The Commercial Viability Of Alpaca Farming

Alpaca farming in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile goes back several millenia. Natives of the South American continent, these creatures are a constituent part of the camelid family. Llamas, which also belong to this family, are alpacas' cousins.
These animals are, in fact, descended from wild guanaco and vicuna, respectively. From the time of the Incas, these creatures have been treasured for their fiber, which is soft and extremely fine. No other segment of the livestock industry is as profitable as or growing as fast as alpaca farming.

It is fun and easy, working with these curious and friendly creatures. They have a strong herding instinct which explains why they prefer to be together in a group, and are therefore easy to take from one destination to another. Four to five inches tall fences are used by alpaca farmers, which help to keep predators out; these animals don't tend to run away; in fact the ones that stray away tend to return to the herd.

Transporting alpacas becomes still easier as these animals kneel down, especially if you want to take one of them to a vet or any other nearby destination, in an SUV or van. A trailer may be needed if you wish to shift them in greater numbers, or to a farther destination. Transport services are offered by some breeders. If you have enough forage, you can accomodate about ten alpacas an acre. Bermuda, Brome, and Orchard Grass are ideally suited, as forage, for these efficient grazers.

Alpacas are five times warmer than sheep. Their fiber grows 5 to 6 inches every year, and is renowned both for length and fineness. The fiber has good crimp, with individual fibers displaying crinkle, akin to chemically treated "permanent wave" in the hair of humans.

Apart from its exceptional warmth, its light weight and fineness have earned alpaca fiber the reputation of being a luxury fiber. The low amount of alpaca farming for fiber, worldwide, makes this fiber a relatively rare commodity. Nonethe less, the number of alpacas being bred, globally, is rising, annually.

Processing of alpaca fiber results in a higher yield of clean fiber than sheep's wool. Alpaca fiber yields ranges from 87 to 95 percent, while sheep's wool registers a yield of between 43 and 76 percent. Lacking grease or lanlin, the processing of alpaca fiber costs less and is much easier. Also, camel and cashmere wool need to be dehaired; alpaca fiber doesn't. To clean alpaca fiber, all you need is a warm neutral solution, and clean water rinses; this enables you to wash out dirt and foreign matter from the fiber, without having to use expensive chemicals.

Very often, people are allergic to certain natural fibers. This never happens, where alpaca fiber is concerned. Alpaca fibers lend themselves to achieving near perfectiuon in an all-natural finished product, so as to suit the most fastidious people.

Commercial breeders of alpacas, in the U.S., can claim all the involved expenses as tax deductions from their income tax returns.

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging. His new blog on Alpaca Farming is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched. Read his blog at: http://www.alpacafarmingreview.com