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Tuesday, May 03, 2011
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In our damp NW climate, virtually all our baby alpacas are blown dry with a hair dryer. This can take an hour or more. It helps them get off to a better start and also provides some early handling and socializing by people.
Learn how we socialize and work with our babies every day:
Creating Easy-To-Love Alpacas
Luna Rosa Ranch carefully socializes all their babies. Click for larger view.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We sent off our young alpaca Elite Silver Trifecta today to his new home in Nebraska where he will eventually stand as herdsire.
It's sad to see one leave, but we know he will be well loved and cared for. . . and we're proud of the quality we can produce at Luna Rosa Ranch.
(Click photo for close up of his lovely locks!)
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Sunday, April 17, 2011
Today I was up early to check for new baby alpacas.
I'm watching for Silver Belle's baby. Yesterday I saw a lot of kicking - that means a new baby alpaca will arrive soon.
Alpacas have one baby a year, called a CRIA. The alpaca babies are ADORABLE!
Here is a picture of Luna Rosa Ranch's Silver Belle with her baby from last year.
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Saturday, April 09, 2011
Once a new baby alpaca is named, color checked, and has its parentage verified by DNA testing, a registration certificate is issued showing the baby alpaca’s pedigree.
This is the pedigree of Luna Rosa Ranch’s alpaca Sweet Dream. She has a multi-generation pedigree, and is a full fourth generation documented alpaca.
Why is this important? If an alpaca breeder is doing their job, every generation of babies is an improvement on their mother’s generation. For this alpaca, twelve breeding decisions went into producing her – she is truly an elite alpaca.
See our article: How To Read ARI Certificates
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Friday, April 08, 2011
Most alpacas used for breeding in the United States today are registered with the Alpaca Registry, Inc (ARI).
The parentage of an alpaca registered with ARI is verified by DNA testing – a blood sample for the baby alpaca is sent to the lab on a special card.
Luna Rosa Ranch registers all their alpacas. We buy, sell and breed only registered alpacas.
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Thursday, April 07, 2011
Alpacas come in more natural colors than any other livestock. Luna Rosa Ranch specializes in the darker colors.
This color chart is used to determine a baby alpaca’s official color for registration with the Alpaca Registry, Inc (ARI).
A small lock of fiber is cut off the alpaca baby as close to the skin as possible and the end of the lock closest to the skin is compared to the color chart to determine its official color.
There is an infinite range of color between the official colors. . .
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011
This is Luna Rosa Ranch's alpaca Praline with her baby Tallahassee.
Since Praline's name had a southern flavor, we went with a southern name for her cute baby alpaca girl. Naming baby alpacas is lots of fun!
Praline has another daughter named Pensacola. . .
Often baby alpacas don't look like their mommies - alpacas come in more than 20 natural colors.
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Friday, March 25, 2011
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My daily commute is a cup of coffee on the path to the barn. . .
I check early these days for new alpaca babies.
Luna Rosa Ranch is expecting baby alpacas in April-May!
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Alpacas provide wonder and fun in your world. They're captivating, enchanting, delightful . . . silly and goofy. I cannot now image a life without alpacas.
Alpacas are Easy Keepers
Alpacas make Good Pets
Luna Rosa Ranch Suri Alpacas
Breeding Quality Colored & Patterned Suris Since 1998
The Luna Rosa Suri . . . When only the finest will do.
LunaRosaSuriAlpacas.com
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Tuesday, March 01, 2011
We were looking for llamas to carry our packs hiking . . . when a neighbor told us about some "little llamas" for sale. That chance remark changed our life . . .and we have never looked back! Those "little llamas" turned out to be ALPACAS.
We have been breeding fine alpacas since 1998 when Ed bought Robin those first three alpacas as a birthday present. In 2000 Robin first saw SURIS when attending the National Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Conference in Louisville. It was love at first sight! Robin came home and converted the herd to SURIS. Luna Rosa Ranch now offers one of the finest herds of Suri Alpacas in the Northwest!
Early on we made the decision to remain small. We produce just a few alpaca babies a year. We have time to work with each and every one of our alpacas . . . and it shows! Our alpacas are people-friendly and easy for new breeders to work with.
We provide all the hands-on care and enjoy interacting with our alpacas each day. Alpacas provide wonder and fun in your world. We cannot now imagine a world without our SURIS .
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