National Alpaca Farm Days - September 27th and 28th in Arlington, Washington For Sale

National Alpaca Farm Days: Sat./Sun. Sept. 27th and 28th.
SILENT AUCTION / PEN SALE of quality, champion sired and/or bred females and companion / pet quality males.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Or by appointment any other day/time.)
Our focus has been to produce overall soundness and abundant silky-soft, bright fleece that feels like warm butter next to the skin. Our herd includes regional and national champions and many alpacas that have earned ribbons on halter and for fleece. We have the quality, knowledge and experience and carefully bred seed stock for your alpaca endeavor. Currently, our herd numbers 64 with 75 sold over 17+ years.
Alpaca Info: Alpacas are domesticated fleece bearing ruminants, like sheep, but alpaca fiber has been tested to be much softer, stronger and warmer than wool. Their fiber comes in many natural colors and has excellent heat retention, handle and drape. The scales on alpaca fiber lay very flat so their is no scratchy "prickle" with quality alpaca products. Alpacas are easy to manage and very "green". They are easy on the land and they produce a "black gold" manure. They are by nature calm, smart, friendly and hardy...and occasionally goofy and silly. They produce a fleece that rivals and is sometimes preferred over cashmere. These are reasons why we love alpacas!
Alpacas have two padded toes on each foot, no hooves. Because of their type of teeth and bite, they do not pull grass out of the ground when they graze, like sheep do. Their main food is pasture (grasses, weeds, berry vines, etc.). The hay best suited for them is 2nd cutting orchard grass hay. They get a pelleted alpaca supplement and a vitamin / mineral salt mix. Herd health also includes annual vaccinations, deworming, toenail trims and shearing each spring. The annual cost to keep one alpaca is about $100 - 300, depending on how much hay needs to be purchased.
Alpaca History: The ancestors of today's alpacas roamed North America many years ago. They migrated to South America and became domesticated by the natives there. In the xxxx's, their numbers were decimated by the Spanish invasion and again in more recent years by terrorists. The South American (S.A.) countries of Chile, Peru and Bolivia did not allow exportations until the xxxx's and did so due to static and declining S.A. populations to help ensure that they would never go extinct. The U.S. importation requirements for alpacas became more and more stringent as the importation years progressed. After about 15 years of importations, breeders in the the United States voted to stop importations of alpacas in xxxx. Alpacas are now in all 50 states and many other countries as well.
Alpacas Today: Interestingly, the year after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the membership of the U.S. breed organization doubled from about xxxx to xxxx. Currently, the down-turned economy is affecting many farm animals, including alpacas, making it a buyer's market. The alpaca industry is an evolving, expanding and maturing livestock market. All registered alpacas are DNA blood-typed for parentage verification. There is a breed organization, the Alpaca Owners Association (AOA), a research organization (ARF), a national fiber coop (AFCNA) and numerous fiber co-ops, processors and mills. There are dozens of shows and auctions held annually across the country. There is also a continual need for new breeders because of farm retirements and the increasing demand for all types of alpaca fiber. Currently there is not nearly enough fiber to meet commercial demands. Auction prices have always been good for quality alpacas. Over the years (xxxx to xxxx), alpaca auction prices have ranged from $xxxx to $xxxx at the low end, up into six figures at the high end for a top quality proven stud. Farm prices vary according to quality and the owner.
Take advantage of our years of careful breeding to produce alpacas that are as good inside as they look on the outside.
Full farm guarantees apply and we are always available for on-going support.