- We transport alpacas all around New Zealand, and with importing and exporting, all around the world. We usually provide a bed of hay for our alpacas to travel in. It is a comfortable place to sit, something to eat en route, and also a good distraction to get their attention and keep them in the float once loaded. Alpacas are placid travellers, usually sitting down once the vehicle starts moving, and when the motion stops, they stand up to look around. Unlike horses, which stand to travel and are tied with a lead on their halter, do not tie alpacas for travel. more »
- Transporting alpacas for showing, for breeding, or as a service to marketing, is certainly a component of the “alpaca lifestyle.” Drive into any alpaca ranch and you usually will find some type of trailer parked near the barn. more »
- When I first got into alpacas I moved them around in my 2 horse bumper pull trailer. After all I was a horse person first and it’s what I had. However it became apparent that a different mode of transporting alpacas was needed with the crazy gas prices now days. Hitching up a 2,000 pound trailer (which is not the most aerodynamic) to haul around a 120lb animal to be bred or to the vet is not economically friendly. more »
- In the Southeast one of the things most dreaded by alpaca owners is heat stress, especially after the "Summer of 2007". Heat stress can not only cause temporary or permanent sterility, it can be lethal regardless of type, sex or age of the Alpaca. After the unusual heat wave and high humidity in the Southeast this past summer, I wanted to share what High Meadow Alpacas does to prevent and cope with if it happens. This is certainly not what everyone will do or should do, but just happens to be "our" protocol. Having shade and shelter is imperative. And then you go to work from there. more »
- Those considering entering the alpaca industry should engage an accountant for advice in setting up your books and determining the proper use of the concepts discusses in this brochure. A very helpful IRS publication, #225, entitled The Farmer's Tax Guide, can be obtained from your local IRS office. The goal of this discussion of IRS rules is to provide the guidelines for discussion with your accountants and financial advisors so that you can be more conversant in the issues of taxation as they relate to raising alpacas. more »