About
Us and About Alpacas...
The Long Story
We
are professionals whose goal was to have a gentleman's farm in 10-15
years. Joe is an electrical engineer and I (Susan) am an occupational
therapist. We both felt that we should work a little longer for
financial reasons and to accomplish professional goals; mainly to get
our professions out of our systems. Little did we know that our
bi-annual trip to Joe's home turf (Upstate New York) would lead to a
major life change.
We
were having lunch with some good friends on their far in Cato, NY.
(Joe lived on a farm there as a young boy.) They told us that their
neighbors down the road were raising these “alpacees”
that sold for over $15,000 a piece . Of course, we couldn't believe
the price and had to see this! $15,000 for a goat?!
We
laughed all the way over to the farm with the alpacees and continued
snickering as we fell in love with them. Dick and Debbie McCoy
explained to us how easy they are to care for compared to other live
stock and how the business works. Although the price still continued
to cause spasms of snorting and snickering. We finally controlled our
giggling enough to pay closer attention when Dick proceeded to tell
us that he used to be an electrical engineer and is now making more
money now than her ever did at a 9-5 job.
For
the next few weeks, we could not talk about anything else. As soon as
we got home to San Diego, we began to visit alpaca farms in our area.
We did intensive research and found out about alpaca shows in our
area. In about a month, we purchased 4 production females (Peaches,
Calico, Delta and Penny). We quickly became addicted as we learned
about and interacted with them. Instead of finding an AA group
(Alpacas Anonymous) we bought some more animals (Belkis, Summer,
Gwen,...). We now have a herd and are still giggling. We are
currently agisting and hope to have a farm in about a year.
Mission Statement
- We
believe that the most important part of the business is the
attentive care of the alpacas. We will do everything in our power to
educate and train our clients and ourselves about practical
day-to-day care, breeding and the most current health issues and
concerns.
- We
are committed to providing professional service to our clients with
consideration of their business goals, finances and time. We will
assist clients in building a solid, manageable infrastructure for
their businesses.
- We
know that the most rewarding work is work that is loved. We will do
all we can to facilitate alpacas as a way to realize financial
success and emotional well-being.
How Can We Live Up to
our Mission Statement if We are “Just Agisting”
Since
before we began buying alpacas, we educated ourselves by visiting
farms. We spent 4-5 hours on average at each farm asking for
information, pamphlets, books web-sites and reading everything. We
even spent days on farms that offered farmer-for-a-day types of
programs. As soon as we made our first purchase (Peaches and Tweak),
we signed up for as many classes and shows as possible.
We
visit our animal at All American Alpacas as frequently as Rick and
Patti Horn will allow. This gives us a chance to see the care of our
animals but care and handling of an entire herd of about 80 alpacas.
Rick and Patti are eager to educate us as we usually come loaded with
many questions. they also allowed us to alpaca sit when they have
needed to get away and were expecting crias.
We
communicate frequently with Dick and Debbie McCoy at Foxrun Farms in
Cato, New York where the other half of our herd are agisted. They
keep us up-to-date on our “kids” as well as advise us on
business strategies. On our last visit to see our East Coast herd, I
(Susan), had the opportunity to perform a prenatal exam on an
expectant mother.
For
two people who do not have a farm, we have sure done a lot. We have
had experiences with shearing, have trimmed toenails and teeth, given
shots, measured and administered worming paste, learned herding and
handling techniques. I have found myself in the show ring multiple
times showing animals for farms. We have been educated as to the best
way to set up a barn and pastures to facilitate ease of care. We have
learned about how to care for pastures, about what kind of feed to
use, the differences of how to feed males verses females, pregnant
verses open and how appropriately ween a cria. We understand the
behavioral issues related to feeding and herd hierarchy and how to
set up feeders to minimize conflict. We have participated in prenatal
classes, observed normal birth, performed a prenatal exam, and
assisted a veterinarian with a difficult birth.
We
have attended seminars as to how to recognize quality alpacas and how
to describe their strengths and weaknesses intelligently as well as
make breeding decisions for our females. Joe has created business
planning software that can assist potential buyers in making the best
decisions to match their needs and finances. We have already built a
solid herd and are educated as to the best way to continue to breed
good quality with strong genetics.
All
we need now is a farm.....
The Plan
When
the alpaca bug hit, we were in the middle of a long-planned make-over
of our home in the 'burbs. As anxious as we are to move on & be
with our “kids,” we need to finish the remodel since the
upstairs is gorgeous and the downstairs is a mess! We expect to be
done early next year, at which time we'll be looking for a place to
set up shop in East County, San Diego. (Its going to be funny living
in a house that isn't a construction zone!)
Fascinating Facts About
Alpacas
- Really
cute members of the camelid family. They are related to camels,
llamas, vicunas, and guenacos.
- Alpacas
generally do not spit at people although they spit at each other.
They will spit at a human if abused or if caught in the cross-fire.
- Although
their feet look like cloven hooves, the feet are actually soft on
the bottom with nails on top.
- They
have no upper teeth, just a hard pallet for chewing and teeth on the
bottom.
- The
males grow fighting teeth around breeding age; around 2-3 years.
- Females
produce 1 cria (baby) per year.
- Their
pregnancies last 11 ½ months and are receptive to being bred
in 2-4 weeks after giving birth.
- An
alpaca will spit at the male when she is pregnant. She will also
spit at the human that exposed her to the male if she is really
cranky.
- Alpacas
are induced ovulators. This means that it is the sexual act that
stimulates release of the mature egg.
- One
egg becomes mature every 3-4 days.
- Alpacas
generally give birth before 1 pm.
- An
alpacas fleece is strong and warm as wool but soft enough to wear
against the skin.
- Alpaca
fleece is hypo-allergenic.
- The
fleece comes in about 20 natural colors but can easily be dyed to
achieve any color.
- Alpacas
tend to poop in a community pile, making clean-up easy.
- Alpacas
are native to South America (Chile, Bolivia and Peru) and are the
oldest domesticated species in the Western Hemisphere. They were
raised by the ancients for their fine fleece which was worn by
royalty.
- Alpacas
were first imported into the US in the 1980's. Today, the registry
is closed to imports and there are approximately 100,000 registered
animals in the US.
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