texasalpacaranch.com

What do you know?

Do you know something that would help a new alpaca owner establish good animal husbandry practices, or a proper business model? What about exchanging ideas with established alpaca ranchers, even those who are your “competition?” There are so many opportunities to lend a hand, offer an idea, or make a suggestion in this industry. Many alpacas breeders have different kinds of experiences to share. In combination, those experiences and lessons are a body of experience we can all contribute to and benefit from. But, why should we even consider offering our personal experiences, especially since other ranchers might have experiences that contradict our own? Because, good will is what we have in common as alpaca ranchers, and good will is what builds an industry.

What is a Mentor?

When Mary and I started looking into alpaca ranching, around the turn of the century (I always wanted to say that), nearly every ranch we visited offered to help us with questions or concerns. We met two of the most “seasoned” alpaca ranchers in the state, the Binder’s and the Presley’s. Both of these wonderful families began alpaca ranching in Texas at about the same time. At that time, their alpaca operations were farther south than any other in the US. By the time we met them, they had nearly a decade of experience to share. And talk about “good will,” they had more than anyone we had ever met.

Mary and I have had several opportunities to call each of these “mentors” as we built our alpaca business, and both have been very gracious, and open with their answers to our questions. What good examples of how the rest of us should approach our fellow alpaca owners when they have questions or concerns. Without the Binder’s and Presley’s, and quite a number of other ranchers, Mary and I would not have been able to start alpaca ranching with any amount of confidence or decent alpaca husbandry. And they were not the only ones we have turned to. To avoid the risk of missing someone, let me say that almost every member of TxOLAN has had some influence on us and the development of our ranch. Some folks have been more instrumental than others, not by their choice, but because we approached some more than others. As some/most of us know, within the next year or so Debbie and Wade Presley are planning on selling their herd and homestead, so they can retire to the lake. When that happens, we lose a supporter, contributor, mentor, and downright good alpaca breeder (this should be plural, but since they work as a very close team, singular works just fine). This is my concern, and the subject of this edition.

Who needs a Mentor?

All this came to mind recently, when we had a ranch visit from a neighbor who bought a single gelding at a flea market. I want to add some of our discussion with this woman whose heart is in the right place, so I can illustrate a problem we have - collectively. So this lady came for a visit. She and Mary walked around looking at our place and the animals. “Jane,” I will call her, said she and a friend each bought a single gelding at a well known flea market in our part of the state. The person selling the alpacas, said they would do just fine as single animals. They did not offer any information on proper nutrition, or husbandry. So, Jane was feeding alfalfa, and some small kibble that was causing the alpaca to choke. Jane also said she was concerned that the halter she got when she bought the male, was getting too tight. Her husband told her he thought it was fine. I asked her if she had removed the halter when they got him home, but she said, “that’s the only way I can catch him.” As it turns out, she has not removed the halter for the entire time she has owned the alpaca, and is feeding him a diet that could become toxic, if it hasn’t already. I put a bale of very good coastal and a bag of alpaca chow in her truck. But that’s not all we did.

Jane sat with us for several hours discussing all the things she should have learned from the seller, but that he did not feel was as important as making the sale. As is turned out, her friend was asking her to take the second gelding off her hands. She asked us if that was a good idea. I asked her if she had the facilities and ability to take care of both of them. from our discussion, it turned out that she would be fine with more than one. I asked her to please take the other alpaca, as it would be such a relief to both animals, and we would feel so much better, too.

Now, how does a story like that make you feel? I can tell you that Mary and I felt great as Jane drove away with some proper food and some good information to help her raise the alpacas under her care. We also offered to answer any questions she might have as she began developing her alpaca husbandry. Since Jane’s ranch is only about ten minutes away, Mary and I are planning on a visit, to see if we can be of any other assistance.

What’s next?

