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"I
was surprised at what they cost," he said. "I didn’t think
that I could pay what amounted to the price of a car for one of
them."
Although
raising alpacas seemed almost cost prohibitive, Sanders couldn’t get
them out of his mind.
What
else could he do? So, he reached deep into his pocket and founded
Alabama Peanuts and Pacas Farm.
He’s
been raising alpacas now for almost three years and he’s even more in
love than he was when he first saw them.
"I
don’t know when I’ve enjoyed anything any more," he said.
"Alpacas are called the huggable investment and they really are.
They are soft and fuzzy, like big teddy bears, and you want to hug them.
They have personalities. Children love them because they are so
friendly. And, for me, they are therapy. When I come down here, I leave
my worries behind. Being around them is so relaxing. The sound they make
is a soft humming and I find myself humming right along with them. They
are real pleasure to be around."
The only problem with raising alpacas in South Alabama is the heat and
this summer has been exceptionally hot.
"The
heat has been rough on them so I’ve got fans running in the barn all
the time," he said. "I cool them down with the water hose
and they love that. I’ve got wading pools they like to stand in and
some of them will actually lie down in the pools."
Sanders
currently has 17 alpacas, 10 females and seven males. The herd will soon
increase by nine.
"Alpacas
reproduce slowly," he said. "They usually have only one cria
(baby) a year. Most new breeders retain the offspring to build the herd
to a certain level before they sell. That’s what we’ve done."
The
primary profit in alpaca farming comes from selling breeder stock. The
United States and Canadian registries are closed to further importation
so growth from alpacas is from within.
"That
was important to know when we were considering getting into alpaca
farming," Sanders said. "But there is also money to be made
from the fiber."
Alpacas
are usually shorn once a year and produce up to 10 pounds of luxurious
fiber.
"Alpaca
fiber was once reserved for only the very rich, but today it’s
purchased by hand-spinners and fiber artists. It’s also sent to mills
to be produced into yarn and finished goods. We send our fiber to a mill
in the Northeast."
Sanders
said hikers, athletes and outdoorsmen like alpaca socks and clothing
because of its natural wicking properties.
"It
wicks moisture away from the body," he said. "I wear alpaca
socks in the summer because they do wick the moisture away from your
feet. They also keep your feet warm and dry in the winter. Travelers
especially like alpaca clothing because it’s wrinkle resistant."
To
hear Jerry Sanders talk, there’s not anything "bad" he can
say about the lovable, huggable animals with the funny name and the
mystical faces.
"The
alpacas business has been good for us and I can recommend it," he
said. "There are a couple of other alpaca farms around Ozark and
one in Dothan, so interest is growing. I enjoy talking to people about
alpacas and the business."
Sanders
can hardly wait to get home every day so that he can walk down to the
barn and hear the soothing, humming of his alpacas and see the friendly
faces of his fairy tale animals. That’s all the therapy this massage
therapist needs.
Sanders
loves to talk about alpacas and can be reached at 334-445-2762 or visit
his website at www.alabamapeanutsand
pacas.com.
Jaine
Treadwell is a freelance writer from Brundidge. |
