On occasion, we have had to feed our cria using a milk substitute. Sometimes the mother was not producing enough milk, was completely absent or the cria was too sick to nurse. If the mother is available, I would highly encourage you to milk the alpaca damfor the milk. If you do need a supplement, below is a comparative chart for milk substitutions. While llama milk is the closest substitute...
Once again we held our open house the public. We average about 600 people per year at our farm, inviting the public to see the babies, view all of our locally made alpaca products and enjoy a day on the farm.
About 2 weeks prior to the open house, I start to lay away at night, figuring out all of the things I need to do go get ready for the event. So, hopefully this checklist will help you out...
Can An Alpaca Farm Be Predator Friendly?
Because alpacas are so gentle and skittish, most assume that this is not an option. Undoubtedly, at every show we are at, customers will come up to us and start talking about the wolves, coyotes, bears and other potential threats against the alpacas. Its true, they are like live bait without any defense mechanisms - minimal kicking, no fighting tactics and a...
Because alpacas are so gentle and skittish, most assume that this is not an option. Undoubtedly, at every show we are at, customers will come up to us and start talking about the wolves, coyotes, bears and other potential threats against the alpacas. Its true, they are like live bait without any defense mechanisms - minimal kicking, no fighting tactics and a...
This past Saturday, we woke up to a bright, sunny Autumn day. I naively thought that I would have the day open to myself - probably catching up on a few chores and then just finish my book I had been working on for the past couple of weeks. At 8:45 AM, the phone rang. The hay was ready and would be here in 45 minutes...
We put down our morning Jo and walked out to the hay yard. There were about...
How should stud owners decide on the difficult question of pricing stud services? A good-looking male with lots of presence, good conformation, and good fiber who has not yet bred is obviously a lower-priced commodity than a national champion who has many splendid crias on the ground. One quick way to price the services is to look around and see what other comparable studs are commanding. If...
Upbreeding to a good alpaca male is essential in order to progress your fiber - staple length, softness, crimpiness, curb appeal, color, conformation and all of the other factors making up the next generation of alpacas.
A good place to start is to define the goals of the dam to be serviced. This will limit the search time and focus attention on the breeding plan. Instead of fixating on a...
BREEDING WHITE TO GRAY ALPACAS
There is a great deal of ongoing discussion about breeding white to gray alpacas. Our understanding of genetics is always ongoing and rarely absolute in the results. The following is some basic information to consider with variouscolor combinations when breeding alpacas.
Ideal Alpaca Breeding
All breeders want to avoid cria defects. If you are just starting to look...
What is skirting? When fleece is shorn off an alpaca, the blanket / primary fleece is brought to a table where the guard hair and vegetable matter is hand picked from the fiber.
Why skirt a fleece?
Alpaca fiber that is properly skirted and graded (classed) produces vastly superior yarn with a more consistent end product. Improperly prepared, the finer fibers of a fleece will spin to the inside of...
Why skirt a fleece?
Alpaca fiber that is properly skirted and graded (classed) produces vastly superior yarn with a more consistent end product. Improperly prepared, the finer fibers of a fleece will spin to the inside of...
What is Hay Forage Analysis?
Forage analysis of hay provides the nutrient content of the hay that you are feeding to your animals. Forage nutrient content varies between seasons, locations, cuttings, and storage conditions. By knowing the nutrient content of the hay, you can better manage the nutrition of your animals for better health and productivity.
Why Should I Perform a Hay Forage Analysis?
Forage analysis of hay provides the nutrient content of the hay that you are feeding to your animals. Forage nutrient content varies between seasons, locations, cuttings, and storage conditions. By knowing the nutrient content of the hay, you can better manage the nutrition of your animals for better health and productivity.
Why Should I Perform a Hay Forage Analysis?
Figuring Out Your Alpaca Hay
As Summer is rapidly turning into Autumn, our conversations with our hay farmer are increasing. We purchase approximately 52 tons of hay each year between our alpacas and hay burning horses. To feed alpacas properly, you need to get them the right kind of hay with the right amount of protein. Invest in good hay and you will save on medical bills, health issues for moms... 
The Anatomy of Alpaca Teeth
Both llamas and alpacas have inherited their dentition from their wild ancestors. The dental layout and specialization of teeth found in llamas and alpacas is evident in 25 million year old ancestral camelids.Llamas and alpacas have the same number and kinds of teeth (same dental formula): molars, incisors and canines. The significant difference between the two species...
Emergency Preparedness for Alpaca Owners
Its always good to review your emergency preparedness plan from time to time. We have crazy fires around us, so it helpful to be ready if something were to happen - flooding, snowing, fires, earthquake, whatever. As we have seen in the news recently, natural disasters can occur at any time and each area of the country has its own unique circumstances. Make...