Alpacas at PorterBray Pines was started by Barbara Bray and Julie Porter near Fresno, California. Alpacas are originally from South America and importation is no longer allowed in the U.S. So we are proud to have been THE FIRST ranch in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties to breed and shear these animals for their fleece.
And it all started with an advertisement. A television commercial got us interested in this unique business opportunity. We visited several alpaca ranches in California and one in Oregon. We fell in love with these wonderful animals that are in the camelid family and a cousin to llamas. They are raised for their wonderful fleece and for breeding.
Alpacas are extremely intelligent and we have found them to be very gentle. Ours are all registered with the Alpaca Registry, Inc. and most are insured. New alpaca ranchers start with as few as two or three alpacas or with as many as nine like we did. Our nine included three pregnant females and the herd grew to 12 within 90 days of our purchase. With three new crias in the fall of 2003, we were up to 15 at the end of 14 months in business. We usually breed for fall babies and try to avoid the hot summer and cool winter months.
Our pasture is still quite full with our herd of 21 today!
Alpacas come in 22 different colors and have an 11 to 11 and 1/2 month gestation period. They are sheared annually in the spring. Each animal nets approximately 3- 8 pounds of fleece, and it sells for $2-$5 per ounce.
Alpacas graze on grass and tree leaves and eat llama pellets and orchard grass hay. Our alpacas love fruitless mulberry leaves, too. They are very gentle on the land and we would personally recommend no more than 6-8 per acre. 
All of our animals are registered (or pending) with ARI. All of our herdsires and dams are insured. We are members of AOBA, Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, CALPACA, AFCNA, Alpaca Fiber Co-op of North America.
We started an informal group of alpaca breeders in our area, now called ABC2. We meet quarterly to identify ways to provide help and support to each other.
We would love to tell you more about our alpaca business, the network of owners and breeders in California and across the United States.
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