Jane is not the only person looking for support; not by a long shot. In another recent conversation, I met a couple who have purchased the start of a foundation herd. They asked if there was a resource for information about raising alpacas in Texas. I could not think of one. Of course, there’s the Binder’s and Presley’s, but I can’t speak for them. Besides, Debbie and Wade want to retire. What we need in Texas is a League of Mentors, or a Mentor’s Bureau, or a Mentor’s Hot Line. A situation where new or established alpaca owners can get recommendations, information, or a helping hand to deal with an issue they have encountered. Even with the wonderful help offered by, and we continue to receive from the alpaca ranchers in Texas, we still find ourselves calling our mentors with questions. But we have resources to turn to - others might not have.

What will it take to provide a list of resources to new alpaca ranchers? Do they need to be a member of an alpaca organization to receive assistance? Should they pay for access to information they need? Are there commercial considerations we need to think about? Are there liability issues? How can a resource like this be maintained? How is it to be regulated? What if a resource provider acts improperly, or gives dangerously incorrect information?

These are some questions that came to mind as I am writing. I am certain there are many more. But these questions should not impede the progress toward the development of a resource like the one I have outlined. If we run up against a real obstacle that prevents our work on this issue, then we can deal with it at that time. But let’s get started. At least consider being a mentor to an alpaca owner who needs your help. You will benefit as an alpaca owner, by learning to help someone else. The local alpaca community near you will benefit, and the wider alpaca community will benefit, too. Even if you have been an alpaca owner for a short time, you have stuff to offer. Go help with ranch health days, shearing, birthing, or feeding a herd while a neighbor is away. That level of assistance is necessary for all of us, and you can learn another way to approach a situation.

This article is not meant as the answer to a need for mentors, but as a beginning of a discussion about the need. As we continue in this direction, we will take all kinds of twists and turns, but in the end, developing a culture of mentoring is worth the effort. Give it a thought, and leave a comment. Let’s get started.

Alpaca ranching in Texas presents its own set of challenges and rewards.

There are as many ways to succeed in this endeavor as there are Texas alpaca ranchers. We have many days of excessive heat, humidity, dry ponds and creeks, and hay shortages. On the converse side, we have a strong economy, good work force, lots of agricultural land with reasonable property taxes, and no State income tax. This is a good place to raise a family, build a business, grow an industry, and retire. So, let’s look at what makes this such a good place for alpacas.

Alpacas are suitable on small acreage situations, and are a good choice for folks with less livestock experience.

Timber Lodge Alpacas is based on a 10 acre piece of forested land, about 35 miles east of Dallas, and 12 miles south of Terrell. The property was never “developed,” except as a homestead, when the owners, Mary and Troy Ogilvie bought it in 2002, from an 84 year old retiree who wanted to move to her daughter’s home. In 20 years, there had never been an Agricultural Exemption on property taxes, or maintenance to clear the underbrush, or even a fence to separate the property from the neighbor’s. The Ogilvie’s had never owned livestock, operated a chainsaw, or a tractor, and never drove so far to work in the city every day. The challenges piled up from day one.

With a new tractor and chainsaw, the forest began to open up, allowing breezes to be felt around the log home for the first time in decades. Trees cut to provide a perimeter lane around the paddock areas, also provide firewood for Winter heating. Splitting the firewood is another challenge for an out-of-shape city guy, using an ax to save on machinery rental costs. That lasted for two seasons before the rental place in Terrell got some new business. Then came the fence contractor who built the fences and shelters for three god sized paddocks. There will be six more before the project is finished, but for now, the fenced area is plenty for the herd. In fact the herd came home for the first time, about a month after the fences were finished.

North Texas is a growth market for alpacas, which can be said for most of, Texas as well. Since moving to the ranch, we have received calls and emails asking for information about alpacas. However, our animals were being boarded at three or four ranches around the Southwest, so we had to send folks elsewhere to see alpacas in the flesh. But now that we have alpacas on the place, we have had several farm visits, and interested prospects. Things are looking up.

Alpaca ranching provides ways to maintain Cash Flow, and a sustainable business model.

