HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-18, Page 30•
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Page 14 - Farm Progress, March 18, 2009
Looking at an erns ive wato.. farm. Take aoo
atalpacas
•
Graham said when it is a really fine fibre,
it's comparable to cashmere. It may be
fun to raise the Alpaca, but it's also a
business and something that can garner
some money through the many products
it goes towards.
"If you have fibre that can be put into
socks, it's worth about $10 dollars a
pound, where in comparison we only get
about 25 cents for our sheep," said
Graham. "If you have, really fine fibre it
can be worth up to $60 a pound."
A lot of people don't know about
alpacas and that their fibre is used hi as
many+ products as they are and for
Graham she wants to get that message
across. For people looking to get into
alternative methods of farming, alpacas
are a good way to support one's income.
"Not that many people know about
them and that's the. problem. You have to
get the message out there of what they
are about and what they are like," said
Graham. " The biggest problem is edu-
cating the public."
Graham belongs to the North Perth
Alpaca Business Collective and they
have a mill near Palmerston called Shears
To You. All of Graham's fibre goes there
to be products.
spun into various
�
Continued on page 15
66 4+440.4Y�isil.i„�'
BY GARIT REID
Sentinel Staff •
Dee Graham, a retired art teacher from
FE Madill High School, isn't your regu-
lar farmer; she doesn't have cows, or pro-
duce crops; no, she raises Alpacas. For
anyone who doesn't know what an
Alpaca is, they are a domesticated
species of South American camelid.
Simply, they resemble a small llama.
The D.L. Farms just east of Lucknow
on Highway 86 raise, breed and shear
Alpaca for their fibre. Unlike llamas,
who are used ps protectors against preda-
tors of livestock,' ° the alpaca is bred solely
for their fibre.
The fibre is used for such products as
blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters,
socks, coats, bedding and much more.
Raising alpacas has been a passion for
Graham for many years now and one of
the things that has made things enjoyable,
is the affectionate temperament the ani-
mals have.
"They are very gregarious. They like to
be around people. They are very nosy.
They are bred and raised for their fibre,"
said Graham. "They are basically very
easy to get along with.'
Alpaca fibre is very sought after and
4 w a.:i-S"v`'.l..,
•
40 YEARS OF
QUALIIY PRODUCTS
•
FOUR AUGLR MIXERS
ROTARY MOWERS
IOW
•
MATERIAL HANDLERS
*t. volt iso
VERTICAL MIXERS
.
GRAIN BUGGIES
VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR CALL
AIR...cTLY
Helm WeIdinj(1s3) Ltd.
Lucknow, Ontarlo Phones 519-529-7000
www.luckno roducts«com
Photo by Gorit Rid
Ioung Alpacu can :be found on Ogee and Lloyd Graham's farm, just east of
Ludaiow on Highwayy: 86.
� They are bred and =sheared for their soft fiber
Agricultural business owners like you
are the bedrock of our communities.
Learn how United Communities can
help your agri-business grow by
icing your io :l branch or check us
online at myunitedaca:
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