Ann & Gerald Turner
HC 71, Box 416 • Ava, MO 65608
417-683-6699 • alpacas@alpacarepublicranch.com

Our Alpaca Adventure is a dream that became reality!
We would love to share with you our excitement that we experience every day.
Our Alpaca Adventure is a dream come true! It is both personally and financially rewarding to us.
Please give us a call us at 417-683-6699 to schedule your visit with us at
Alpaca Republic Ranch and to begin your adventure!

Through careful genetic selection at Alpaca Republic Ranch, we continue to improve the fiber characteristics with each cria born into our herd. Starting with a conformationally correct foundation, we make breeding choices from many wonderful bloodlines and have found it to be fun, providing an opportunity for us to plan and present rich, bright colors, through a palette of luxurious alpaca fiber as we continue to improve the quality of our herd.

We enjoy receiving guests at our ranch throughout the year. Just give us a call to schedule your personal appointment so we can show you why we truly do enjoy each day with our alpacas.  Alpacas are unique, inquisitive, and gentle creatures. They:
• Produce a renewable fiber product, harvested annually
• Produce fiber known throughout the world for its luxurious, soft, lightweight, warm, and hypoallergenic attributes
• Are earth friendly, they--
--Have padded feet rather than hooves
--Require small acreages
• Allow breeders across America to--
--Maintain green space on their family farms
--Enjoy peaceful, rural lifestyles

Alpacas “Are the World’s Finest Livestock Investment,” without a doubt. After your research, we are confident you will agree.
--What other investment allows you to enjoy soft, cuddly hugs and sweet kisses, when you like, while simultaneously enjoying generous financial and personal rewards?

Vital to the success of any alpaca farm is excellent herd health. We have been fortunate to have superb Vet Care provided by Robert E. Main, DVM, at Gainesville Veterinary Clinic, Gainesville, MO. He has the knowledge and experience with camelids that we require. We are happy to say: Alpaca Republic Ranch is a BVD Free farm.

~Our farm is small enough that each alpaca is known individually. "Hands On" daily, we have learned much, which we enjoy sharing with each interested person. It would be our pleasure to help you begin your personal alpaca adventure with these lovely creatures...call us today. Add one or more of our superb alpacas to your new or established herd...or let us help you start your own alpaca herd/farm in the way YOU choose.

Since Gerald is retired, he devotes his time to the care of the farm, utilizing excellent husbandry practices, and providing proper nutrition for our alpacas’ health and well-being. We continue to improve our herd's quality with each new cria by devoting special attention to the selection of every herdsire, selecting each for his excellent fleece characteristics and conformation.

~ We cheerfully welcome each day's joy. Alpacas, through their curiosity, playfulness, and sweet personalities draw us to them.
~ Our lifestyle with alpacas has provided more rewarding experiences and fun than we dreamed possible, personal blessings for us and awards for our alpacas.
~ Our goal from the beginning has been to enjoy our new lifestyle, share it with others at every opportunity, and have fun

Join us at Alpaca Republic Ranch! Let us share with you:
~ The Alpaca, a unique, inquisitive, gentle creature
~ Our enthusiasm for our Alpaca Adventure
~ Why we consider it an adventure of a lifetime...

We at Alpaca Republic Ranch are proud members of ...

