For any investment to be valuable, it must possess certain qualities which make it desirable. Gold is scarce, real estate provides shelter, oil produces energy, bonds earn interest, stocks are supposed to increase in value and diamonds symbolize love. Alpacas share many of these investment attributes.

Around the world, Alpacas are in strong demand, and people pay high prices for them. They are scarce, unique, and the textiles produced from their fiber are known in the fashion centers of Paris, Milan and Tokyo. There are excellent profit opportunities and tax advantages available to Alpaca breeders and investors. Historically, the Alpaca's value has sustained ancient cultures, such as the Incas of Peru, and today Alpacas are the sustaining economic force for millions of South Americans.

History has validated the value of the Alpaca. "Livestock," or animals raised for profit, was an investment long before financial stocks were sold on the New York Stock Exchange. The richest families of ancient times counted their wealth by the size of their flocks of sheep or herds of cattle. Today, wealth as a result of livestock ownership is not as common, but tending to a graceful herd of Alpacas can also be an exciting way to earn a substantial cash flow and live a rewarding lifestyle.

Alpaca breeders enjoy nurturing their animals every bit as much as receiving the profits they provide. The man who created the "Beefmaster" cattle from imported Limousine stock made the following observation: "I know allot of doctors and lawyers who would like to be cowboys, but I don't know any cowboys who would trade places with them." A retired doctor who is now a full time Alpaca breeder had this to say: "I would rather raise Alpacas than anything I've ever done. Breeding Alpacas is a labor of love and very profitable." Since 1984, Alpacas have appeared, almost simultaneously, in several countries where they had never been seen before. The U.S., Canada, New Zealand, France, Australia and England have all acquired the foundation animals for national herds. What makes this animal so desirable? Bottom line: Alpacas are both profitable and enjoyable.

Alpaca History

The first known record of Alpacas are in the drawings on the walls of caves found high in the Andean Mountains. Alpacas were the domestic cattle of South America, perhaps the world's first domestic animals. They became the foundation of a prosperous civilization living high above sea level. Fiber from the Alpaca was uniquely suited to clothe the Andean Indians in their harsh environment.

The Incas conquered the Indians and captured their precious "cattle." Alpacas became the basis of wealth for the INCAN society. Even after the Spanish conquered Peru, the Alpaca was considered legal tender, or money, by its Indian population.

The South American Alpacas are raised today in the Andes at very high elevations. They were moved from the lower pastures of the Puno Baja to the high altitude of the Puno Alta by the conquering Spaniards to make room for Spain's merino sheep. The available pastures are limited in size and carrying capacity. As a result, the South American Alpaca population has not grown to meet the potential demand for its fleece. Export of live Alpacas from Peru was illegal until 1991 and is still restricted. Peruvians consider Alpacas to be a national resource and seek to control the supply of fleece by limiting the export of Alpaca breeding stock.

In 1983, the first Alpacas were imported to the United States from Chile and Bolivia. In 1993, the first Peruvian stock made its way to the United States. The U.S. has been extremely fortunate to import the finest quality bloodstock found in Chile, Bolivia and now Peru. The future for Alpacas outside of South America has been considerably brightened by the generosity of the South American Alpaca breeders and their governments.

Animal scientists in the United States and Australia are already focused on the genetic improvement of the Alpaca and its fleece production. The available expertise, together with the desire of the Alpaca's new found owners, will finally allow the full potential of the Alpaca to be achieved. With our selective breeding techniques and better animal husbandry and nutritional care, fiber fineness will improve and fleece weight per animal will increase.

Awareness of the unique quality of Alpaca is increasing with the worldwide recognition gained from the promotional efforts of breeders in the United States, Canada and Australia. The terms luxury and Alpaca are becoming synonymous. The treasure, which the Incas harvested from the back of the mystical Alpaca, will soon be enjoyed by discerning consumers everywhere.