In the meantime, we have always been interested in bringing stylish, fashionable, high-end alpaca garments to the market in Texas. Knitwear can be a challenge in this climate. However, alpaca garments can be such a light weight that Texans can wear them for nearly three seasons of the year. Each year we look forward to Fall community festivals, and Springtime fiber events so we can showcase our alpaca fashions. So far, this has been a good thing for our young business. Garment sales have been steady, providing some cash flow for our startup.

Last February, Troy ventured to Idaho to train as a Certified Fiber Sorter (see www.naafp.us for more information). Then, during the Spring shearing season, he sorted fleeces for alpaca owners, working on requirements for the sorter apprenticeship. The additional responsibility of being a Regional Collection Facility for the North American Alpaca Fiber Co-op, brought activities at the ranch to a fever pitch during June and July. With the help of other fiber sorters, and Rena Stettner of Reflections Alpacas in Poetry Texas, Troy sorted more than 400 fleeces during the 2008 Spring season. The first mill run of the year has yet to be sent, but that should happen fairly soon. Then there should be a November run, so the whole process will begin again. There will be many more references to fiber sorting, mill processing, fashion, and garment sales as we work on this blog.

Well, that’s a wrap for this edition of the Texas Alpaca Ranch blog. Leave us a comment, and let us know what you think. Ask a question, or make a suggestion. It all goes to make this a good place to meet and converse.

This blog has been a long time coming. Heck, Alpaca ranching has been a long time coming, as well. But when you consider two city folks, aiming at retirement in a few years, you can imagine the effort it has been for us. The trek toward our ranch life has been an adventure. I want to start with a synopsis of our journey.

Mary and I frequently visited Santa Fe on vacation. Several years back, we noticed a small store we had never seen before. The lady who owned the store was from Peru and was selling wonderful garments made of alpaca fiber. This whole experience brought back some long forgotten trivia I picked up many years ago, about little animals known as Vicuñas, and others known as Alpacas. I really didn’t remember all that I learned those many years ago, but Gretty, our new acquaintance, would remind me.

Vicuña fiber had been illegal to trade throughout the world since the late 1960’s, due to the poaching of the herds in the high Andes. Their fiber is actually the finest natural animal fiber in the world. It is simply incredible stuff. The international sanction against trade of Vicuña fiber was lifted in 2002 (I think), and the small amount of production available started to filter into the market. Garments made of Vicuña are approximately 10 times more expensive than the same garments made of Alpaca fiber.

With all that being said, Mary and I talked about starting an import business to bring Alpaca garments to the Texas market. The fiber is extremely strong and efficient, and the garments made of it can be much lighter in weight, than a similar wool or cashmere garment. They are less “scratchy” next to the skin, as well. I figured we could bring in fashionable, light weight woven or woolen garments, and Texans would love to wear them in the winter. Winters here can be fairly mild, in comparison to more northern climes. By the time we got home, we were ready to start a new chapter in our lives.

When I started the initial research on vendors for Alpaca garments, I found a large number of sites that dealt with the animals, instead. That was the beginning of the search that would change our lives. We never gave up on the idea of fashionable Alpaca garments for the American market, and we make finished garment sales each year. We also wanted to make sure the Alpaca ranch we started would be sustainable. In other words, the annual harvest of the production from the animals would fund the operations of the ranch. This year I trained as a Certified Fiber Sorter, and worked to sort a number of fleeces to allow me to take the final exam. I sorted more than was required, and now, am preparing for the exam. By next shearing season, I will be a Certified Fiber Sorter. This is part of our commitment to the industry and to the success of our ranch.

Anyone can do this. Alpacas are wonderful animals, with simple needs. They adapt to a wide range of environmental settings, and can be cared for on a small acreage. Many of the folks we have met through our involvement in the Alpaca industry are now our closest friends. They mentor us in times of need, and share husbandry experiences with us anytime we call. With folks looking out for each other, we can succeed just like anyone else. Neither of us had livestock experience before we started Timber Lodge Alpacas, in Kaufman Texas. But with the help of our Alpaca friends, we are succeeding, just like real ranchers.

For more information about Timber Lodge Alpacas, Alpacas in general, or for an appointment for a visit, go to our web site: http://www.timberlodgealpacas.com.