All this researching led to their first alpaca farm visits about seven years ago and the couple realized they were really drawn to the gentle, lovable animals, raised for their fleece.
“Our three children were growing up and we wanted something we could grow with and stay with and would be a lot of fun,” Teresa said.
According to Ira, their first purchase of two males, “Chip” and “Cole,” though at a bargain price, was probably not the best move, since the goal, it turns out, is to increase the number of animals. “We really should have started out with females,” Ira said.
But it didn’t take long for the Wilkersons to add to their family, bringing two pregnant females into the mix. “Alpacas have about a 24- to 25-year lifespan and can have babies about once every 11 months,” Ira said.
“Our goal is not to keep breeding them constantly, like some of the larger farms. We don’t want to get that huge here.”
Daughter Stacy delivered the first baby born on their property and is actively involved in raising the alpacas.
And because alpacas are so docile, the Wilkersons also found out they would need a guard animal to protect them, either a dog or a llama.
“We decided to get our dog, Sam, a Great Pyrenees,” Teresa said. “He follows them everywhere and protects them from coyotes.”
So why raise and breed alpacas? According the Wilkersons, the demand for their fleece is growing, especially with the increase in allergies to wool products.
“The fleece of the alpaca has no lanolin, so if you are allergic to wool, you aren’t allergic to alpaca fleece,” said Teresa.
“It’s lightweight and warm.” She also said alpacas are very “low maintenance” and easy to take care of.
“They eat about as much as a large dog and about 85 percent of the time they are just grazing on our property,” Ira said.
According to Ira, now is a great time to get started in the alpaca businesses because prices have dropped dramatically.
And on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25, 2011 National Alpaca Farm Days will be held, during which many local alpaca farms, including the Wilkersons’, will be open so people interested in alpacas can visit and learn more about the animals.
The Wilkerson’s website, www.bluerosealpacas.com, will soon feature their own line of natural alpaca fleece products, including hats, gloves and even bar soap wrapped in fleece.
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