ABOUT US

Every business is approached differently. Ours is not only to make money with alpacas, but to create a life style we enjoy. Alpacas are expensive, and as most new investors/breeders we wanted to start small. Alpacas are a sizeable investment which requires careful planning and research.

West Wind Alpacas is a full service facility structured to provide outstanding alpacas and service. You will recognize the bloodlines represented in our animals, and these bloodlines have proven themselves in the show ring.

We bring large farm quality with small farm service. West Wind Alpacas can meet all your needs: sales, breeding, boarding and transportation. We give ongoing support with personal care to all our customers and alpacas. We welcome you to visit to share this rewarding lifestyle with you. We can make your dream a reality.

BUY THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD

Many new breeders wanting to start in the industry want to buy average or low cost animals, thinking that they will reproduce and make a profit selling lower priced animals. In the long run you will be left with a very limited market to sell your animals. You need to plan for the future of the industry which will be a fiber industry, and the best will survive.

BREED UP

As a breeder you will want to breed all of your breeding age females yearly. Breeding with quality males can be expensive but carefully selecting the finest quality herd sire's from other breeders for your breeding program will save time and money. As breeders we have a 50/50 chance of having males born to us. For breeding purposes we need very few. We select the very best for herd sires-the others are gelded and sold as pet/companion animals or fiber quality animals.

There is much to know about breeding and caring for alpacas. Before you make such an investment yourself, you should have a basic business plan, making sure you understand the cost and the risks. We did, and concluded this was a pretty safe place to invest our time and money. We would be happy to assist in creating a plan of your own.

One of the best ways to learn about the joy of owning alpacas is to visit farms that already are in the business. Alpaca breeders are friendly people and love to talk about their alpacas. You will find each breeder will have their own style and method of raising alpacas. You can take a little knowledge from each breeder and decide how you would like to become involved in the alpaca industry.

 Reading as much information as you can, including Alpacas Magazine; you will gain insights into the alpacas industry and many breeders advertise their farms and alpacas for sale. There is also an endless supply of information on the internet.

Alpaca halter and performance shows are held across the country year round. New shows are created by the enthusiasm of the alpaca breeders. If there is a show near you, plan to attend one soon. AOBA (Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association) has produced several informative pieces including videos, color brochures, and a fiber brochure. Give us a call for more information on how to begin your new life style.

The major tax advantages of alpaca ownership include the employment of depreciation, capital gains treatment, and if you are an active hands on owner, the benefit of offsetting your ordinary income from other sources with expenses from your farming business. We recommend that you also consult an accountant for advice in setting up your books.

Caring for alpacas is very easy. They are naturally clean (They will share a communal dung pile). They are remarkably hardy and disease free. They do not require large amounts of land, and their gentle nature and intelligence makes them easy to train and safe for children to handle.

Alpacas originated in the harsh climactic conditions of the Andes. They do not require expensive heated barns. A shelter from the wind in cold weather and shade from the sun in hot weather will keep them comfortable. They do not challenge fences, so no special fencing is required. One acre of land can support approx. 8 animals.

There diets consist of grass hay with a small amount of grain supplement daily.

Alpacas require little special care beyond toenail trimming as needed, worming on a monthly basis with yearly inoculations , and shearing.

What we can do

You will probably have many questions as you explore alpacas. We will be happy to help with any questions you may have, and direct you to other sources of information. You should also prepare a business plan before making your investment. We would be happy to spend some time helping you understand what you need to know in order to create your plan.

Whether you purchase from West Wind Alpacas or not, we can help. You may not have your farm purchased or your out buildings built, we can help with agisting. (Boarding) your purchase. For the new buyer this task can be daunting. Through the agistment program we will help you build confidence along the way to learn all you need to know until you are ready to take your alpacas home. The health of your investment is assured. Under this method you, as the owner, would still make the important decisions about care, breeding, sales, etc. Allow West Wind Alpacas to help build and multiply your core herd while you build equity.

With a small herd, it is not yet economical to purchase a herd sire as it is to purchase breedings. Weather you use one of our herd sires, or one of our neighboring farms, we can provide this service for you, allowing you to defer the purchase of a herd sire until your herd is large enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

We are happy to receive visitors and give them a tour of our  farm. Please call to arrange a farm visit.

Fiber Mill started in 2006

As of Dec of 2006 we have placed in operation a complete full service fiber mill. Now instead of putting your fiber in your barns give us a call and we can help get that fiber processed for you to sell or make products of your own.

You can view our price list on the Fiber Processing.