Debbie Woodcock (second from left) is helped by her father Keith Woodcock (left), Katie Mills and husband Donny Armentrout. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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Springtime brings a harvest of hair

The alpaca fiber industry is growing in North America and a Spotsylvania woman sheared her alpacas over the weekend to sell their fiber

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BY KAREN BOLIPATA

Date published: 4/22/2008

BY KAREN BOLIPATA

In 2004, Debbie Woodcock was looking for something to do at her 20-acre family-run farm in Spotsylvania County.

She was visiting another farm with a friend when she came across alpacas. The application Web developer in Richmond liked the animals' gentle and curious disposition. And they were smaller than cows and horses.

"I just kind of fell in love sort of with their cuteness right off the bat and the fuzzy teddy-bear look," she said.

But alpacas, a cousin to camels and llamas, aren't just cute. Their fiber is warmer than wool and can be sold to make socks, blankets and sweaters.

Predominantly located in the animal's native South America, the alpaca fiber industry is trickling into other parts of the world.

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association has more than 4,000 members in North America. One is Woodcock, whose farm is now known as Pigeon Creek Alpacas.

Woodcock is one of 40 registered owners and breeders in Virginia. She co-markets with two other farms in the state, Camillo Valley Alpacas and SpyGlass Alpacas, which are collectively known as the Virginia Alpaca Experience.

They sell the fiber to friends and co-workers. This year, Woodcock plans to market to yarn stores in Fredericksburg and Richmond.

Over the weekend, Woodcock and friends gave all 25 of her alpacas their annual shearing. Each animal took about 30 minutes to clip.

Prime fleece can sell for $3 an ounce, Woodcock said. An adult alpaca might produce 50 to 90 ounces of first-quality fiber and 50 to 100 ounces of second- and third- quality fiber, according to the alpaca association.

"I think a lot of people don't realize what it's all about," Woodcock said.

On Saturday afternoon, Woodcock unstrapped Trinity, a white female, from the shearing table. Trinity stood, and, shed of all her fur, let out a nervous sigh.

"You're OK!" her handlers assured her.

Woodcock had another day of shearing ahead. But Trinity was off the hook until next spring.

Karen Bolipata: 540/374-5418
Email: kbolipata@freelancestar.com

Alpacas were central to Incan culture on the Andean Plateau and South American mountains, providing transportation and clothing. They are of the camelid family, which includes camels and llamas, and can live about 20 years. They were first imported to the United States in 1984. There are about 100,000 registered alpacas in North America. --Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association ON THE NET For more about alpacas, go to alpacainfo.com.

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Date published: 4/22/2008