Perennial Peanut Hay For Sale

What is Perennial Peanut?

The Perennial Peanut is a high-quality persistent tropical forage legume which can be grazed or fed to horses, dairy and beef cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, rabbits, Llamas and Alpacas. It can be stored as dry hay or silage, and is an ideal substitute for alfalfa. Florigraze and Arbrook cultivars of perennial peanut, or rhizoma peanut, as it is sometimes called, have been selected in Florida for their high yield, quality, persistence, disease resistance, and drought tolerance.
Perennial peanut is well-adapted to dry, sandy soils, and has the potential to persist indefinitely. Perennial peanut is planted using rhizomes, or underground stems, dug from a nursery planting. It does not require nitrogen fertilizer, and once established, can be maintained with low level management. Hay yields in north Florida range from 3-5 tons per year for well-established stands. Quality and uses are so similar to that of alfalfa that perennial peanut has been coined "Florida's alfalfa."
Perennial peanut grows well in Florida, south Georgia and southern portions of the Gulf States. It requires no pesticides for control of insects or diseases nor does it require applied nitrogen as do traditional grass forages. These characteristics make perennial peanut an environmentally sound, low resource consuming crop that ranks it as an important component for sustainable agricultural systems.


Just contact me for more information and price. Delivery is available.
rrpacas@gmail.com

Thunder in the barn

Dee

3 of our girls grazing in the field....

We got 8 of the 9 Alpacas home late Saturday night. We had to leave one little boy named Ozark so he could finish feeding off his mom for a few more months. We had no problems traveling and when we got home and put them in their pasture they wondered around smelling and looking but by the next morning they were adapted. We have tried to spend as much time outside with them as we can. The heat here has been unbearable so we are watering their bellys down several times a day. they have plenty of shade and a couple of fans and plenty of drinking water and they seem to be handling the heat just fine.

Here are a few photos of the Pacas at their new home. I will be posting more soon.

This is Hummer and Thunder at their new home.

Titan and Ranger

Rainey Ranch Herd.....

Interesting 'Paca Facts

Interesting 'Paca Facts

• Alpacas and llamas are domesticated species of the camelid family and have never been wild. Alpacas were domesticated from vicunas, and llamas from guancos. The camel is also a camelid.

• The lifespan of an alpaca is about 20 years. On average, females can be bred for the first time at about 18 months of age, and gestation is about 11½ months. 

• Alpacas and llamas have a bad reputation for spitting. This peculiar habit was developed to communicate with each other. For example, a female might spit at an amorous male to signal that she is not interested in his advances (which is one early indication that she may be pregnant). While alpacas rarely spit in anger at people, the distinction might be lost on anyone who happens to be in the line of fire!
• Alpacas have a variety of vocal communication techniques, including humming (an expression of contentment; mothers and their crias hum to each other constantly), snorting (warning), clicking (signals friendly and/or submissive behavior), screaming (fear, anger), and orgling (mating sound). It’s a veritable symphony.

• Apacas produce a luxury fiber that is soft, light, warm and strong. It is used in high-fashion garments, casual wear, accessories and home furnishings.

• Alpacas almost always give birth before mid-day, and they almost always have only one cria at a time. The newborn cria usually stands and begins nursing within an hour.

• A female can be re-bred around 14-21 days after parturition (giving birth).

• Female alpacas do not come into heat at regular intervals, but follicles develop on their ovaries in wave-like cycles that a breeder should understand in order to synchronize for optimal breedings. Camelids are induced ovulators, which means that the female does not ovulate any eggs until she has been bred by the male. The act of breeding stimulates hormonal events inside the female that result in ovulation.

• The average breeding life is 12 crias per female.

• Alpacas ruminate (chew their cud), even though they are not true ruminants. (Along with some other differences, true ruminants have a four-compartmented stomach, whereas alpacas have a three-compartmented stomach.) Cows, sheep, goats, deer, alpaca and other animals that ruminate digest plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal’s first stomach (known as the rumen), then regurgitating the semi-digested mass (now known as cud), and chewing it again. This makes them efficient eaters, requiring only about 1.5 percent of body weight in feed per day.

• Alpacas do not have upper teeth in front. They have six lower incisors that align with the dental pad on top. Alpacas also have little or no enamel on the tongue side of their teeth, and they experience continual tooth growth well into adulthood.

• Alpacas do not have hooves. They have a two-toed foot with toenails and a soft footpad. They are “green” in that their soft footpad allows them to walk through delicate woodlands with little or no impact on the environment.

History of Alpacas

HISTORY

They were originally domesticated by the ancient Incans in the Andes Mountians of South America.

LIFE CYCLE

Here are some interesting alpaca facts about their life cycle.

