Last week we went to the Double O Alpaca farm in Gainesville, VA.  It is a beautiful farm located a little ways off of 29.  We went there with our Cloverbud group, and learned A LOT! 

Did you know:

Alpaca’s are related to llamas? 

They are very gentle and quiet creatures.

They are used for their wool, which is called fiber.

They have feet like the pads of a dog, so they don’t tear up pastures.

The entire pod will use one common bathroom spot, so they are very clean animals.

They ‘bathe’ by rolling in sand.

The Double O farm has over 300 alpacas living within its 60 acre borders.  They are mainly a breeding and showing facility.  They have a male who is worth 600, 000 dollars.  Yes, I did not add too many zeros.  That is higher than the current assessed value of my house.  He lives in a pen the size of my living room.  These guys will be sheared in the first part of May.  Many of the head go to state and national shows.  The wool is judged on colour and texture.  They are really sweet and curious creatures, not at all aloof like their cousins, the llama.

We spent a lot of time around this pen.  It was full of Mamas and babes that have not yet been weaned.  It was fun to watch the babies frolic in the warm spring sun.  These two have found a tender bit of grass, while number three is taking up to see what is going on there!

 

They eat only the tender grass shoots coming up from the ground, and their teeth need to be filed so they won’t grow up into their nasal cavity.

 

I think their noses look like bunnies.  What do you think?

 

This is a face any mother could love!!