Sustainability

Being considered some of the greenest animals, alpacas help us work towards sustainability. They are easier on the land due to their grazing techniques helping perseve the land to feed them for the following years. 

• Selective Grazing: Alpacas are selective grazers. They nibble on the tips of grass and other vegetation without uprooting it. This helps maintain the health of the plants and promotes regrowth.

• Reduced Soil Erosion: By not pulling up the roots, alpacas help prevent soil erosion. The grass roots remain intact, which helps hold the soil together and reduces the risk of erosion.

• Lower Impact on Vegetation: Their grazing method allows for a more sustainable use of pastureland. They do not overgraze, as they leave a portion of the grass to continue growing, which supports the overall health of the ecosystem.

• Less Soil Compaction: Alpacas are lighter than cattle and horses, which means they cause less soil compaction. This helps maintain soil structure and encourages better water infiltration.

• Efficient Digestion: Their digestive systems are well-adapted to their diet, allowing them to extract nutrients efficiently while minimizing waste.

Additionally, alpacas produce less methane than cattle and other ruminants, making their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions lower. They also have a smaller ecological footprint overall, making them a sustainable choice for land management and fiber production. With their fiber being free of lanolin and oils no harsh chemicals are needed to be added to it to keep the integretity of the fleece as well keeping its flame resistant abilities. Alpaca fiber has a relatively low flammability due to its structure. It tends to smolder rather than burst into flames when exposed to high heat. This is partly because alpaca fibers are less likely to ignite easily compared to some other natural and synthetic fibers.

Sustainability is something that is important to our farm and something we work towards everyday. Choosing alpacas allows us to work towards this goal.