guardian The Alpacas at Shepherd's Cross

• Alpacas are a fiber producing animal. Their fiber is soft and luxurious.
• We give our alpacas a haircut once per year so they can keep cool in the heat of the summer. This hair cut is called shearing.  The alpacas are shorn in May before we get Oklahoma's heat wave.
• The fiber is then washed, picked, carded and spun.  The carded fiber and yarn is available in the gift shop.
• There is often an alpaca in the FAB (Farm Animal Barn Visitor Area).
• Alpacas spit when they feel threatened.  This is one of the things they do to protect themselves and the sheep.
• Alpacas and lamas are good guard animals for the flock.
• All of our guardian alpacas are boys.  They were donated to our mission and get to grow old with us.
• We celebrate National Alpaca Day on the last Saturday of September.  Be sure to stop by and enjoy the Pumpkin Patch and the alpacas.  
• Did you know that the main difference between alpacas and lamas is their size and their genetics?  Alpacas are smaller and weigh about the same as a sheep.