FAQ

Here we have some common questions and answers for beginners.

What is a Full Accoyo alpaca?

The word "Accoyo" means "sandy ground" and is the name of an alpaca ranch at 16,500 feet above sea level in Peru near the village of Macusani. Don Julio Barreda owned this ranch and was the worlds top breeder for alpacas. Some of the alpacas imported from Peru came from the Accoyo ranch. Full Accoyo refers to an alpaca that originated from that ranch or the breeding result of two or more animals from the Accoyo ranch only.

Who was Don Julio Barreda?

Why Fiber test?

Alpaca breeders have an active interest in individual animal fiber diameter testing. You might hear these test called, the micron test, a histogram report, or a micron count, but the information available through objective measurement has become a vital part of the animal selection process in the North American alpaca industry.

Fiber statistics can be used in marketing, but without a careful perspective and understanding of the data collected on individual alpacas, the display of numbers is not useful to the breeder or buyer.

What is considered a good histogram?

Several histograms, done yearly, will give a breeder a better understanding of the animals quality. Many things influence the animals fleece, including, age, sex, nutrition, medical history, and enviornmental stresses. Full record keeping is the key in understanding the true quality of the alpaca. Do not rely on the histograms soley, but take into consideration other things such as, the weight, age, fleece weight, medical history, and so on.... the more information the better. Many breeders are breeding for a finer animal with density. These two things are nearly impossible to breed for and are from the opposite sides of the coin. Finer animals normally have less density and with denser animals, less finest. Looking at your histogram yearly and seeing the numbers staying consistant or your AFD (Average Fiber Diameter) moving slowly up a knotch or two, is a good healthy sign of where your animals fleece is at.

In addition to histograms helping a breeder in marketing an animal, histograms can also be helpful in the statis of your herds health. I am always suspicious of a crias first AFD recording, if it's low in the first year, between 12-15 micron. This may be a sign of an unhealthy cria. But, once the health is maintained in the cria the AFD hits a normal range for that animal. Sudden blow outs are obvisously changes in nutrition, to much grain, to rich of a diet, etc.... Keeping these things in mind when reading your histograms will help you maintain a healthy herd of alpacas.

Let me bannish a few MYTHS...

FIRST... You do not have to be rich to own alpacas. Compared to other livestock, alpacas are much cheaper and easier to raise. They eat hay grass and need some supplements, they require shearing once a year, and vet care is down to a minimum with a few vaccinations a year.

SECOND...You do not need allot of land to raise alpacas. In our county, we can raise 10 alpacas on one acre of land, because they are herd animals. Of course, check with your county first and into herd maintenance before doing that, for your herds health.

THIRD... Breeding alpacas for sale is not a quick-get-rich scheme. It takes work to raise these animals and it takes time for breeding to produce the desired traits breeders are looking for. One must really love animals and have patience to raise these animals and take care of them as one would with any animal.

FOURTH...Breeding alpacas for sale does not compare to the fad of raising Emu's (A type of bird) for several reasons...

Emu's were raised to be eaten and so were their eggs. We do not eat alpacas, they are raised for fiber production.

Emu's could have several eggs, flooding the market. Alpacas have one cria in about 11.5 months.

Emu's could not be written-off in taxes. Raising alpacas in a business are tax write-offs.

Emu's could not be insured. Alpaca's can be insured for about 3% of their value.

Emu's are birds, Alpacas are part of the camellid family.

The majority of Emu's are gone in the United States, Alpacas are now being raised all over the world, including Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, China...and will only keep growing here in the United States.

FIFTH...There is no fiber market. Yes, there is a fiber market and there has always been a fiber market with sheep. The alpaca community is heading in the direction of incorporating alpaca fiber into those mills to produce elite products for the market. Our goals as alpaca breeders is to produce a consistant and elite fiber that is softer than sheeps wool. Elite fiber goes for much more per pound than sheeps wool does.

SIXTH...Alpaca fiber becomes harsher as it matures. Yes, this is true, changes in age, nutrients, and breeding can change the fiber as the alpaca matures. We are on the cutting edge in this business. Alpacas are new to most of the world as livestock, compared to the billions of sheep. In other countries and in America, we are aware of this and it shows in every offspring born through well planned out breeding programs. Each year the alpacas are becoming softer and more consistant with age. The shows are getting bigger and tougher every year. There has been an increase in interest in alpacas in the short time since we have begun. We will never reach the zillion of sheep in the world. But, with each alpaca born, there will become the consistant herd every breeder is dreaming about. And there is still time for others to JOIN.

The alpaca is curious by nature, has dark, soulfull eyes, and a peaceful presence that lures you into becoming obsessed by them!

Alpaca Clan Acres USA * 14003 No. County Rd. 7 * Wellington * Co * 80549