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September 27, 2008 - Blairsville’s Alpacas 4U2C recently participated in the 2nd Annual National Alpaca Farm Day Celebration. Visitors were treated to tours of the facility, live demonstrations, refreshments, and a close-up look at the beautiful alpacas.

There was lots of stuff to see and do throughout the day. Martha Owen, from Yarn Circle in Murphy, North Carolina, demonstrated various spinning techniques. Visitors watched as she turned alpaca fiber into plush yarn. Elizabeth Johnston came all the way from Scotland to participate in the celebration and amazed spectators with her knitting skills. A regular visitor to the 4U2C Alpaca farm, Gail Gilbert joined in the fun with an attractive sand art and terrarium display.

Owners Lee and Joanne Mansfield explained various aspects of raising alpacas and had lots of information available. There are two kinds of alpacas and they are characterized by different types of fibers. Huacaya fiber is short, dense, crimpy, and gives a woolly appearance. Suri fiber is silky and resembles pencil-like locks. Alpacas have soft padded feet with two toes. They do not have horns, hooves, claws, incisors, or upper teeth. They eat grass and chew cud. Adult alpacas generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. Average alpaca height is 36 inches at the withers (where the neck and spine come together). Alpacas have three stomachs and they are adaptable to most any climate.

Alpaca are members of the Camelid family. They are native to the Andean Mountain Range of South America and are primarily found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile where they once provided clothing and transportation to the Incas. Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984, although they have been domesticated for over 5,000 years. Current figures note about 50,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.

Alpacas live about 20 years. They are alert, intelligent, and curious. Alpacas are social animals that seek companionship and communicate by softly humming. They also communicate with neck posturing, ear and tail positioning, and head tilt.

Alpacas are sheared every 12 to 18 mouths. Alpacas require minimal fencing and can be pastured at 5-10 animals per acre. They are very disease resistant as long as they receive annual vaccinations and parasite control. Alpacas also need occasional nail and teeth trimming.

In ancient times, alpaca fiber was known as the “Fiber of the Gods.” The fiber is as soft as cashmere and lighter and warmer than wool. It is hypo-allergenic and contains no lanolin. Alpaca fiber comes in 22 natural colors!

Alpacas offer a very attractive business and farming opportunity. They are a small and relatively easy livestock to maintain. Most people start their herd with good quality, bred females, costing $10,000 to $30,000. Alpaca fiber (raw fleece) is usually sold to hand spinners and fiber artists. Knitters often purchase alpaca yarn. Fiber mills collect alpaca fiber and process it on behalf of the producers. Raw alpaca fiber costs from $2 to $5 per ounce. Each stage of the process (cleaning, carding, spinning, knitting, finishing, etc.) adds more value to the fiber and hand knit goods are very desirable in today’s marketplace.

Lee and Joanne Mansfield send a lot of fiber to Georgia Mountain Fiber in Blue Ridge, Georgia for processing. Operations Managers Michael and Deb Lipinski were at the 4U2C celebration to explain about handling the fiber once it gets to the mill. Processing the fiber involves washing, conditioning, carding, felting, drafting, spinning, and plying. Georgia Mountain Fiber uses state of the art processing equipment, incorporating the latest innovations in design to ensure consistent, high quality yarn, roving, and felt.

Joanne and Lee love talking about alpacas. They say, “We were almost ready to retire when we decided to raise alpacas in our backyard. Some of our alpacas are for sale, plus we have raw fleece, yarn, and other alpaca items for sale. Come on out and visit us sometime soon!” Alpacas 4U2C is located on CJ Calico Lane in the Trackrock area of Union County. For more information visit www.alpacas4u2c.com.