ALPACA FAQS:

1. Do alpacas spit? The answer is yes but....most of the time it is directed at another alpaca and we just happen to get in the middle of it.

2. How are alpacas different from llamas? Alpacas are smaller, generally with a more agreeable disposition and a much finer quality fleece.

3. How much care do they require? A characteristic that makes alpacas desirable is that they are rather hardy animals and require little care. In addition to feeding, they require regular a deworming routine, toe nail clipping and yearly shearing. You can successfully raise 8-10 alpacas per acre of land.

4. Do you shear the alpacas yourself? We do not shear our own alpacas. Along with our local alpaca friends, we schedule the pro's to come in and do our shearing. Of course, there are alpaca breeders who handle their own shearing.

About Alpacas
Alpacas are wonderful and exotic animals native to the high Andean Plateau and mountains of South America. The alpaca are valued for their fine fiber. Alpacas are sheared once a year and the fleece can be used to make luxurious textiles and yarns.  Alpacas and their fleece come in approximately 22 colors.  Female adult alpacas are known as dams and the reproducing males are herd sires.  Baby alpacas are referred to as crias.  Adult animals are approximately 36” tall and weigh between 100-200 pounds. Alpacas eat grass and chew a cud. They are gentle and easy to handle. They are environmentally friendly. Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984. Currently there are over 100,000 registered alpacas in the U.S. 

The Alpaca Lifestyle
Alpaca farming is an enjoyable, rewarding and profitable  lifestyle for many families.  The lifestyle is possible because of the relative ease of care of the alpacas, their gentle nature and financial benefits. Alpaca breeders come from many walks of life with a wide variety of experiences. One  of the rewards of alpaca ownership for us at River Mist Farm in Stanardsville, VA are the friendships that we have forged with other alpaca breeders.  For some, alpaca farming is a sole source of income while for others it is an additional source of income.  Ask your accountant about tax benefits of alpaca ownership.

Alpaca Breeder Associations
The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) is the national organization providing resources on every aspect of alpaca ownership.

The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts fleece from its members, and turns the precious textile into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and demand for this every day luxury.

The Alpaca Registry Incorporated (ARI) has been established to help ensure accurate records and has a state-of the-art system to document bloodlines. Alpacas must be blood typed in order to be registered. The majority of alpacas in the U.S. are registered.

North American Alpaca Sertified Sorted is a fiber cooperative that will sort, produce and sell your alpaca fiber for you.