Ranch Philosophy

Black Wolf Ranch started as a dream and is now a reality. Bret and I began looking into ways we could live in a rural setting and make a living. During our search we discovered alpacas and began diligently researching these amazing animals. We joined AOBA and a couple of affiliates and within a year purchased our starter herd. We dove into the business with both feet!

We continue our education daily, spending all our time with these extraordinary animals. We share our successes and failures with our clients, other breeders and friends. We continue to carefully research and plan our breeding program and practices and are working with fiber experts like Ian Watt (www.elitealpacabreedingsystems.com) to insure we can measure our results as we hone our own specific breeding and fiber objectives.

At Black Wolf Ranch, we are dedicating our efforts to preserving the value and integrity of alpacas...committing these efforts to the fiber industry and breed. Here at Black Wolf Ranch we breed for quality fiber, confirmation and character and work hard at promoting the alpaca lifestyle. Black Wolf Ranch is working towards the breeding principles developed and promoted by Dr. Jim Watts in Australia. His philosophy is known as SRS® and promotes soft bundling locks of fine and closely aligned long fiber. Dr. Watt’s breeding program is based on the selection of animals through objective measurement and visual markers of fiber characteristics.

Bret and I, along with our herd manager, Judy, will discuss openly and honestly what is involved in starting an alpaca ranch and fiber business to any and all visitors. We will discuss the financial aspects, as well as, the emotional aspects because the alpaca’s well-being is the primary concern in our industry.

Our website offers some of the information we found as we researched the breed. Please look around and if you would like to talk with us, give us a call…we will be more than happy to share our experiences!

In the meantime… if you are interested in alpacas as a lifestyle, here are some suggestions:

Research, research, research! Potential new alpaca owners have a wide range of resources available to them; AOBA has an extensive library including books, videos and articles on alpaca husbandry, management, fiber, etc. all of which can be borrowed. Attend local events, such as clinics, shows or the national conference. Use the Internet, we found articles describing the alpaca industry, where it's headed, the risks and rewards of ownership.
Contact Breeders in you area and arrange for farm visits. AOBA can send a packet of information containing regional listing of farms. Visit as many breeders as you can. All farms operate differently; you can gather ideas on what maybe useful, such as fencing, barn structures, etc. Also, visit different sized farms to get a variety of farm philosophies and breeding programs. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!
Develop a business plan. Ask yourself the following questions… What do you want to do with the alpacas? Breed? Fiber production? Amount of initial investment? Land and shelter considerations? What will be your philosophy? What is your targeted clientele? Where do you want to be in 5 years or 10 years?
Focus on quality - When selecting your initial purchase of alpacas. Find the best female alpacas for your initial investment and goals. Purchase the ones that meet your business plan and are right for you. Bred females offer a quick return on your investment. Always have a pre-purchase exam, which is required for insurance purposes. Check bite, teeth, eyes, ears, hearing, lungs, and legs for correctness and all over conformation.
Locate a vet in your area, before you bring your alpacas home. If you can find one with camelid experience, great, if not find one who will work with you and understand their fee structure. Find a good source of hay, and look into grain and mineral supplements too!