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Alpaca History

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The History of Alpaca Breed Standards in the U.S.

Mike Safley | 05/12/06

The breeders who favor standards believe the practice of animal breeding is the pursuit of perfection and view standards as useful guides in the quest for the ideal alpaca.

Quechua Benefit; An Expanding Mission in the Andes

Mike Safley

Quechua Benefit began in 1996 with a modest trip from Portland, Oregon to Macusani, Peru. There were five team members; Dr. Mario Pedroza, his wife Barrie, Russ Gratton, Mike Safley and Barb Lopez, a dental assistant in Mario's office.

Sir Titus Salt and the Golden Fleece

Adrian Stewart | 05/19/06

Some of you may already have heard something of Sir Titus Salt and his wonderful adventure with alpaca fibre in the 1800’s but I suspect none of you will have heard what I might call the full story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed piecing it together.

Quechua Benefit; The Mission in the Andes

Mike Safley

The highlands of Peru are home to the vast majority of all the alpacas in the world. The Quechua Indians, who domesticated the vicuna more than five thousand years ago, are the source of the alpaca which now reside in the outside world.

In Search Of The World's Finest Alpacas

Mike Safley

The phone rang. It was 6:30 a.m. on my birthday, March 16, 1995. I was half asleep when Phil Mizrahie, of The Pet Center, asked me if I would like to fly to Peru and participate in the selection of 600 alpacas.

Chacu!

Mike Safley

The wild Vicuna stood rigid and still a mere three feet away. Her round ebony eyes mirrored the image of man -- her mortal enemy for more than ten thousand years. She seemed to be simultaneously contemplating escape and submission. The cria stood boldly at her side, while the Chacu swirled on around them.

A NEW DAWN IN THE ANCIENT ANDES (1997)

Mike Safley

Over the years, Julie and I have done business with Michell Co., S.A. purchasing everything from alpaca tops to top coats.

A Conversation with Don Julio Barreda

Mike Safley

Arequipa's El Tourista Hotel provokes a colonial image created by pink stucco walls, framed by high arches, open to broad verandas which give way to green lawns and giant, gnarled shade trees. The hotel, one of few still owned by the Peruvian Government, is set in Arequipa's finest residential neighborhood.

Alpacas, Sun, And Surf

Mike Safley

Imagine Maui or your favorite white sand beach, add a sky full of cockatoos and parrots, some wallabies, a few kangaroos, and a koala bear, and you've beamed yourself "down under" to the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast. "Feel the Warmth,"

Alpacas Down Under

Mike Safley

This is an old fashioned “on the road” story. Bruce Barr and I spent five days traveling the back roads and highways surrounding the city of Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne can easily lay claim to being the alpaca capital of Australia. There are a great many alpaca studs, or ranches as we call them, within one or two hours drive of Melbourne.

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Alpaca breeders from across the country share their secrets. Learn about training tips, marketing, fencing, showing and selling your alpacas. Better yet submit your own tips and tricks.

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