2025/2026 Alpaca Owners Guide

Be prepared for change. Beth Osborne of The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula, California, originally entered the alpaca industry concentrating solely on the breeding of high-end breed stock. Osborne's focus today is to be an asset to her community by providing jobs, hosting community events and tours, and providing community service hours to high school students. Osborne also concentrates on her farm store where she sells handcrafted alpaca fiber products. She also cares for alpacas other owners board at her ranch, which provides additional income.

A O A , headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, serves as the national livestock association for

Everything about the care of any livestock is easier when you have help and support to guide you.

alpacas in North America. As the largest alpaca association in the world, AOA facilitates the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the tracking of bloodlines, registration and transfer of alpacas, Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) program, national educational outreach, the national show system, marketing, public relations, and its highly respected judges training program.  A Labor of Love Owning alpacas is as rewarding as it is demanding. Feeding, cleaning pastures, maintaining fencing and shelters, checking animal health, and assisting with births all require time and dedication. Alpaca farming supports American-made production. Farms create local jobs, produce renewable fiber, and operate without government subsidies. Alpacas are gentle on the land and easy on fencing, making them a safe livestock option for families and children. For many owners, it’s more than a business—it’s a way of life rooted in care, connection, and sustainability. 

"I have built a family of boarders and we gather at the farm for felting days, where we create items to sell in the store," said Osborne. "We've begun making nuno scarves, which shoppers have come to expect. Around the holidays, they sell like hotcakes!"

 Becoming Part of an Agricultural Community

Joining organizations focused on the alpaca and livestock industry offers countless resources to help ensure a successful alpaca ownership. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA),

regional affiliates, FFA, 4-H, State Farm Bureaus, County and State Visitors Associations, and County Agricultural Extension offices can provide access to local resources. Check your state for your own associations. Everything about the care of any livestock is easier when you have help and support to guide you in the proper direction instead of reinventing the wheel on your own.

People who expect to succeed in this livestock industry must run it like the business that it is. Connie Betts, Oregon alpaca breeder

Photo courtesy of Julie Van Meter

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