Their lifespan is about 15 – 25 years, but probably on the higher end here in the United States. American alpaca owners take good care of their alpaca investments.

They weigh about 150 pounds. They are about 36 inches at the withers where the neck meets the back and about 54 inches at the head.

Females are ready to breed around 18 – 24 months whereas males do not reach breeding maturity until 2 – 3 years. But, there are exceptions, so beware!

Alpacas can be bred year round since they are induced-ovulators, but most alpaca owners breed in the spring for spring crias.

After a gestation of about 340 - 350 days, the baby cria is born weighing about 14 – 20 pounds. Single births are generally the rule as twins are rare. Fortunately, most deliveries easily occur during the day unassisted. Crias are standing and nursing within the first hour. Crias are usually weaned about 6 months.

Alpacas hang out in herds. They should never live alone. The average herd size in the United States is about 10 - 20 alpacas.

FLEECE AND FIBER

Alpacas are shorn for their awesome fleece producing about 5 – 10 pounds of fiber annually. The textile industry loves alpaca fiber!

And alpaca fiber arts are highly desirable, too.

The natural colors are amazingly beautiful: white, beige, fawns, browns, blacks, rose grays, and silver grays. What variety!

BEHAVIOR

What about alpaca spit ? Well, they do spit, but mostly at each other. You will learn good ducking reflexes!
Alpaca sounds are distinctive – hum, orgle, and alarm. And their movements are interesting, too – kush and pronk.

Alpacas are so docile that you can usually trust them around your kids. You can even transport them in your mini-van!

And alpacas are so intelligent! You can just see their minds working! Because they are smart, they can be well-trained. They can even participate in animal assisted therapy .

If you need a good laugh, just watch your alpacas! They can be ornery one moment, but then look at you with that cute smile on their face the next moment!

HUSBANDRY

Alpaca care is relatively easy because they are hardy. In addition, there are generally few alpaca health concerns.

This makes alpaca farming much easier than other livestock. Alpaca supplies are much simpler, too.

Alpacas are herbivores eating mostly grass, hay and grain. They are also pseudoruminants . Fortunately, they are considered unclean animals for ritual purposes meaning that we should not eat them. Those alpaca burgers would be way too expensive anyway!

Alpacas can easily experience heat stress . Thus, alpaca owners shear their alpacas annually.

Their manure even makes an excellent fertilizer. It is easy to collect since alpacas use community dung piles.

Alpacas rarely challenge a fence, but fences are needed to keep out predators.

Their most common enemies in the United States are the neighborhood dogs. However, other predators such as wolves, coyotes, and bears also pose threats. Most alpaca owners use livestock guardian dogs or guardian llamas to protect their alpaca investment.

A few questions to ask yourself

Ok, So you are thinking about purchasing your first adorable alpaca.  Well here are just a few things you should do and consider before you buy. 

1) Do not make an impulse buy.  These animals are with you for a long time. 

2) Visit as many alpaca farms as possible.  Find a farm that will be with you through this whole journey and will help you.  You need the support as a new farm.  A good breeder will be with you even after the sale.

3) Do your research and have a good business plan.

4) Are you going to have a hobby farm or a breeding farm.

5) Determine how many alpacas you would like to start off with. Some farms start out with as little as two or three. Then there are some that jump right into it with purchasing 7 and up.

6) Have your pastures looked at by your local agriculture agent. Or have a local farm come over and give you pointers on proper grass, poisonious trees and weeds and farm layout and fencing.

7) Once you have done all of the above. Now focus on the type of bloodlines you want on your farm.  Again do your homework.  The better the bloodlines the more money and better your breeding farm will be. 

8) Once you have narrowed it down to what farm you will purchase your alpacas from.  Make sure that the alpacas you are just about to inquire about are owned by the person or farm that is selling them and that they have proper paperwork. ( ARI registration ) is in the farm or person selling the animals name.

Always check to see if the sellers are rightful owners of the alpaca they are selling. If they are not, then the breeder/seller should be able to honestly tell you why.

9) ARI registration is ownership without those papers the alpaca you are buying

is just an expensive pet.

10) If a farm tells you upfront that the alpaca is under contract with another farm, make sure you are able to contact the other farm so you can see if its ok for the farm that has the alpaca that you want to buy is able to sell that animal.  There are contracts that are drawn up before you purchase and every contract is catered to that farms own rules and guidelines.  Sometimes if a alpaca is still under contract with another farm.  They will forbid the selling of that alpaca until all funds for that alpaca are paid if full. 

11) You can also search the ARI certificates on Alpaca Registry or Alpaca nation

Some breeders that are advertising their alpacas will include a link so you can clearly view the ARI certificate.  You can search the ARI for free and you do not

have to be a member.

