Wild Roads

Alpacas 4U2C

By KathleenWalls

Very young alpaca at Alpacac4U2C

The line between "wild" and "domesticated" is a shadowy one. All present domesticated animals once were wild. One great example is Alpacas. Alpacas are members of the camelid family of mammals. Their history begins in the mists of South American prehistory. Alpacas were probably domesticated as much as 6000 years ago in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The Spanish conquistadores almost wiped out the species—almost 90% of the alpaca herds—in their conquest of the native peoples. 

They were not considered as an export until the 19th Century when alpacas were rediscovered by Europeans and played a role in the Industrial Revolution. The beautiful fabric and finished goods provided a luxurious and valuable commodity. The development of synthetic fibers in the mid 20th Century drove down the demand for the fibers.

Sugar, one of Alpacas4U2C, "visits" the gift shop. Credit Alpacas4U2C

The alpaca was a very recent imported to the United States. The first were brought here in 1983. Ninety-nine percent of all alpacas reside in South America. Today, there are about 53,000 alpacas in the United States and there are alpaca breeders from Florida to Alaska.

Alpacas are valued for many uses here. They make good pets being very intelligent. They are easily trained to a halter and have been trained to perform many tricks. For centuries in South America they were used as beast of burden. This has been rediscovered by hikers, Guard llamas are an alternative to guard dogs. Alpacas owned by the fiber artist can produce a never ending supply of one of the world's rarest fibers. For weavers, the cute animals can be part of their hobby, or as a means of income from the sale of their handmade creations. Alpacas have become a part of a change in lifestyle for an increasing number of people. For those with other sources of income, alpacas can produce a nice supplement while allowing them to get closer to the land and nature. For some people, it is their only source of income.

Zac brightens the day for an elderly patient, Joanne's mother. Credit Alpacas4U2C

I recently visited Alpacas 4U2C in Union County Georgia. This alpaca farm, run by Lee and Joanne Mansfield, is a real treat as well as providing a great educational opportunity. When I visited there were six babies of different ages. The youngest was only a month old. I got to feed and pet them. It is obvious that Lee and Joanne really love their animals. They offer opportunities for children and adults to visit and learn about this wonderful animal. One amazing form of outreach the Mansfields practice is taking some of the alpacas to visit elderly residents of a local nursing home. Joanne states, "The patients are so happy for the visit."

The Alpaca coat is luxurious and feels great when petted. These were perfectly as ease with people and accepted food form your hand and allow you to stroke them. My daughter, Ronni, got to witness the only bad habit these animals have; if provoked they spit. Not much of a problem as opposed to other creatures which bite or claw. Ronni was feeding one baby and another, Ruben, wanted the food. So he let her know his displeasure with a small liquid stream.

Ronni feeds one of the baby alpacas

The Mansfields began their herd of 23 animals with a male and a pregnant female. Much as they enjoy their animals, this is a serious business for the Mansfields. They are carefully breeding to produce the best of the breed and offer them for sale to other breeders. They also sell items made of the resident alpaca's wool. Joanne explained that they do not dye the hair so they can tell just which animal's coat is used to create each item. A visitor who purchases a scarf or other woven item can actually meet the alpaca that contributed the fiber. Strands of bamboo which is dyed are woven with the alpaca fibers to produce various colors. The Mansfields are registered breeders. They work hard to improving the breeding population. Male and female are kept separate to facilitate proper practices.

If you are considering going into the alpaca breeding business, here is where you want to buy your animals. Not only have these alpacas been given all the food and care they require, they have been amply provided with another important item, love. Joanne explains, " Our Alpacas are not our whole life, they just make our life whole."

For more information:

http://www.alpacas4u2c.com/