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* Huacaya Bred Females *
 

* Huacaya Open Females *

* Herdsires *
 

* Package Deal *

With this Package ~ We Guarantee 1 Female Cria for You
[A Total of 4 Alpacas]
You will have two Dark Brown Girls (Cocoa and Chocolate Mocha) with:
One cria due in '08 and one in '09.

~~~With this offer:
We *** guarantee you at least one female cria***.

Price: $16,500
 

Cocoa - Huacaya, Bred Female, Medium Brown Add this wonderful young, proven dam Cocoa to your herd and you will have a true prize at a remarkable bargain: - Fiber is fine, with good density and staple length, and high-frequency crimp. - Mothering skills are the best, as she has proven again with her new cria Hershey, born 9/27/07.

Chocolate Mocha - Huacaya, Female, Dark Brown From sire Cimarron Stormy Monday, Mocha inherits the excellent bloodlines of PPeruvian Felix G4562 and Full Accoyo 4Peruvian Legacy. Mocha has the sweetest disposition and a gentle, curious nature...seems she is always peaking around the corner, not to miss a moment of life.

* Special Support *
For Our Customers

• Available 24/7 for your questions!  While we don't claim to have all the answers, our years in business have taught us how to  how to find the right answer.

• Visit your farm if needed to discuss pasture, layout, fencing, shelter construction, location, and layout.

• Training ~ Learn by doing, with us by your side.  Visit our farm and learn halter training, nail clipping, oral medicating techniques, injections, and breeding.

• Have a personal visit with our veterinarian, many years of camelid experience, to have all of your medical questions answered.  He will answer all your questions including specific questions about the alpacas you are purchasing.

• Record keeping.

* Special Incentives *
For Our Customers

• After purchasing your first alpaca receive a 10% Discount on your second and 15% on your third and ALL future alpacas.

• FREE Breedback for any purchased female to any Alpaca Republic Ranch Herdsire at time of breeding.

• 50% Discount on all breeding after first paid breeding for each female.

• 30 Day Live Birth Guarantee.

• FREE Delivery of purchased alpacas for up to 250 miles.

• 60 Day FREE boarding on your new purchases with discounts on extended boarding.

• FREE Halter and Lead with each alpaca purchased.

• FREE Neo Natal Manual with purchase of first pregnant female.

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I am reading terms I'm not familiar with -- cria, agist, gestation, camelid, conformation, pronking...?
A cria (cree-ah) is a baby alpaca, agist (a-jist) is another term for boarding, gestation (jes-tay-shun) is the time of being carried in the womb from conception to birth,  camelid (ca-mel-id) is a group term for alpacas, llamas, guanacos, vicunas and camels, and conformation is the proportionate shape of an alpaca.  When alpacas run for fun, they prance and bounce through the air with all four feet off the ground -- this is called pronking and is a joy to watch.

What is the difference between a huacaya and suri alpaca, between a Peruvian, Bolivian and Chilean, and what is an Accoyo?
There are two recognized alpaca fleece types: that of the huacaya (wa-kye-ya) which has a fine, dense, crimpy wool-like structure with excellent insulating qualities and the suri (sir-ee) which has a longer, twisted, silky textured fiber with no crimp.  Both are distinct and have excellent value.  90% of the alpacas in the world are huacayas and 10% are suris.

Peruvian, Bolivian, and Chilean refer to the country of origin of an alpaca.  In competitions this information is not a factor -- alpacas are judged and ranked on the correctness of their conformation and the quality of their fiber.

An Accoyo denotes an animal with lineage traced to the herd of Don Julio Barreda, a famous Peruvian breeder.

What are the average stats for alpacas -- size, weight, life expectancy, breeding age, gestation period?
Alpacas are small and easy to handle -- they are about 36" tall at the withers and weigh about 150 pounds. Female alpacas begin breeding at between 14 and 18 months of age, while males begin breeding at about three years. The females produce approximately one baby per year during a reproductive life of 15-20 years. Their gestation period averages 11.5 months.

What is the price range for alpacas?
The factors that influence individual alpaca prices include color, conformation, fleece quality, and quantity, age, and sex. Females sell for more money on average than males, but good quality herdsires demand the highest individual prices.

The range of value for breeding females is currently between $10,000 and $40,000. Young, unproven high quality stud prospects routinely sell for between $7,500 and $25,000.  The highest quality males with unique characteristics or exceptional offspring on the ground have sold in excess of $750,000.

Alpacas that are not of breeding quality are very desirable and salable as pets and for their fiber -- their price range averages $500 to $1500.

Can I lease an alpaca?
Yes, it is the the quickest start to owning alpacas with the least initial investment!  For a set fee you may lease a bred dam (mother) for the duration of her pregnancy and own the cria (baby) when it is born.  Once it is weaned -- usually at 6 months old -- you may sell it, agist (board) it or take it home with you.  Please click HERE for more details.

