Gem State Alpacas

Gem State Alpacas, formed in the fall of 2006, is located in the beautiful State of Idaho. Like most new farms, we didn't exactly know back then where we were headed. After some ups and downs (far more ups than downs) and steady dose of education, we have clear direction and could not be more energetic and excited about the future of our farm and the American alpaca livestock industry. We look forward to being an active participant in the continuous improvement of the overall herd quality found within the U.S.

Since 2006, our breeding program has been recognized for our commitment to producing alpacas that meet the demands of both the commercial and cottage industry. Specifically lasting fineness with suppression of guard hair, consistency of micron and character across the entire body, and correct conformation. Using science to help guide us in our breeding decisions we are continuing to see offspring with a remarkable degree of fineness, brightness, and consistency while also improving the overall amount of fiber on the alpaca.

We have adopted the following grading system, used by several textile industry leaders, when evaluating our herd:

Grade 1A: < 16.9 microns
Grade 1B: 17-19.9 microns
Grade 2 20-22.9 microns
Grade 3 23-25.9 microns
Grade 4 26-28.9 microns
Grade 5 29-31.9 microns

Our breeding program goals are centered around producing alpacas that demonstrate the following:

Huacaya alpacas 36 months of age and under:
Micron at 20.0 or below (Grade 1)
CV less than 24.0
Percentage of guard hair less than 1.0%
Correct conformation

Huacaya alpacas 37 months to 60 months of age:
Micron at 24.0 or below (Grade 2 and 3)
CV less than 22.0
Percentage of guard hair less than 3.0%
Correct conformation

We feel these criteria meet the desires of fleece buyers world-wide. Based on our 2012 histogram results, the criteria above were met in 86% of all alpacas tested.