Business Talks

There is a business to be had in alpaca farming. You can, of course, keep your alpacas for fun and love of their cute furry faces, but some of the business aspects can have your alpacas paying their own rent!

• Raising Alpacas As A Business

  There are a few considerations and some questions to ask yourself before you get started. Will you be raising them for fun? To sell manure for compost? To sell the fibers? Ask yourself these and more to ensure you are getting started for the right reasons.

• Alpacas: An Investment

  Alpacas are an investment and, as such, they are 100% insurable.

• Fiber: aka Alpaca Hair

  Alpacas need to be sheared at least once a year, when the weather gets warmer and their coat no longer makes sense, around May or June. The hair cut is good for your fuzzy buddy and your wallet. An oz of wool can go for 3 to 5 USD and an adult alpaca can produce 50 to 90 oz of good fiber a year.

• Llamas And Alpacas

  Here is a lot of information (and registries!) on the alternative farming system of llamas and alpacas.

• That's Alpaca Manure

  Alpaca manure can be used as a fertilizer and is bought by many farmers to do just that. Check out this article from Alpacas Magazine for more information on manure.

• How Much Is The Fiber Worth

  For more information on how much your future alpacas' fiber is worth, there is a handy chart to explain what you should expect.

Money Talk

If you are considering alpaca farming as a business you'll need to know the financial side as well. Good news, they almost pay for themselves!

• Investment Talks

  While alpacas may end up paying for themselves, there is obviously an initial cost that goes into buying these furry cuties. Prepare yourself by arming yourself with information.

• Alpaca Economics

  Take a look at the alpaca economics. Who buys alapacas? What is the supply and demand?

• Tax Deductions

  In the early 2000s there was a huge boom in alpaca farming, and famously a couple paid almost a million dollars for HALF ownership of a breeding alpaca. Since then, the alpaca bubble has burst, but the benefits have not. With a little help from the IRS, you can sustain your farm!

• Planning For Your Herd

  A quick breakdown of what the different costs involved with starting and sustaining an alpaca farm are. Make sure you have the right money to put into feeding and housing your new residents!

Breeds

• Alpacas Colors Infographic-1

  Both breeds of alpaca have about 22 different colors of hair. Take a look at this chart to see where your dream breed falls!

• Suri Alpaca

  Suri alpacas have the Herbal Essence commercial hair, silky and straight. Their hair grows with more grease giving it a shinier appearance.

• Huacaya Alpaca

  Huacaya alpacas have the Shirley Temple springy curls. They grow out instead of down and give a more round appearance to the alpaca.

Care

A few 'how-to's for caring for your new fuzzy friend.

• A First Look

  From head to toe, what you need to know about your alpaca.

• Shelter, Diet and Land

  Alpacas don't need much but there are teeth and toenails to trim. You're gonna need to know this information!

• In The Pasture

  What does the alpaca pasture need to look like? A shelter? What kind of plants do alpaca need to eat?

• Cria Care (Baby Alpacas!)

  How to care for your baby alpaca, a cria, and the momma!

Buy

Reputable places to buy alpaca online.

• ALPACANATION

  No one is going to judge you for perusing this site for your dream alpaca and bookmarking your possible future herd members.

• Openherd

  If you are not looking to buy, you can come here to lease an alpaca. It's like leasing a car, except cuter, fluffier, and will mow your grass for you.