About Alpacas
Why Alpacas?
Alpaca Quick Facts
Financial Benefits of Owning Alpacas
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Alpacas come to us from the Andes Mountains in South America. In 1984 a small group of entrepreneurs set out to bring the industry to the United States. Alpacas are now raised in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. They easily adapt to different climates as found in different parts of the United States.
There are two types of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri. At Aussie Hill, we are currently only raising Huacayas alpacas. Alpacas produce one of the world's most luxurious natural fibers, which is in demand by designers, spinners and weavers. With lush pastures and rich grains like those found here in the United States, our alpaca fiber will set the standard of excellence in the years to come. It is an exciting time for the alpaca industry!
The majority of the world's alpacas are still raised in South America, primarily in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. There are about 50,000 alpacas registered in the United States. Importation to the United States has now been closed so the market is protected which is one of the important reasons for getting into this business since there is that added protection to the alpaca industry. Almost every alpaca in the United States is registered and blood typed with the Alpaca Registry. For more information on alpacas and their history, the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association has an in-depth website at www.alpacainfo.com. Another great source for learning about alpacas and their history is a book written by Mike Safely called Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle or visit his website which is www.alpacas.com, Northwest Alpacas. Mary has visited this farm and she considers Mike Safely to be one of the industry experts.
The North American alpaca herd maintains a slow growth rate since the gestation time for alpacas is 11 1/2 months. This has created more demand than supply, which has tremendously increased the value of alpacas. As alpacas continue to gain popularity as an investment, demand will continue to increase.
For us at Aussie Hill, one of the main reasons we ventured into the business is our love of animals. Alpacas are very easy to raise and are joyful, loving creatures. They all have distinct personalities, which you quickly learn to identify and love. The alpaca business is one that can be done on a part-time basis with just a few animals, or on a larger scale which will ultimately require full-time attention. Finding the right mix and balance for you and your family should be part of your decision making process. We find that raising alpacas provides us with a good income while maintaining a peaceful, stress-free, and rewarding lifestyle. Even if you don't have the time or own a lot of land, it is still possible to invest in alpacas and board them at another farm.
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Contact Info:
Aussie Hill Alpacas, Inc.
4975 South Hill Rd
Canandaigua, NY 14424
(585) 229-2730
info@aussiehillalpacas.com |
