Aragon Alpacas

Overview
Ranches
Alpaca Cams
Classes & Seminars
Associations
Alpaca Fleece
Alpaca Products
Camelid Health
Training
Business Aspects
Shows & Events
Publications

Alpacas ~ an overview

Alpacas
The rare and exotic Alpaca is a creature of antiquity that is rapidly gaining popularity among people around the world.

About Llamas & Alpacas
Llamas and alpacas come from Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, in the high plains areas called the "Altiplano."

Alpaca: Llama pacos
The alpaca is part of the camelidae family and is closely related to the well-known llama.

Alpacas vs Llamas
The Alpaca was domesticated and carefully bred for over 5000 years as a luxury fiber producing animal.

Llama & Alpaca Behavior
Thinking of becoming the proud owner of a llama or an alpaca?

Camelidirectory links for Llamas & Alpacas
A resource for the Camelid Community: links for Alpacas and Llamas, associations, breeders, farms, products and more.

Alpaca Farm Basics
The alpaca possesses qualities that make it an ideal animal for a small to medium acreage farm. (Gateway Farm Alpacas, Oregon)

Full Alpaca Website Reviews
A directory of alpaca ranches and related products

Ranches

Canzelle Alpacas/Carpinteria, CA
This ranch is small enough so that each animal is hand-fed and personally cared for, and large enough to offer a selection of colors and prices. Canzelle Alpacas and their offspring boast many championship ribbons.

Eclipse Alpacas/Oxford, MI
A high quality family farm with generations of elite genetics.

Alpacas of Cusco North/Santa Ynez, CA
A working ranch with jewels bred into the fleece. Fiber and its many uses is the focus of their breeding program.

SpinningStar Alpacas/Santa Barbara, CA
From champion bloodlines to handwoven accessories, this mini-ranch puts the fleece to work.

Alpacas de Los Olivos/Los Olivos, CA
Home to alpacas, llamas, and a few Navajo sheep, Alpacas de Los Olivos holds an 'open ranch day' almost every Saturday. Their ranch store shows off all levels of fiber arts for the knitter, spinner, weaver or shopper.

Silver Sun Alpacas /Santa Ynez, CA
This family ranch is as passionate about their alpacas as they are about their service, and their animals are almost as friendly as they are.

Second Wind Alpacas/Solvang, CA
Second Wind Alpacas breeds for fineness and density of fiber, and luxury colors, as well as calm disposition and easy handling.

Alpacas at West Ranch/Santa Ynez, CA
El Ranchito de Las Llamas y Alpacas has been raising the highest quality animals for more than 20 years; now combined with Pacific Breeze Alpacas and Alpacas de Calzada to form Alpacas of West Ranch, for sales, support, and continuing education.

Alpacas at Windy Hill/Somis, CA
Specializing in suris and breeding for champions, this ranch is home to 200 alpacas.

Mager Mountain Alpacas/Little Valley, NY
Taking care of these clean, safe, quiet, intelligent and disease resistant animals is one of those simple pleasures in life, and breeding your own line of champions provides a rewarding challenge.

Rolling Thunder Farms/Lincoln, NB
A powerhouse of knowledge and networking within the alpaca community; offering animal transport, too.

Mulberry Alpacas/Ashland, OR
Mulberry Alpaca were breeders in the UK for a number of years before establishing their farm in southern Oregon, thus bringing a unique combination of knowledge and experience to their business.

Jackpot Alpacas/ Pinewood, MN
Breeders of French bulldogs and owners of Dancing Bear Resort, why not add alpacas to the mix?

Northwest Alpacas/Hillsboro, OR
The 'grandfather' ranch of the US alpaca business.

Alpacas of Ireland
They're everywhere!

Alpacas of Cusco North

Alpaca Cams

Stargazer Ranch/CO

Lone Juniper Ranch/CA

Mountain Shadow Farm/VT

Classes & Seminars

Alpacas at Windy Hill
Variety of informational and instructional workshops, held monthly

Alpacas by the Sea: Workshop

National Associations:

Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) national US association
Search for ranches in your area to visit.

