Comments for SafeHouse Farm Alpacas

Comment on Illinois Alpaca Farm by Marilyn Geier

Marilyn Geier — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:22:23 +0000

I have for sale a I was told it was an Alpaca rocking toy. I wasn’t sure if it was a Llama or Alpaca. If you would be interested in more information I can measure it. It is quite large and sturdy. I am 73 and can not send pictures. Thank you. Marilyn

Comment on What We Do With the Fiber by Steve

Steve — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:05:09 +0000

Raising alpacas is a fun side business for our family. Due to our schedule we’re not available to be open to the public. However, we can do visits by appointment only for those interested in owning alpacas. That said, we do open our farm up to the general public every September for National Alpaca Farm Days. We also try to accommodate school groups the best we can. If you’re interested in bringing the class out please call or email us and we’ll try to work out a good day.

Comment on What We Do With the Fiber by Wilma Nenninger

Wilma Nenninger — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:45:25 +0000

Living in Palatine and working in Barrington, I’ve driven past your entrance several times and wondered if you are open to visits from the public? Also if you to any interaction with school goups, I teach at Noah’s Ark Christian Preschool and Kindergarten in Barrington.

Comment on Alpaca Color Genetics by Steve

Steve — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:16:21 +0000

Color theory is a tough to understand and I am by no means an expert. I do that it's even tougher and less understood with grays and roan colored animals. Sometimes the white on darker animals is considered the white spot gene and it confuses the outcome even more so. Here's another article that may help from the Alpaca Research Foundation

Comment on Alpaca Follicular Skin Biopsies by Steve

Steve — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:12:07 +0000

There are two places in the US for alpaca skin biopsies. The first is Ian Watt of Alpaca consulting and the second is Norm Evans. The results from the two services differ by 20-50% in density. Ian has done biopsies on a lot more animals since he's been doing it longer and has do it in Australia and the US. In my direct conversations with him, Ian has never tested and animal in the 100's for sq/mm even though he has tested over 4,000 alpacas. Norm has provided that high mark to 4 animals within a 60 mile radius of my farm. I can't explain why Norm's numbers are always higher but the are. I only point it out so that when you compare animals you do so using the exact same testing lab.

Comment on Alpaca Follicular Skin Biopsies by Mike Six

Mike Six — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:24:09 +0000

I would like to order 3 skin biopsy kits. I am having trouble finding out how to purchase.
Thank you,
Mike
MMA
540.270.6786

Comment on Alpaca Color Genetics by Joy Elliott

Joy Elliott — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:53:57 +0000

I’m a student in the UK and we have 2 llamas that had a cria in December. The dam is guanaco wild type thus red on her back and mostly white elsewhere which some darker skin underneath the white on her face. The sire is largely white. The cria looks like her mother apart from the fact that she had more red on her ears and on one of them, a splash of white that looks like its been painted. One ear is also lopsided. I have spent hours trying to figure out the genetics. I am getting extremely confused with all the theories.

If I understand correctly the female is A and the male is probably Ww. I presume A is dominant. There is one prior offspring from a different white male.

Would it be correct that the lopsided ear would be carried from the sire? He has mated before but we have not seen his offspring although I am told they were also guananco type. No information on prior offspring ears.

I am getting so confused as to what exactly are the traits that I see and how do I express them scientifically. If you can enlighten me it would be much appreciated.

Thanks