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As many people know, alpacas come in 22 natural colors. While green is not one of those colors, the alpaca is an eco-friendly “green” investment. What makes the alpaca “green” you ask?
· Alpacas are shorn annually; the fleece we shear from the animal is lanolin free making the product hypo-allergenic and can be worn by most anyone. (plus it’s soft, not itchy)
· Fleece is relatively easy to process as it does not require the extensive multi-stage detergent wash as sheep to remove the thick oily substances (lanolin).
· Fleece can be dyed easily with natural methods such as plant extracts or berries instead of harsh chemical dyes.
· Alpaca fleece is spun into yarn and is used to make sweaters, hats, blankets, pillows, dolls, stuffed animals and various other products. These products are usually cherished items and handed down from generation to generation.
· Aside from fleece, the alpaca has an efficient 3 stomach digestive system. This means the alpaca does not need as much to eat as other livestock animals such as sheep.
· They have soft padded two-toed feet instead of a hard hoof which helps to reduce soil damage in your pastures. This also helps alpacas to do well walking in boggy or marshy areas.
· When an alpaca grazes, they do not rip grass from the roots. Their front teeth simply cut the grass, much like the blade on your lawn mower, allowing new grass to grow. They don’t strip whole areas of grass.
And last but not least, the alpaca “beans” can be used as a low-odor, pH balanced fertilizer in your flower or vegetable garden! Since the alpaca pretty much poops in one place, it’s also easy to gather!
With the alpaca being such a sustainable investment, I can’t think of any better reasons to raise them. Oh wait, yes I can, they are SO CUTE! These fuzzy faces will warm your heart and your wallet if you give them a chance.
We are here 7 days a week if you would like to stop by a chat a while about these amazing animals. We would love to show you around!
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