Books and videos

Secrets of the Andean Alpaca - Field Guide

Maggie and Richard Kreiger

This rare, out of print, guide is one of the best resources for understanding alpaca fleece; its characteristics and conformation.  The guide is invaluable for selecting an alpaca based on it's fiber potential, and includes a buyer's checklist and sample contracts.

Maggie Krieger is a top international fleece judge and this is the definitive book on alpaca fiber.

116 pages

Condition: As new

Animal Breeding and Production of South American Camelids

Rigoberto Calle Escobar (translated by Ron Henning)

For anyone who is seriously interested in breeding alpacas, this book is a must.  Written in Lima, Peru in 1984, this is the most comprehensive book on commercial alpaca production available.  Unlike the North American books, this one is full of detailed facts and figures, charts and graphs.  It covers every aspect of alpaca breeding and the South American production system.

It puts the North American alpaca industry in perspective!

358 pages

Condition: Very good

Alpaca Business Planning Guide

Manual by Chris Lewis

A detailed step-by-step guide to:

• Setting objectives.
• Setting your goals.
• Defining your plan.

This will help you to develop a professional document that can help you to present your case if you're looking for finance.  It will also give you confidence in having thought through your marketing and sales plans, and committed them to writing.

The guide includes:
• A set of templates to fill in as you go.
• Completed examples to give you ideas.
• A complete sample business plan to act as a guide.
• Detailed checklists to make sure your plan is complete.

100 pages
Condition: New

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas

Gale Birutta

Although this book is written primarily about llamas, the information also applies to alpacas.

It is one of the easiest books to start with, but contains all the essential information for the new (or would-be) alpaca owner.

325 pages
Condition: New

Making Your Small Farm Profitable

Ron Macher

Not specifically about alpacas (although they are mentioned) but a good general book full of ideas on how to set up, manage and market your farm.

272 pages
Condition: New

Handspinning books

Bette Hochberg / Connie Delaney

A collection of four books on spinning. Three of these are by Bette Hochberg: Handspinner's Handbook, Handspindles, and Spin Span Spun. The fourth is by Connie Delaney - Spindle Spinning.

These books are not just for the handspinner, but are also full of useful information for the alpaca fiber breeder who wants to understand the handspinning market.

Condition: New