Are alpacas profitable?
Alpacas are shorn once a year, usually in the spring before hot weather sets in. Each animal will produce four to eight pounds of fleece a year. The fiber can be sold to cottage industries that revolve around hand spinning and weaving — it sells readily $20 to $40 a fleece to local artisans — or sent to a fiber co-op, such as the one endorsed by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) which provides a commercial outlet for all breeders. The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts fleece from its members, and turns the precious textile into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and demand for this every day luxury.
