Dream Come True Alpacas
717-382-9612
What is an Alpaca?
An alpaca is a member of the camelid family of animals. The alpaca is an animal that is quite similar to but smaller than a llama. Native of South America (Chile, Peru, Bolivia), the alpaca industry in North America started in the eighties. It has recently been published that over 100,000 alpacas have been registered in North America.
What is an Alpaca good for?
In South America, the alpaca industry is a booming fleece production industry. Millions of animals produce tons of fiber for the manufacture of garments and clothing. The alpaca fiber is used to make high quality garments of virtually every fashion. Alpaca fiber is much finer than that of woolen fiber. Garments made with alpaca fiber are not as "itchy" as woolen garments. The care of alpaca garments is quite similar to ordinary woolen garments (gentle washing by hand with mild soap, hang to dry, or dry cleaning). Here in the United States, the fleece industry is in infancy due to the small number of animals in the US. Mostly, the US fleece is marketed to craft persons that spin and weave the fiber into custom garments for the craft industry. Alternatively, the fleece is sold and marketed through a co-op.
In South America, an alpaca is ultimately processed for food. Alpacas are not eaten in the United States.
The alpaca industry in the United States is primarily a breeding industry, similar in some respects to the American Kennel Club or the thoroughbred horse industry. Alpacas undergo strict requirements to be registered (see discussion of the Alpaca Registry or visit the Alpaca Registry Website The Alpaca Registry, Inc. Home Page) In years past, alpacas were imported from South America and after undergoing a rigorous screening process, were entered into the registry. Several years ago, the owners of alpacas here in the United States decided to "close the registry", which means at this point in time, no additional imports will be registered. Nowadays, the only newly registered alpacas must be the offspring of currently registered parents. Briefly, in order to register an alpaca, application to the Alpaca Registry must be made. Included as a part of the application is the identification of the sire and his registry number and the dam and her registry number. Additionally, a blood sample from the cria must be sent to confirm the genealogy using DNA testing.
For general information regarding the care of alpacas, click here.
For more general information regarding alpacas. browse through the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Favorite Links
National Association
http://www.aoba.org/
Middle Atlantic Association
http://www.mapaca.org/
Alpaca Registry
http://www.alpacaregistry.net/
Pennsylvania Association
http://www.paoba.org/
Useful Items Useful-items.com: Useful Items for Llama and Alpaca Homes and Farms
Contact Information
E-mail addresses
jamesrhendricks@yahoo.comdreamcometruealpacas@yahoo.com
WEBSITE
www.dreamcometruealpacas.com
Phone Numbers
Jim at work: 410-436-1104
Jim Cell: 717-434-3013
Judy Cell: 717-434-3012
Home: 717-382-9612
Barn: 717-382-4239
Current Herd
FEMALESAphroditeDawn Redwood of Brookhollow Farm
MALES
