• Young families wanting to raise children in a farm atmosphere and at the same time have an investment that could help pay college expenses

• Older folks looking toward retirement or in retirement who want to remain active and supplement pensions and social security

• City dwellers wishing to invest in livestock and have someone else care for them on a day-to-day basis

• People wanting to raise livestock but don't want to slaughter them to make a profit.

• Spinners, weavers, knitters, crocheters and felters who want to assure their supply of the finest fiber for their craft

• Anyone with a desire for a more laid-back lifestyle raising animals that are easily cared for, gentle on the earth and not offensive to neighbors

WHAT is an alpaca?

A member of the South American Camelid family. The alpaca has been domesticated for 6-to-7 thousand years. They come in 22 different colors and produce the finest domestic fiber available.

There are two types of alpaca; huacaya and suri. Fiber is the main difference between them. Huacayas possess a crimpy "powder puff" type, and suris possess curly "dreadlock" silky type. JS Farm specializes in Huacaya.

Alpacas are hearty, disease resistant animals that require minimal care to thrive.

Their padded feet are easy on the earth and their eating habits don't destroy vegetation. Their behavior and demeanor is gentle and non-aggressive. Alpaca "Hembres" (adult females) have one "cria" (baby alpaca) per year, and they are caring, attentive moms.

WHEN should I have alpacas? Now is not too soon! Tomorrow is not too late!

Alpaca were first imported into North America in 1984, and their numbers now exceed 100,000. Of that number, about 60% are female, and they only have one cria (baby) per year. There are no more alpaca being imported. Compared to cattle and sheep, which number in the millions in this country, alpaca are just getting started. The small number of animals has allowed us to set up an alpaca registry which is DNA-based and can trace each animal back to its imported ancestor. This is of significant importance as no other livestock breeding industry is so fortunate.

Australia has a population of around 30 million people and a thriving alpaca industry of 50,000+. The USA has a population of well over 300 million people and a thriving alpaca industry in excess of 100,000, so there's still room for you, no matter when you make your decision.

It will be several years before there will be enough animals to provide a domestic fiber industry with enough wool for most owners to figure on making their primary income from the wool production. Therefore, presently and for some time to come, raising and selling breeding livestock can be financially rewarding and personally satisfying.

WHERE can alpacas be raised?

Just about any area in North America. There are alpaca being raised from Florida to Alaska and all points in between. A small acreage is all that is necessary.

In Ohio, 5-to-7 animals per acre is very sustainable. From the standpoint of zoning, generally, if horses are allowed, alpaca will also be welcome.

Also, many owners do not own or have acreage or property to keep their alpaca. Instead, they pay an existing farm to "agist" (board) their animals for them.

WHY would I own alpacas?

• For most people it is a business…it can be large or small, part-time or full-time. Presently 85% of alpaca owners have 10 or less animals

• Alpaca farming has the potential of earning a very good return on investment (ROI)

• There are tax advantages that apply to all farming, including alpaca farming. Speak to your tax advisor

• Portfolio diversification…and this is stock you can hug!! Plus, they're a lot more fun to watch than a ticker tape reader board

• Tax-deferred wealth building

• Turn unused or underused acreage into profitable farm land

• Experience a lifestyle of caring for beautiful, gentle animals

• Enjoy a learning experience (perhaps with your children/grandchildren) of seeing nature's life cycle first hand

• Be part of a young industry and have some input into its development

HOW many alpacas do I need to start? You can start with one, but only if you'll be agisting with a farm that has alpacas. Two or more are required if you'll be keeping them on your farm. Alpacas are very herd-oriented and require the company of their own kind to thrive.

HOW much time does alpaca care take? We presently have 20+/- alpacas on our farm, and we spend 1 1/2 hours per day in animal care. 45 minutes each morning and evening for feeding grain (about a cup per alpaca per day), hay distribution, topping off water buckets, dung cleanup, and taking a quick look at each animal just to see #1 if everyone is accounted for, and #2 if there's any difference in any animal's appearance or behavior. An additional 3-to-4 hours per week is required for barn cleanup, water bucket washing, and raking up and disposal of waste hay. Once a month, two of us spend 3 hours weighing, worming, checking and trimming toenails, applying insect repellant control and checking teeth.

Once a year, 2-to-3 people plus a shearer are required for about 4 hours for shearing.

Not included in the above times are vet visits, building or maintenance of facilities (i.e., fencing, gates, barns, etc.), recordkeeping, marketing and breeding.

HOW much do alpacas cost? The following are general ranges of cost in the industry:

Geldings: $200 to $2,000

Intact Males: From about $5,000 for a young potential herdsire to "the sky's the limit" for a proven herdsire. The highest price paid to date for a proven stud (breeding male) is $500,000

Weanling Females: $8,000 to $30,000

Bred Females: $10,000 to $40,000

As you can see, prices can be just about anything, depending upon sex, age, pregnancy status, lineage, fiber, length of time the animal has been tax-depreciated, etc. Presently, at JS FARM , we have alpacas priced from $800 to $40,000.

HOW much does it cost to care for an alpaca? Again, sex, age, pregnancy status, etc. are the variables. We calculate an uninsured male is about $150-to-$250/year, and a bred female (including breeding fee, birthing, and insurance) is about $2,000-to-$4,500.