Alpaca Registry (ARI)
National registry of alpacas; members can trace the lineage/offspring of animals

AlpacaNation ~ over 14,000 Alpacas and 1500 farms

Small Alpaca Farms of America ~ representing the small American alpaca farm and its ongoing role in the agricultural future.

Regional Associations:

California Alpacas (Calpaca)~ includes northern and southern California farms

Emerald Valley Alpacas (EVAA) ~ central Oregon association of alpaca farms

Pacific Northwest Alpaca Association (PNAA)

Southern California Alpaca Association (SoCalpaca)

State of Jefferson Alpaca Association ~ ranches in northwest California/ southwest Oregon

Farm/Fiber groups :

Local Harvest ~ national organization promoting farmers and their crops

Oregon Wool ~ an association of small Oregon family farms and fiber artists, offering the many products their fiber animals provide.

Aragon Alapcas is a proud member of AOBA, ARI, AlpacaNation, EVAA, SAFA, and LocalHarvest

Alpaca Fleece

From freshly shorn fiber to fine garments, Alpaca Fleece Unlimited seeks to expand public awareness of our industry's end products. Aragon Alpacas is proud to be a founding member of AFU.

Alpaca Fleece and more links

Fiber Mill at Ranch of the Oaks ~ high quality roving and yarn, in Lompoc, CA

Fleece Evaluation ~ Llamapaedia

Heavenly Fibers ~ Celestial Alpacas, a spinner's insight

Morro Fleece Works ~ fiber mill on CA's central coast

Simpler Time ~ fiber mill, near San Diego

Morning Star Fiber ~ custom processing in northeastern Ohio

Undertanding Micron Reports ~Yocom-McColl Wool Testing Labs

Village Spinning & Weaving ~ much more than a yarn store, in Solvang, CA

Alpaca Products

PurelyAlpaca
News, Updates, Info, Ideas, Specials/blog

Touch Alpaca

Camelid Health

Ohio State University Camelid Program

Oregon State University Camelid Program

Cornell University Veterinary Medicine ~ emerging health issues

Canadian Llama & Alpaca Association ~ timely articles on Camelid health issues

Camelid Identification Working Group ~ developing a viable plan for permanent ID

Morris Animal Foundation ~ various health studies

Alpaca Health Information/diseases
Alpaca & Llama Health Information ~ Dr Purdy, New England Camelid Services

Alpaca Husbandry Hints ~ Fantasy Farms Alpacas
Archives: Alpaca Husbandry Tips

An Introduction to Alpaca Sex ~ Kinsey of the Camelids

Birth Photo Sequence ~ Cameron Mountain Alpacas

Homeopathy & Alpacas ~ California Alpacas employ nature's remedies

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) ~ indicator of health status

Leg Conformation ~ straight and sturdy

the Weaning Process ~ Gentle Spirit: whose baby is it anyway?

Alpaca Chute ~ for ease of handling on vet days
or build-your-own Chute Plans

Training (for alpaca whisperers!)

Behavior & Training with a Gentle Spirit
'Understanding behavior is the key to herd management.'
~ Cathy Spalding

CameliDynamics
~ Marty McGee

T-Team & T-Touch Training
~ Linda Tellington-Jones, creator of equine behavior and training methods

Business Aspects

Alpacas: the World's Finest Livestock Investment
Aside from being quite adorable, with highly sought after fiber, alpaca can provide diversified income streams and tax advantages. (~Indian Chimney Farm)

Getting Started in the Alpaca Business ~ HaSu Alpacas

Agisting (boarding) Your Herd ~ Soft Hearts Farm

Ranch Set-up ~ Alpaca de la Pacifica

Tax Planning & Benefits ~ Alpaca Digest

Alpacas Investing ~ hands-on, beyond Wall Street (NW Alpacas)

Alpaca Business Resources ~ Alpaca Marketing

Wilkins Alpaca & Llama Insurance Coverage

AlpacaEase ~ Herd Management System for Mac & PCs

HerdLogic 3000 ~ computer tool for managing your herd