12)Always make sure to find out how long the farm has had the alpaca.  If the farm or person has only had that animal for a short period of time. I would want to know how they plan having a guarantee on that alpaca if they really don't know that animal. Again read your contract.

13)Get a Pre-vet exam on all alpacas that you are thinking of purchasing.  If there has been a problem with that typical alpaca then the vet by law will give you that information and so should the breeder/seller.

14)Remember to get a BVD test or see if the breeder/seller has had that done.

15)Study the contract before you sign and you have every right to ask questions. If you don't like a certain thing on that contract.  You should be able to work that out with the breeder/seller.

We wish you the best of luck in your endeavor of owning a beautiful alpaca.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raising Alpacas

 Frequently Asked Questions About Raising Alpacas


Q: What is an Alpaca?

A: An alpaca is a camelid, a member of the camel family and a close relative to the llama.  Alpacas are about one-third the size of  a llama and are generally more docile.  Alpacas weigh an average of 150 lbs. and are about 3 ft. tall at the shoulders.  With a lifespan of between 15-20 years, the female spends most of her life gestating. Females begin breeding between 14 months and 2 years of age.  Males begin breeding usually between 2 and 3 years of age. Pregnancies last around eleven and a half months and dams usually birth without intervention during daylight hours.  Twins are extremely rare and single births are the norm.

Q: How do you care for an alpaca?

A: A small herd of alpacas is easy to take care of. Alpacas require fresh water and at least a 3 sided shed to protect them from the elements. In the South it is important to have a plan to prevent heat stress. We use water cooled fans and lots of shade during the day.  Alpacas eat grass, hay, some grain and mineral supplements.  While alpacas are hearty and disease resistant animals, parasite control is an important aspect of herd health. An alpaca should be de-wormed and vaccinated the same as you would a dog.  (In fact, our livestock guard dogs cost more to keep than the alpacas. ) The alpaca is often referred to as the world's finest livestock investment.

Q: What do you do with an alpaca?

A: Alpacas have been prized for their luxuriously soft fiber since ancient times, and ultimately, this fleece is why we raise alpacas.  Each year the alpacas are sheared (we do ours in April) and their fiber processed and made into a variety of end products including sweaters, blankets, rugs, scarves, mittens, and hats. Raw fiber can be sold to hand-spinners, our Co-op, or processed at a fiber mill. 

At this time the alpaca industry is a breeder's market. Since there are only about 100,000 alpacas in this country and it is difficult to import them, the demand for this wonderful animal is greater than the supply available. That is why they are so expensive and a sound financial investment.  The potential for growth is enormous because most people have never even seen an alpaca.  

Q: Who raises alpacas?

A: The alpaca lifestyle suits many kinds of people. Many plan to raise alpacas in retirement because they are easily handled and a good source of income. Traditional farmers can diversify by adding alpacas to their farming repertoire. Alpacas are well suited to small acreage as you can pasture 7-9 alpacas per acre.  Since alpacas are gentle and friendly (and love children), they are perfect for families.  Our alpaca herd teaches our children lessons about responsibility, agriculture, and ecology to name a few.  Also, there are many alpaca shows and events around the country each year that provide breeders with fun opportunities to get together with fellow alpaca enthusiasts. Alpaca farmers really come from all walks of life.

Q: What's so special about alpaca fiber?

A: Alpaca fiber, or fleece, is very soft and fine. It is stronger and warmer than wool.  It also lacks lanolin so it can be worn by those who are allergic to wool.  Alpaca is comparable to cashmere and is often seen in the world of high fashion.  It is warm, lightweight and comes in at least 22 different natural colors.  The fiber can be handspun, knitted, woven, or felted.

Q: Do alpacas make good pets? 

A: Alpacas are livestock and can be kept as pets if you have at least two of them. They like people and are curious about them. Alpacas are social but they do not spend a lot of time trying to get you to pet them. They are NOT like a dog. They prefer to enjoy people at a distance giving kisses and snuggles here and there. The alpaca has a very strong herd instinct and they are very happy to hang around with their friends in the pasture and eat grass.  For some they might be a nice pet, but be aware they MUST be sheared each Spring and kept cool during the summer. They are a joy to be around and just watching them in their pastures has been shown to lower one's blood pressure. For pet quality alpacas expect to pay between $1,500-3,000. For those interested in working with their fleece (handspinning, weaving, knitting, etc.), these alpacas are ideal.

Q: How do I learn more? 

A: Just call us and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have about alpacas and the alpaca lifestyle. Or better yet, schedule a farm visit! We also offer an educational class, Alpacas 101 several times a year. Visit our upcoming events page to see when the next one is scheduled to take place. At Fairhope Alpacas, we specialize in helping new breeders get started with education, a great selection, and superior customer support. Let us help you make your alpaca dreams come true!