The Peruvians call alpacas their "Silent Brothers" and when you work with them, and see their gentle nature, and calming ways, you can understand why.

But however enjoyable they may be to be around, there is a very practical financial side to breeding alpacas.

Ever since the Incans domesticated the breed, they have been prized for their luxurious fiber. In fact, at one time, it was used as currency for payment by the Royal Court. The fiber is as fine as cashmere, and is used by many of today's top fashion designers in their very best garments.

Alpaca fiber and wool is also sought after by hand-spinners and knitters because of their qualities - being great to work with and warmer than sheeps' wool as well as being hypoallergenic.

But the value of the fleece is only the start of it. The breeding of the animals can provide a very lucrative income, particularly with the higher end fleece animals. Many breeders also show their herd, hoping to win blue ribbons to show off to friends and buyers.

For the many families who want to work from home today, alpaca farming provides an ideal opportunity to do that, with generous tax benefits thrown in to make it even more attractive.

Learn more about alpacas at our website Alpaca Advantage.

No! Just the opposite, they are the easiest of any livestock to take care of. They need fresh water and hay every day, and their toenails trimmed every few months. Other than that they need a routine worming treatment once a month and that's about it.

They are very easy on the pasture as they have padded feet rather than hooves, and they are very efficient grazers, content with most kinds of pasture land. Depending on the quality of the grass, they can be stocked at up to 7 or 8 animals an acre, making them suitable for even small farms or houses with a few acres of land.

And there are no more beautiful animals to have around, as you can see from this picture of one of our herdsires, Ricco.

You can find more details at our website: Alpaca Advantage.