What if I don't want to breed alpacas but want them just as pets or to use their fiber?
If an alpaca does not have the characteristics necessary for breeding, it can be purchased very reasonably ($500-1500) as a pet/fiber quality animal and would be registered as a non-breeder --  reclassification to a breeding status must have the approval of the breeder from whom you originally purchased the animal.  Many families and spinners own pet quality animals.  It is important to note that alpacas are herd animals and need the company of another alpaca or llama -- therefore pet/fiber animals are often sold only in pairs to new owners. 

What kind of people own alpacas?
Raising alpacas is a rewarding experience for families with children and also for couples approaching retirement who want to blend an income producing business with a peaceful, stress-free lifestyle.  Spinners and weavers may own pet  quality animals as a source of fiber for their hobby or home-based business.

Do I need a farm to own alpacas?
No, we (or a breeding farm of your choice) can be "your farm".  For a small daily fee, usually $3 to $5, your alpacas can be agisted (boarded) -- indefinitely or until you are ready to take them home -- and receive excellent daily care and professional vet services.

I have land -- is it enough and what type of facilities do I need on it to raise alpacas?
Alpacas can be pastured at 5-10 per acre.  They require minimal fencing, a supply of fresh water and shelter to provide shade in hot weather and protection from the elements in extremely cold winters.  Because alpacas are gentle animals without any means of protecting themselves, owners often use electric fencing, guard llamas or a livestock guardian dog for protection against predators.  We have Argus, our Akbash guardian dog -- click HERE for more information.  

How often are alpacas sheared and what can I do with the fiber?
Alpacas are sheared once a year, usually in the spring before hot weather sets in.  Each animal will produce at least five to eight pounds of fleece a year.  The fiber can be sold to cottage industries that revolve around hand spinning and weaving -- it sells readily $2 to $6 an ounce to local artisans -- or sent to a fiber co-op, such as the one endorsed by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) which provides a commercial outlet for all breeders.  The newly formed Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) accepts fleece from its members, and turns the precious textile into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and demand for this every day luxury.

We are currently sending a portion of our fiber to mini-mills to be machine spun.  The batches are separated by each animal -- therefore we know that a particular yarn came from a certain alpaca.

I don't have a livestock or medical background -- can I do this?
Yes, with the help of an experienced breeder, a skilled veterinarian, and the desire to learn, you can do this.  If you do not desire a "hands-on" alpaca experience, you can choose to agist (board) your alpacas on a breeding farm where they will receive excellent daily care and vet services -- please click HERE for details.

How do I find a qualified vet in my area?
We will be happy to help you locate a vet -- basically, it is a process of asking other alpaca or llama owners in your area, checking with established camelid vets in your state, checking with your regional associations and interviewing candidates.

Is there a good support system for new owners and breeders?
Yes, excellent support is already in place through the national organization (AOBA), regional associations, and established fiber co-ops.  You can also expect a high level of support from the breeder you buy from, other owners and your own skilled vet.

Are there attractive tax advantages to raising alpacas and how do I find out which ones apply to me?
Raising alpacas at your own ranch for profit can offer some very attractive tax advantages -- all the expenses attributable to the endeavor can be written off against your income.  If you choose to lease and/or agist (board) your animals, many advantages still apply.  A helpful publication is the Farmers Tax Guide IRS Publication 225, which is available from the Cooperative Extension or online from the IRS.  Please click HERE to view a full copy of the investment and tax information as presented on the website of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA).  We advise you to seek the advice of your accountant to design an investment plan that best suits your financial profile.  

Can I insure my alpacas?
Yes, alpacas can be fully insured against loss which protects your investment.

Still have questions?
Please feel free to call (417-683-6699), email or visit -- we are happy to help!

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Thank you for visiting Alpaca Republic Ranch, LLC!

Please contact us by email at alpacas@alpacarepublicranch.com.
Or by phone at 417.683.6699.

Ann & Gerald Turner
HC 71, Box 416 • Ava, MO 65608
417-683-6699 • alpacas@alpacarepublicranch.com