Alpaca Friends
(To see the earlier Blogs, Page Down)
Tony Maine in Belvedere, NC, owns 21 alpacas and boards 5 others, so 26 alpacas pushed and shoved their way to satisfy their curiosity about their visitors and the bucket of chow Tony carried.
They are funny creatures. Their long thick eyelashes give them a flirting appearance. One is named Maybelline, and I could guess why. Originating in the Andes Mountains – Peru, Bolivia, and Chile – I wondered how they do in Edenton summers. They hang out under misters, they are sheared in April, and stay in the shade under big fans. Just like the rest of us! They resemble both camels and llamas; when they lie down, it’s with the folding movement of a camel. They don’t have hooves like camels, they have a soft padded paw with large toe nails that are clipped weekly. They mew like kittens, but the males fight like Northern Moose and must be kept separated. The fighting happens because the females don’t have seasonal cycles; they are always fertile. As cute as they are, Tony warned us they will kick and they will spit! They’re strong animals, especially in the neck and shoulders.
Alpacas appear in 21 different colors, including camel tan, but the most desired color is True Black. They are clean animals, grazers, and their coats produce amazing fibers. The products are even softer than cashmere, not “itchy” as wool, warmer insulation, and the white can be died beautifully. There are two types of coats. Long silkier fiber is from the Ciris Alpaca who weigh 100 pounds more than the Huacaya that produce a softer fiber. They are innately healthy; this herd receives a monthly shot to prevent a parasite carried by White-tailed Deer, prevalent on the Maine’s farm. This parasite which lives in the deer will kill an alpaca. The only alpaca that has died on this farm died of heat stroke. Life span for alpaca is 20-25 years. The alpaca are protected from predators on their acreage by two Great Pyrenees guardian dogs, and a Jack Russell Terrier.
In North Carolina, alpaca are exotic animals. They were imported between 1984-1997. They can’t be imported now, but can be bred here. They are registered by American Alpaca Association.
Tony grew up on a farm in New Mexico which is where he accrued knowledge of livestock, barns, and fences. Following the Navy, he worked in the ship industry doing government contract work in Portsmouth. When that job ended, he stayed in area. He had seen his first alpaca as a boy visiting the zoo in New Mexico, and he never forgot that encounter. Now unemployed, the time was right. He started with a herd of six and never looked back.
“Not much money in it,” Tony said. “But, I enjoy it anyway.”
“Like writing,” my husband answered.