Instructions
Research alpacas. Contact the Virginia Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association and the national Alpaca Breeders Association. If you do not know how to raise alpacas you should consider attending a clinic. More than 100 alpaca farms exist in Virginia, some of which offer clinics that teach how to set up your breeding area, the breeding process, shearing information, and how to find a market for the fleece.
Prepare the corrals and shelters. Put up fences to keep out neighborhood dogs and other animals that could upset the alpacas, or kill their young. Alpacas do not jump fences and do not tear the grass out, so the pastures never look over-grazed. You can keep five to 10 alpacas on 1 acre of pasture. Pastures should be cross fenced to enable you to separate the animals when necessary, although alpacas always need alpaca companions. A simple pole barn will do adequately to provide shelter in bad weather.
Buy your stock. You only need one good male and as many females as you can accommodate. An unproven male or female may cost from $1,000, while proven breeding stock sells for around $8,000 to more than $100,000. Foundation herd packages and financing are often available, and you can purchase the females already pregnant to obviate the need for a male. Alpacas are easy to transport in a stock trailer. They can also be transported in a mini van and will lie down and relax during the journey.
Manage the herd. Alpacas can be fed hay, and the average alpaca costs about the same to feed as a large dog. Alpacas also require mineral blocks, worming medication, vaccinations, and their toenails have to be trimmed. They defecate in their own designated spots, which makes it easy to clean up after them. And because they have three stomachs, the manure, which is rich in nutrients, can be used for growing plants immediately without having to be composted first.
Keep the males and females together or place an ovulating female with a male in a separate area. Once a female is pregnant she will not allow the male near her, and will spit aggressively at him; however, alpacas rarely spit at people. Females are ready to be bred once they are 14 months old. The gestation period is 11 1/2 months and they can be rebred within 10 days after giving birth.
Learn to shear or find a professional shearer. The Virginia Alpaca Association will give you the names of professional shearers who work in your area. They may also be able to direct you to shearing classes so you can do the shearing yourself.
How to Raise Alpaca in Virginia
Alpacas are not difficult to raise in Virginia as long as you have a farm or some land. Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America and were imported into the U.S. in the 1980s. The two types of alpaca are known as huacaya and suri. Alpacas are gentle and easy to handle, and must be sheared every year. The fleece is used to make blankets and warm clothing, which is sold worldwide. Alpaca fleece is comparable to cashmere, but is considered to be finer, lighter, softer and warmer. It is also naturally waterproof.