Alpaca farms growing in Oregon
By Megan SweeneySUTHERLIN, Ore. -- Some livestock farms in the Sutherlin community opened their gates to the public to see on Saturday.
Alpacas are getting to be more common in Oregon, and last weekend local farms celebrated National Alpaca Farm Days.
Some of the alpaca farms had visitors coming to see what the animals were all about, and the breeders got a change to show off their animals.
Sutherlin Rose Alapcas owner Jack Boardman has been showing and selling the animals for about ten years.
"Camelidae family, which are camels and lamas, they're a cousin to a lama, but they're a whole different type of animal. They're a lot more mellower of an animal. They're a smaller animal and they're basically used for fleece and breeding purposes."
He says the shearing of the alpacas starts around June 1, when it's starts getting "The animals in full fleece have about 5-6 inches of stapple length, so they have a big comforter on all the time. So we sheer them off around the first of June and they're happy little animals because the heat starts." Boardman and his wife use the animals fur to make clothes with yarn fleece that's high in demand.
"We use the fibers for spinning, we send some of it to a co-op to have them made into socks, sweaters and various garments." There are many alpaca farms in the Sutherlin area for anyone interested in finding out more about alpacas, or want to see them close up in person. |
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