Alpacas are bred and raised in the US for their exquisite
fleece, called "fiber." Alpaca fiber is very fine, similar
to angora and cashmere and the finer alpaca is suited for fabrics worn
against the skin. Garments made from alpaca fiber can be extremely thin
and still very warm.
Alpacas originated in the Andes Mountains of South
America and have since been exported all over the world. Originally
imported into the US in the 1980's, the US border has since been closed
to imports in order to protect the US alpaca market. The alpaca market
in the US has been extremely strong all these years with the average
sales prices at national auctions in the $20,000 range, per alpaca.
Alpacas eat grass, hay, and grain (alpaca or llama
pellets). They are less of a strain on their environment than horses
and cows, eating less and not tearing out the roots of plants they chew.
We could go on and on about the delightful, unusual and rewarding facets
of raising these fantastic animals, or you could come over for a visit
and see it for yourself!