Enjoying Nature Newsletter: Alpacas off Devil's Backbone

_________12._____ Alpacas off Devil’s Backbone

Here in Central Texas the land has some extremes in canyons that are as dramatic as any part of the so-called Hill Country. Especially dramatic is the terrain along RR 32 as it travels west on a ridge separating the Wimberley Valley from canyons to the south. This is probably the most well-known mile or so of RR 32 as it snakes in several ess curves along what is known as Devil’s Backbone. It’s here in the canyon to the south of RR 32 that we found Tierra Prometeda, with terrain that probably has some attraction to alpacas. Of course, its hotter than the mountains of Peru, but this herd of some 100 animals like it because for the most part, they were all born here in Texas, plus they like the care they get from their owners Rhonda and Kern Deschner.

We became aware of this alpaca herd some two years ago when we stopped at a metal working fair located off Dreibrodt Road some twenty miles south in Guadalupe County. At this show, Rhonda and her Farm Manager, Jenny, were showing three of the animals that were raised on the ranch off Devil's Backbone. It was first time that we were able to come within mere inches of these fine animals.

The alpaca is a member of the camelid family. Scientists have determined that camels as we know them today, once existed in South America, and the alpaca, the vicuna and the guanaco are descendants of the camel. The alpaca is no longer found in the wild in Peru because it is now a domesticated animal, but the vicuna is wild and remains so today. The llama is domesticated but the llama is larger than the alpaca, does not have the quality of fleece and is used mainly as a worker, carrying loads for resident farmers.

Peru is the native land where these animals and especially the alpaca have been domesticated for more than 2000 years, but even so, they have not lost their native instincts, one of which is caring for their young.

We started our visit in the mother and newborn’s corral with Jenny and met Princess Leia and her son Mandalorian, both named after Star Wars characters. Usually the mothers birth their babies in December but Princes Leia was early by a month so this pair were alone in the corral and Mandalorian will have to wait for his peers to frolic with.

Figure 12.1-Week-old alpaca and mother

Jenny showed us how she, but probably not we, could pick up the newly born alpaca and the mother would allow her to do so because it had occurred several times before and now Princess Leia trusted her. Despite this trust, it was apparent that she showed some signs of distress by moving closer to the newborn. But then something interesting began to happen. As Jenny held the small alpaca in her arms and stood by the mother, all seemed normal and calm. At this time, we were standing about ten feet away from Jenny with newly named Mandalorian and off to the side was mother alpaca. Slowly, Jenny started to move toward us to allow us to touch the newborn, and Princess Leia also started to move, regally holding her head high and with an intense look in her eyes, all of this occurred as if in slow motion. With Jenny nearing us, the mother alpaca slowly eased her way broadside in between us and Jenny , and here is another interesting aspect of this occurrence. Mother alpaca was humming a continuous monotone that we were told is one of the ways they communicate concern. All the while this was unfolding, Princess Leia made no rapid movements, kept her head high and kept her eyes on us and her new baby. The end effect was that mother alpaca separated us from her newborn because she was unsure of the safety since we were newcomers to the scene.

We then went off to another corral where several young alpacas were gathered. When the alpacas in this herd discovered that we were strangers, their attention shifted to us as if to say, "who are these visitors?" With just a bit of encouragement from Jenny, they slowly made their way to us and became quite friendly, one even being curious about the leather wallet I had in my back pocket. With no hesitation, they allowed us to rub their necks as if we were their long-lost pals. While R was busy fending off the pickpocket, I was making friends with chubby-cheeked Fiorello and a couple of his buddies.

Figure 12.2 Young curious alpacas

One aspect of the hill country terrain that the animals must like is to be able to roll in the dust, so they have been provided with special spots to roll around in some dirt bowls of dusty limestone and sand just as most of us have seen horses do with this same need to clean their coats.

Figure 12.3 Rolling in the dirt

We talked at length with Rhonda about the business of fleece and animal production. There is little doubt that animal sales produce the most income, with fleece sales being second. But the details of fleece preparation was of interest to us because we were able to feel the fleece, see it in the products made from it and experience the wide range of fleece attributes that exist from one animal to another.

Shearing, as was noted before, is done in the first week of every April when the shearer arrives. The fibers are matted, so the shearing operation produces a batch of fleece that represents one animal. Here, Rhonda is demonstrating a pelt of fleece taken from the back of one animal. The fibers are about two inches long and zig-zagged with a diameter ranging from 10 to 20 microns.

Figure 12.4 Alpaca fleece mat

We were curious about the structure of the individual fibers that made up the mat and so Rhonda plucked a small sample of fiber from the mat and spread it out on the back of Jenny’s shirt, the only contrasting background we could find close by. The overall length of the fibers in this photo is about 2 inches.

Figure 12.5 detail of fibers

The mats are sold to mills that have strict grading standards that affect the price. The fibers dye easily and thus provide opportunity for making into yarn which then can be made into clothing, rugs and whatever.

Figure 12.6 Grading of Alpaca fleece

The fiber grading chart is from Texas Hand Woven Creations doing business as Ingrid’s Custom Hand Woven, Inc., in Paint Rock, Texas and can be found on other websites like New England Alpaca Fiber Pool. Fiber grading is based on five factors; fineness, amount of guard hair, variation in diameter of fibers, fiber length, and uniformity of fiber diameter. The alpaca fleece is cleaned of manure and other organic matter such as grass and twigs, then sent to the processor for grading.

The company in Paint Rock employs 8-12 who process fleeces, making yarn and weaving in an operation that is housed in three stone buildings that are each over 100 years old. In 2009 focus shifted from wool/mohair to alpaca, llama, and buffalo fibers plus some other natural fibers making rugs, placemats, floor and table runners, wall hangings and saddle pads.

Next, we advanced to the Farm Store, part of Tierra Prometida, that is available for shopping; but since the shop has no regular hours, an appointment is a necessity. This very compact and well-organized shop has a wide range of articles made of alpaca fleece, some of which are made in places like Peru, and some in the USA. Here is a photo of an alpaca accent rug made by the weavers of Texas Handwoven Creations in Paint Rock, Texas. All the colors of this 2’ by 3’ rug are natural colors.

Figure 12.7 Handwoven alpaca fleece rug

Rhonda makes some of the clothing items herself and there are cloud-soft afghans, scarves, stoles, knitted Peruvian caps and stockings as well toys. The shop is a little Alladin’s cave of beautiful handmade delights that are hard to resist. After mulling over the possibilities, we returned a few weeks later for the 2’x3’ rug above (to be used as a wall hanging) and a toy alpaca that will sport a red ribbon for Christmas.

_____Sightings_____