Raising Alpacas

Raising exotic animals became a part of my life at a very young age. It was nothing for me to look out the window as a child and see ostriches, deer, llamas, or miniature donkeys wandering around the fields. Therefore, it came as no surprise, when several years ago my parents announced that they planned to begin raising alpacas. At that time, alpacas were not often heard of outside of zoos or game farms and it took some research to learn about raising them on a family farm.

Alpacas originated in South American countries such as Peru, Bolivia, and Chile and are a member of the camel family. They are most often bred for their silky wool that is produced in a wide range of shades and colors. The two main breeds of alpaca are known as the Suri and Huacaya. Generally, alpacas are not a very large animals which allows them to be managed fairly easily by farmers. In recent years, many people, like my parents, have become involved with raising these exotic creatures both for financial gain as well as their docile personalities that makes them a safe and fun pet.