Our alpaca adventure began in 2006. We had lived on our 10 acre farm near Thorndale, Ontario for almost
22 years and had experiences with all sorts of animals and birds, including Standard bred horses, cattle, a
goat, chickens, ducks, peafowl, cats and dogs. We were looking for a new type of animal that would
be unique, easy to handle, able to use our barn and paddocks and it seemed to us that Alpacas just might
fit the bill. We visited a few alpaca farms and selected 3 females, Dancer, Soakee and Blonde, to start the
Ziraldo Alpaca Herd. We chose girls of 3 different colours, chocolate brown, white and caramel, and began
to imagine the lovely garments that we could knit from their fibre. Looking back, I'll admit that we didn't do a
great deal of research into alpacas prior to our purchase, but what a great way to learn! Books are
informative, but there is nothing like "hands on" to educate. In the past few months we have had the most
amazing experiences. We have witnessed the birth of our first cria, "Fancy That," learned skills required to
care for these wonderful creatures, had our first shearing day, took our fibre to a mill to be spun into yarn,
attended alpaca shows and education events and met other alpaca owners and breeders. Our sons Chris,
18, and Colin, 11, are very involved in the care and love of these animals. It is amazing that we have found
an activity that the whole family is enthused about! Since our initial purchase of 3 alpacas we have acquired
another female, Ivory, and her cria, Princess Opal. Fancy and Opal have become great friends. We are
halter training the young girls and will be showing them at the Alpaca Ontario Show in Orangeville, April
2008. We are also looking forward to the arrival of our first herdsire, Shaman, in June 2008. The
ride since we first acquired our alpacas has been an exciting and satisfying one and we are looking forward
to the future. Crias are due again starting in mid May, we have been madly creating beautiful knitted
garments from our alpaca yarn and spring shearing day is just around the corner!
Debbie, Carlo, Chris & Colin Ziraldo
