Tahoe Breeze Alpacas

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas Q&A

ALPACANATION: Tell us about yourself...

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: My wife and I were both born and raised in Southern California. We lived in Bishop, California for a few years after we were first married and then settled in Ventura County, where we raised our two boys. Every year it got more crowded. After our sons were through high school and in pursuit of their dreams we found ourselves looking for a slower life style.

What's an alpaca? That's what I found myself asking on the way to our first alpaca "farm days" open house in Somis Ca. Next it was alpaca seminars in Flagstaff Az and Hillsboro Or.

Aaah, we made the move. We're finally back in the eastern Sierra. Very similar in both climate and geography to the town of Bishop that we both loved so much, Gardnerville, Nv is the perfect spot for us to settle and raise alpacas.

Life has been good to us and it seems to be getting better all the time. Our kids are happy and healthy, ditto our alpacas, and we're meeting the nicest, most caring and genuine people in this business

ALPACANATION: How long have you been in the alpaca business?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: Three years.

ALPACANATION: How did you become interested in alpacas?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: We saw an ad in Sunset Magazine for a "farm day" at a local alpaca farm. We literally had never seen an alpaca before that visit. From that point we decided we were interested enough that we would attend some introductory seminars at various ranches in the western US.

ALPACANATION: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: A breeze, or even a good stiff gale coming down the pass from Lake Tahoe is a common occurence in our neck of the woods. Hmmm, what sounds better? Tahoe Breeze or Tahoe Gale. Ok, Tahoe Breeze it is.

We also wanted our name to help people picture approximately where we are located. Most people know at least roughly, where Lake Tahoe is on the map.

ALPACANATION: What sets your farm and herd apart from others in the industry?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: We do have some physical traits that we breed and manage for, at Tahoe Breeze Alpacas-
-Both males and females will be slightly larger than the current average alpaca in the United States. Our males will stand slightly higher than 35 inches at the withers and our females will stand slightly higher than 33 inches at the withers.
-All animals will exhibit a strong, square frame, with a solid bone mass.

We breed and manage for the following fiber characteristics:-
-It is our goal to breed for alpacas that will produce ten pounds of dense, soft fleece every year, with a micron count of 24 or less. The fleece will contain little or no guard hair. The color of the fiber in our herd will remain secondary to the overall quality of fiber. While having a stylishly colored herd may look great in the field, it remains the quality of their fiber, which will ultimately gain alpacas the acceptance they truly deserve.

ALPACANATION: What is your greatest achievement or favorite memory since you started raising alpacas?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: We have taken what was essentially a bare piece of land with a house and barn, and turned it into a very functional, working alpaca ranch. A great deal of thought and preperation was involved in this venture. The results have been gratifying on a daily basis. We have wonderful memories of this experience-

-Our first alpacas coming off of the trailer onto "our place".
-Hoping they were still ok the next morning, when we went out to check.
-Seeing the first cria born on the ranch nursing from her mom.
-Running the alpacas from the back paddocks that we built, around to the front pasture that we fenced, through the runway that we fenced, and cushing in the shelters that we built.
-Seeing both adults and children come literally nose to nose with these peaceful, gentle creatures, and the resulting smiles and giggles.

ALPACANATION: What steps did you take to prepare for raising an alpaca herd?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: We attended a "farm days" alpaca open house in Somis, about 20 minutes from our home in Newbury Park. At that point we didn't know that it was actually our first step into a completely different lifestyle.

Next we attended an intoductory alpaca weekend seminar in Flagstaff Az. I think this is where we made our final decision to jump in. I do remember talking with a real estate broker while we were there. We were going to be successful alpaca breeders, and base ourselves in western Nevada, near Lake Tahoe.

After Flagstaff we attended another weekend seminar in Hillsboro Or. That is where we took the plunge. We came home to Ventura County, the proud owners of four bred female huacaya alpacas. In ten months, four adults and four cria would step off of the trailer onto our own ranch.

ALPACANATION: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: There remains no such thing as a perfect alpaca. Yes, some are definitely better than others, and the quality keeps getting better with each and every generation. Since coming to North America, the nutrition and living conditions have improved a great deal. We believe the closure of the alpaca registries in the U.S and Canada will lead to further improvement in genotype.

So, if you are new to alpacas, and are curious about the wonderful change in lifestyle that the vast majority of alpaca owners have undergone, we are excited for you. But, you absolutely must educate yourselves. Attend seminars and read books. Volunteer to help out at an alpaca ranch near your home. There’s no substitute for hands on experience.

Breeding stock will be the foundation of your business. Start with the best you can possibly afford. It may be a stretch financially right now, but you will be years ahead of the game.

ALPACANATION: How do you see your farm and alpaca business growing over the next 5 to 10 years?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: Our main business is breeding and selling alpacas. It has been stated by various authors that between 5 and 10 alpacas can be raised on each acre of land. We have a 12 acre ranch. It appears that we can support 70 to 80 alpacas comfortably. We grow our own hay on approximately three acres of the property and the rest is divided into various grazing pastures, and dry lot paddocks. There are two barns, a guesthouse and a fairly large residence as well.

We would also like to begin selling alpaca products from a small store on the ranch. We believe there is a viable market for alpaca garments and accessories sold from the family farm in the short term. As alpaca products become more accepted by the mainstream retail clothing industry, we see this trend diminishing in favor of the more established retailers.

ALPACANATION: What has been your biggest lesson learned in terms of breeding?

Tahoe Breeze Alpacas: If you make the wrong breeding decision at the beginning, you've wasted a year of valuable time, both yours and the alpacas. Do it right the first time. If it works, do it again.
To much emphasis is being placed on color. Remember, it's all about the fleece. Quality fleece, good confirmation and productive breeding characteristics. That's what we strive for.