals will also enhance profitability.

 

Fencing is similarly an easy task. Most standard 4-foot-high fencing is generally adequate for llamas, however, a 5-foot-high fence is recommended for alpacas. Producers need a small catch pen, a chute, or other safe restraint to catch llamas or alpacas for trimming toenails administering vaccinations and shots, or handling an injured animal.

 

A three-sided shed or other shelter should be provided for inclement weather. Llamas and alpacas do not adapt well to dark sheds, but prefer shelters with large doors or windows. For a group of five adult llamas accustomed to each other, an open shed should be at least 12 feet by 16 feet, while six mother llamas and crias can fit into a 16 by 16 foot shed. Alpacas are generally about half the size of llamas, so shelter sizes can probably be reduced.

Alpacas and llamas have a habit of sharing communal dunging areas called dung or potty piles. This trait makes manure cleanup easier and helps reduce the spread of internal parasites.

“The manure is great fertilizer and does not burn, so can be used right from the animals to the flowerbed and garden,” said Kenworthy.

Because llamas and alpacas are from the dry, thin air in the high plains and mountains of South America, heat stress is a concern during a hot, humid day. They should be sheared in the spring and a small wading pool or sprinkler may be needed to help keep them cool. They need shelter from direct sunlight, and air movement is also necessary.

The amount of vetting these animals need is also very little compared to other livestock. Routine de worming and two yearly vaccinations are enough.

“They seem to be rather disease resistant and hardy,” said llama breeder Carol Reigh.

Female llamas produce one offspring per year after a gestation of around 350 days. Alpacas also produce one cria after a gestation of about 335 days. Twins for both llamas and alpacas are rare. Birthing is usually quick and trouble-free, and occurs during daylight hours with the mother standing during delivery. Avoid over-interacting with crias though, sometimes cria males that are bottle fed or given too much attention at an early age, bond to people and not with other llamas. When they have bonded to humans and grow to maturity, they perceive the humans (usually male) to be in competition for females in their herd. Their behavior problems toward humans can range widely in severity.

Llama and alpaca farming is becoming increasingly popular, not just because the animals make outstanding pets and companions but they also double up as a cash cow for owners.

Many breeders at the PLAA have also started learning how to spin and weave llama and alpaca fiber since the animals produce fine, soft fiber. There is a high demand for llama and alpaca fiber since the popularity of these animals has increased.

“Many designers are now introducing alpaca fiber in their garments because the fiber is so soft, and it is also non-allergenic, producing a good alternative for wool,” said Rudy.

The benefits of alpaca and llama farming eventually outweigh the initial investment, not just in monetary terms but also as far as effort is concerned. Once the farm is set up, it is not hard to keep adding more animals to the herd. These animals get along well with other farm and domestic animals.

They are so easy to raise and can be handled by just about anyone even seniors and children. They don’t bark, bite, dig or have fleas and are quiet and peaceful animals.

Be warned though; according to Reigh, “Llamas are like chips, you cannot just have a few. We started with four and now have close to forty.”

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