Alpacas have their roots as a cherished part of the Incan culture of South America.  They are still found today roaming the Andes in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.  Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984.  The importation from South America has since been closed in order to develop a stable National Herd.  The Alpaca Registry, Inc. maintains the DNA registration database in the US.  We only sell and breed ARI registered alpacas.

There are two types of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri.  The Suri's fleece carries a pencil like lock structure that resembles dredlocks.  The huacaya carry a fluffier teddy bear appearance of their crimpy fleece.  Our breeding program has an emphasis on elite fleeced, light colored huacayas.  Alpacas come in approximately 22 natural colors.  And multiple variations therof.  The lifespan of an alpaca is roughly 20 years and the gestation approximately 11.5 months.  Adult alpacas typically weigh between 120-200 pounds and are about a yard tall at the withers.  They are gentle and easy to handle and train.  An adult male is called a macho or herdsire.  Adult females are called dams or hembras.  A baby alpaca is called a cria.

Alpacas have communal dung piles where they deposit their droppings. This makes it easy for their human caretakers to clean up after them.  Their manure composts easily and does not tend to burn vegetation.  We use the manure on our large family garden, in landscaping projects, and for general soil conditioning around the farm.  We make the manure available to gardeners year round.

Alpacas are modified ruminants and very efficient utilizers of feed and forage.  Here in the Southeast they can be housed at 6-10 per acre.  We maintain pristine pastures of bermuda grass and crabgrass for their nutrition during the summer months.  Year round we offer them tested Orchard Grass hay.  We also feed quality alpaca feed, Lama Wellness Service Fiber Nutrients, and offer them free choice minerals.

            The biggest challenge we face is keeping the alpacas cool in the summer, as they are prone to heat stress.  Fans run at floor level 24/7 on the farm in the summer, and the alpacas enjoy an occasional hosing of cool water on their belly and legs. We also provide the alpacas under our care with ice in their water buckets in the summer and have some alpacas that enjoy resting their necks on ice bottles to keep cool.  It sounds like a lot of effort, but it really isn't.           

Alpacas produce one of the world’s finest and most luxurious fibers. The fiber of the alpaca is considered as soft as cashmere, and is warmer, lighter, and stronger than sheep's wool. Shearing is done annually in the spring.  This is a big day for alpaca breeders.  It is when the fruits of our labor and breeding decisions are realized.  Heidi coordinates shearing runs through the Southeastern States for Jamie Jones and Mark Loffhagen of Alley-Pac Shearers. All are nationally recognized alpaca shearers. We have varied uses for our fleeces based on quality, color, quantity, and highest and best use.  Many of our alpaca fleeces are shown as skirted fleeces and in Spin- off competitions.  Heidi and family are enjoying knitting, felting, and experimenting with natural colored and dyed yarns produced from their herd.  Sometimes we experiment with other uses of fiber.  Felted soaps and birdhouses made out of alpaca fiber, are the most recent. In 2010, we added the Fiber Shack and Discovery Center at Celestine Ridge to aid the public and alpaca enthusists alike in their alpaca discovery.

            Alpacas are a favorably tax-advantaged livestock business.  There are several tax incentives available for owners whether you actively participate in the care of your animals or agist (board) them.  We recommend discussing the benefits of Section 179 deductions of the IRS Tax code with your CPA.  Income can be derived from several areas including: sale of alpaca breeding stock, sale of pets, herdsire service fees, boarding fees,  alpaca fiber sales, and ancillary support services.   We also grow coastal bermuda hay on our farm for use in feeding other livestock.

            Alpacas are easily transported.  There are Alpaca Shows in every region of the country.  Grooming is not typically done before a show.  Anyone out there that has shown horses, cattle or other livestock knows what a blessing that is!  There are many different types of classes one can enter to show off one’s breeding program.  There are halter classes, showmanship, performance, fleece, spin-offs, handspun and commercially spun yarn classes as well as classes to show off original works of art using alpaca fiber.  Many of the entries are submitted by mail.

           We got into the alpaca business as an answer to several desires.  We desired a farm based business that the entire family could participate in.  I (Heidi) had been active in New York and Connecticut managing equine boarding and breeding facilities and working for large and small animal veterinary practices as a Veterinary Technician.  Jim has been a regulatory veterinarian for many years and has been active in other livestock endeavors.  Both have always enjoyed taking care of horses, and entertained the idea of running a lay-up farm for horses.  The children were too little to participate in such a venture.  By chance, the family stumbled on alpacas at a festival, while on vacation in Virginia.  It was then that we knew we found a viable livestock industry that even our youngest child could safely participate in.  It truly is a family run business!  Many of the items in our farm store have been made by our sons and Heidi out of our home grown North Carolina alpaca fiber.  Our horses, Molly and Al, are still part of the farm family and are enjoying their retirement in the pastures next to the alpacas.

For more information on alpacas and alpaca farming, the Kittrells can be reached at 252-717-3311 or Contact us