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Alpacas are member of the Camelid family (yes
camels!)
They are from South America and have been
domesticated for over 5,000 years.
A quiet, gentle, environmentally friendly and
personable animal. They live 15 to 25 years. The
females are first bred at 14 to 18 months with a
single cria being born 11 1/2 months later.
Births almost always occur between Sun-up and
two in the afternoon. Cria are usually between
12lbs and 23lbs at birth. Full grown they are
36" at the withers (back) but their neck being
thin and long seem to almost double that.
Not seen in the USA before 1984 (except for a
few zoo's). Alpacas are one of the best
investments in the livestock Industry. |
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Meet the Biewer Terrier
See our
Goat, Dog, & Horse Page |
Owners
Joanna & Shawn Meadows bought their first alpacas in 2001 with
Joanna's parents Carol & Joe Keehan. The farm is located on
Carol & Joe's property in Richmond, Il. Joanna, and Shawn,
and their three children Shawn Jr. 10, Kaitlyn Rose 8 And the newest arrival
Joey now 1, live in Genoa City, Wi about 4 miles away and are at the
farm daily to take care of and check the animals. Kaitlyn &
Shawn won their first ribbons showing goats in 2002 and have
been around animals since day 1. Last year they started a
CAE
negative herd of Nubian dairy goats. We also have Great Pyrenees
as livestock guard dogs, cats, ducks and Kaitlyn last year
acquired a quarter Horse (Cherokee) and now has a yearling paint
Gypsy.
The latest addition to the household is a Biewer Terrier named
Sarah.
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Books
The
Complete Alpaca Book
by Eric
Hoffman
Bonny
Doon Press
Alpaca
Breeder's Reproduction Handbook
by McMillan &
Jinks
Caring for
Llamas and Alpacas: A Health & Management Guide
by Hoffman/Asmus
Llamas &
Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life
by McGee |
Magazines
Here are some great magazines and articles to get you started.
Alpacas
Magazine
by: Alpaca
Owners and Breeders Assoc.
www.alpacainfo.com
American
Livestock
www.americanlivestockmagazine.com
PHONE
888-439-2748
Hobby
Farms Magazine
PHONE
800-365-4424
MAIL:
P.O. Box 58701, Boulder, Co 80322-8701 |
