Breeding alpacas at their 12-acre farm in Bergen is a "dream come true" for the family of Bob and Belinda Grant. The couple and their seven children made the move to the country nine years ago and are thrilled with the change in lifestyle and the opportunities it has presented for them to work together as a family. "We moved to the country to teach responsibility to our seven kids," Belinda said. "We wanted to teach them to care for another life. We got into hobby farming and had miniature everything." Although they had no previous farming experience, the family very much enjoyed raising small livestock for novelty, but after a while they felt the urge to try to make some money at what they were doing. "The desire to be profitable became increasingly to the forefront," Belinda and Bob said. The couple had friends who were looking into buying alpacas. "Once you see them, you kind of get hooked," Belinda said. "We looked into it for three years," Bob said. "We attended auctions, visited farms and went to seminars." Late in 2004, the family bought their first herd, seven adult females, via the internet from a breeder in Oregon. To prepare a spot for the alpacas, the Grants had to get busy clearing some of their land. "We cut down 30 or 40 trees; we had a chain saw and tractor out there just before Christmas," Belinda said. Once the alpacas arrived, the family took some time before they began a breeding program, "We took the first year to learn about caring for them," Bob said. Alpacas, which are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, are remarkably hardy and rugged animals. They don't need a lot of room, Belinda and Bob said, and can be fed grain and hay as a supplement to grazing. "We could feed the whole herd on the same amount of hay as a miniature horse," he said. Females can have one baby, called a cria, each year, the gestation period being 11 and one-half months. "They have their babies in the morning because in the Andes it gets very cold at night," Belinda said. "They give birth mostly unassisted. Pre-labor can last 24 hours, you don't usually even know they are in labor until just before they give birth. The moms are very attentive and cluck to their babies." Alpaca farmers can make money on the fine cashmere-like fleece, Bob said. It is sold as yarn and roving to fiber artists and is also made into sweaters, hats and other items of clothing. "The more you process to a higher degree, you're going to make more money," Bob said. The alpaca fleece has many attributes. "It's lighter than wool," Belinda said. "There is no lanolin like in sheep's wool so people who have an allergy to lanolin can wear garments made from alpaca fleece. It is one-third lighter than sheep's wool, so you can have a lighter weight garment with the same heat retention." Bob said the market for alpaca fiber is very promising, "The North American alpaca fiber market is poised to be the best in the world. It is a rare and luxurious fiber and people are willing to pay for the quality." Alpacas began to be imported into the U.S. in the 1980s and then importation was closed in 1998, Bob said. "There is a steady increase in interest and demand for alpacas. It is the world's finest livestock investment," he said. U.S. breeders can export to other countries, Bob said, but breeders are not without challenges. "You are always breeding for a better animal. The quality of an alpaca is based on the firmness and density of the fleece, the alpaca's confirmation, bone structure and the head and neck balance. New York is one of the fastest growing alpaca buying states. Auctions are growing in popularity as a way of marketing alpacas. Competitive bids drive up prices. It gives people a sense of status and can put your farm on the map." The couple said alpacas are a great investment for just about anyone. "You should buy from a local farm where you can get mentoring," Belinda said. "About 90 percent of people who own alpacas have never had livestock before," Bob said. "They are looking for a lifestyle change and some passive income. The alpacas are cute and easy to handle and are very pleasant to be around. Most people take at least six months to a year to make a decision. People from multiple walks of life can benefit from investing in alpacas." The couple said those interested in investing in alpacas have several options. They can buy the alpacas and start their own breeding business or they can invest in an animal and board it at someone else's farm. "Most female alpacas sell for $12,000-$25,000 depending on their quality or whether they are bred or not," Bob said. The couple said males used for stud have sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Buyers have financing options available, according to Belinda. "There is on-farm financing, most people take from one to four years to pay. That's how people buy when they are going into business." The couple said there are also attractive tax advantages. "Purchase of breeding stock can be fully depreciated," Belinda said. "Say you make $400,000 a year, you can write-off the investment in alpacas for up to $108,000." If alpacas are raised for profit, the couple said, all expenses attributable to the endeavor can be written off against your income. "Many people are buying alpacas for investment purposes," Bob said, "but it takes time to get a return on your investment." He said he hopes to create a supplemental income from his farm of $10,000, $20,000 or even $50,000 a year. "It’s passive work, not a 9-5 job," he said. The Grants now have more than two dozen alpacas and have sold five so far. "When we first put our alpacas up for sale on the internet, the first sold within six weeks for $32,000 to a man who lives in Rhode Island," Belinda said. "We celebrated with a pizza," Bob said. "Alpacas are a profitable alternative investment. It’s like real estate on four legs. It’s also very reasonable to buy insurance on the animals and the market has been very stable," he said. The Grants’ Northwoods Alpacas operation also sells fiber males to people who are interested in having an alpaca for its fleece. Prices for fiber males start at $600. Belinda said fiber males are gelded and make great pets. "People are starting to buy pet quality alpacas. They cost less to care for than a dog." The Grants have recently begun to take their animals to alpaca shows. "It gives you feedback on your animals from licensed judges of the Alpaca Breeders Association," Bob said. The Grants said it’s another way their family can enjoy time together. "It’s a really rewarding lifestyle and it can be financially rewarding. We're meeting lots of nice people," Bob said. "When you're doing what you love it doesn't seem like much work. The alpaca community is made up of very nice family-oriented people. There is mentoring and a lot of advice and help," Belinda said. Note: Contact the Grants by visiting their website at www.northwoodsalpacas.com. © September 30, 2007 - Westside News Inc. |
