Wooly, wooly

CALLICOON, NY — Alpaca breeders across the United States and Canada invite the public to come to their farm or ranch on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 to meet their alpacas and learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Nature’s Reserve Alpacas, located at 408 River Road, will welcome guests to join them for many activities including tours of the farm. The event is free.

Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are beautiful, intelligent animals native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984.

Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors. Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious and predictable. Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming.

Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every 12 to 18 months. They produce five to ten pounds of fiber. Because of its soft texture, alpaca fiber is sometimes compared to cashmere. It is as warm as wool but one-third the weight, and comes in 22 natural colors. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without any itching or irritation because alpaca fiber is smooth.

Headquartered in Nashville, TN, the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) serves to facilitate the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the growth and development of the national herd and its products.

To find out more about National Alpaca Farm Days visit NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com.