Alpaca Links
Clicking on any bold orange headline below will open that link in a new window.
Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association
AOBA is the national organization for alpaca owners in the United States. The Tennessee Alpaca Association is an AOBA regional affiliate. Lots of general alpaca information on this site.
There are alpaca shows all over the US throughout the year, though most occur in the Spring and Fall. Click here to find one near you. From the AOBA Show Division website.
ARI manages the database that tracks all registered alpacas in the United States. Alpacas are registered via blood-type DNA analysis, which verifies parentage and checks lineage all the way back to the point of importation into the US. ARI members can access the database and seek information on individual alpacas.
Educational website focusing exclusively on alpacas. This ARI-sponsored site provides a central location for alpaca information from many sources. LOTS of good alpaca information here, with particular emphasis on ARI and AOBA. The site will continue to evolve as additional information is added and updated over time.
Very interesting map showing location of alpaca farms throughout the US. On the ARI website, created from registration data. Caution: Large file, thus extremely slow download.
Alpacas on TV: Green Christmas
Here is a segment from the nationally televised holiday special “It’s a Green Christmas” where alpacas were featured as an eco-friendly livestock and fiber industry. This was a syndicated show that ran in over 100 markets, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City from November 21, 2009 through January 4, 2010.
(10/3/08) Wall Street Journal front-page article describing alpacas as one investment that people are turning to in response to recent stock market dissappointments.
Online video from CBS Evening News describes an alpaca owner's choice to invest in alpacas as an alternative to the stock market. Originally broadcast 12/2/08.
Alpacas in the News: USA Today
What sound does an alpaca make? Opening with a hum, this online video from USA Today describes alpacas as the perfect blend between pet and business venture. Originally broadcast 1/6/09.
Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America welcomes all North American alpaca owners to join the Co-op and work together to build a sustainable and successful alpaca fiber industry.
AFCNA: Alpaca Products for Sale
Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America sells quality alpaca clothing and yarns made in the US from North American alpaca fiber grown on member's farms.
AlpacaStreet: The Alpaca Home Page
AlpacaStreet is a website FOR alpaca breeders and BY alpaca breeders. The goal of AlpacaStreet.com is to provide useful and timely information by putting breeders just a "click-or-two away" from everything in the alpaca world. A place to make your farm name known, advertise animals for sale, find a herdsire, or search for alpacas to purchase.
AlpacaStreet: Searchable Database
AlpacaStreet's search page for those seeking to purchase alpacas. Flexible searches by age, gender, heritage, bloodlines, color, location (state), price, and/or registration number.
AlpacaNation - Find Alpaca Information
AN is a centralized marketplace for the alpaca industry -- alpaca breeders, alpaca products and services. They provide access to the latest alpaca farming information, stimulating the growth of the global alpaca industry. Categories include: Alpacas For Sale, Alpaca Farms and Breeders, Alpaca Service Providers, Alpaca Products, and Alpaca Farming Information. Links to two of those AlpacaNation sites follow:
AlpacaNation - Alpacas For Sale
A good place to find alpacas that are for sale in Tennessee and all around the country. A searchable alpaca database is highly flexible and easy to use, making AlpacaNation an efficient way to see many alpacas in one place.
A good source of shared information on many aspects of alpaca ownership. Helpful, often lively, open discussion of alpaca questions. Site is well moderated and folks are nice, so the vast majority of answers are caring and friendly. A great place to get answers to your alpaca questions.
A network for alpaca people to socialize, interact and learn. Includes discussion forums for alpaca people, by alpaca people. Interesting topics such as "Cria Corner", "Fleece", "Showing Your Alpaca", "Tips and Tricks", and the apparently popular "No good category, Post it here". Freewheeling discussion, helpful folks. You can browse through for insight into what alpaca people are thinking. Or jump in and join the fun. Just sign up (no cost) and ask away to get your alpaca questions answered.
Pick Tennessee Products: Alpacas
Link is to list of alpaca farms on the Pick Tennessee website. Run by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Pick Tennessee encourages the purchase of Tennessee-grown agricultural products. Their mission is simple: to increase farm income for Tennessee producers.
Since Tennessee is a right-to-farm state, Tennessee alpaca farmers have the law on their side should someone attempt to have their farm removed through government action. Burden of proof is on the complainer, not the farmer. Link is to text of the actual law.
The mission of the ARF is to encourage and support scientific research which benefits the North American alpaca industry, primarily in the areas of alpaca health, husbandry, genetics and fiber.
List of links
Will continue to expand as TAA members contribute further ideas.