The How’s and Why’s of Alpaca Ownership     

You raise WHAT?  Why do you want to do THAT?!  There are many reasons that people raise alpacas.  Alpacas are fiber animals.  They provide a wonderful, warm, silky fleece that can be used to create luxurious garments.  They are cute and fun to work with.  As livestock, they are profitable.  People from all walks of life raise these animals for fun or profit, or both!

Alpaca Breeders: Breeders raise alpacas to sell the animals for profit.  Herd size can range from 2 to 2,000.  Female breeding stock typically sells for $5,000 - $15,000 each.  Sales of fiber and fiber products often offset the cost of operating the business.  Other revenues may be generated through sales of breedings to herdsires, boarding other peoples animals, and providing other alpaca-related services.

Fiber Herd/Pets: Many people love alpacas, but are not interested in raising them as a business.  Perhaps you want a couple of backyard pets.  Maybe you are a fiber artist and you want to produce your own fiber for your projects.  Alpacas can be raised on relatively small amounts of land (7 – 10 per acre) and don’t require much in the way of shelter (small shed or barn).  Non-breeding males often live out their lives as pets or fiber animals.  Herd size must be at least 2.  Pet-quality animals sell for $300-$900.

Boarding (Agisting): You say your landlord won’t allow alpacas in your apartment?  Many people board their animals at someone else’s farm.  New breeders who don’t have their own farm yet, fiber artists who live in town, or people who want to own alpacas as an investment and tax credit, but do not wish to work with them on a day to day basis may choose to board their animals.  Because alpacas are classified as livestock, owning them can result in very significant tax advantages.