Laslyn Alpaca

05/26/2026

We have 8 alpacas that are about to be registered with AOA (Alpaca Owners Association) and CLAA (Canadian Llama & Alpaca Association).

All of them already have suitable names… except “Bob.”

Bob is now 22 months old, and his name was only ever meant to be temporary — more of a joke than anything — but somehow it stuck. Now that he’s growing into a handsome future breeding male, we think he deserves a proper registered name.

So how did he end up being called Bob?

Well, “Bob” actually stands for “Battle of the Bulge.” As a newborn, he developed a fairly large umbilical hernia. Usually with crias we can gently push the hernia back in a few times a day and it resolves on its own. Bob’s was bigger and more stubborn.

We even tried an alpaca hernia belt, but it didn’t work very well and usually got soaked every time he peed. Finally, we admitted defeat and called the vet.

The vet arrived and asked for a very special medical item… a square of cardboard!

He cut the cardboard to size, placed it over the hernia, and wrapped it snugly in sticky tape (not vet wrap). Amazingly, it stayed in place and dry for 3 days. When we removed it, the hernia had shrunk by about 75%! We kept gently pushing it back in whenever he was in the barn, and within a few more days it was completely gone.

So now you know the story behind Bob.

The problem is… “Bob” just doesn’t sound quite grand enough for an up-and-coming herd sire.

We’d love your suggestions for a memorable, unique, or meaningful name for him — let’s hear your ideas!

Don't forget if you would like to visit the alpacas be sure to book a tour at www.alpacatours.ca

05/25/2026

These photos are from a post in 2021. - After being sheared Winston still looks gorgeous. His colour pattern is very unusual.
His mom is Milky Way a true black and his dad is Prince a stunning grey. Almost all of Prince's crias have a least one spot on them, Winston like his dad has one big spot 🙂

Now in 2026 - Winston still looks pretty awesome 5 years later. His unique colouring always made him stand out — silver grey everywhere except for his true black neck, chest, and one black leg right down to his toes. I'm looking forward to working with his wonderful fibre next year.

Three years ago we sold Winston to Woolies in the Country, where he helped grow and improve their herd. When his work there was finished, we were thrilled to bring him back home again.

A few of our other breeding males may not be quite as excited to see Winston return, since he’ll be taking over several of their breeding spots this year.

We will have to go over the breeding reports again to see just which females he is a great match for.
Then comes the hard part … waiting for Winston’s crias to arrive. It’s going to feel like a very long year!

05/23/2026

Well now that shearing is done and in the bag, I'll have to start grading it, skirting off the coarse fibre, picking out the hay and other vegetation. Then I'll add it to my inventory list. and in the fall I'll hopefully be able to get some of it processed into beautiful bats to create more vests, shawls, scarves, hats, mitts and rugs.
So much to do so little time. ☺️

04/29/2026

We love when we have questions about the alpacas.

❓ Ask a Question Wednesday:
Thank you Robin for your questions.

What should you do before getting your own alpacas?
Short answer: Research, research… and then do a little more research 😊

Before anything else, figure out your goal.
Are you looking for a few alpacas to love and enjoy? 🦙🦙🦙
Are you a spinner or weaver wanting fibre?
Or are you planning to start a breeding program? 🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙
Knowing your goal helps you avoid buying alpacas that are adorable… but not actually what you need (speaking from experience trust us, that’s very easy to do!).

🐾 Get hands-on experience
Visit well-established alpaca farms—ones that have seen both the good and the challenging sides of alpaca life. Even better, ask if you can help out with:
Herd health days
Halter training
Shearing
Daily chores
It gives you a real sense of what day-to-day life looks like.

🤝 Find a mentor
Having someone experienced you can call with questions—or in an emergency—is incredibly valuable.
👩‍⚕️ Work with the right vet
Look for a large animal vet with alpaca experience. While many vets can treat alpacas, having someone familiar with their specific needs makes a big difference.
🏡 The basics to plan for
Space: About 5–8 alpacas per acre
Diet: Pasture, good quality second cut hay, minerals, and sometimes pellets/mash (depends on their needs)
Shelter: A barn or shelter they can get into—especially in bad weather
Fencing: we used 6 ft “no-climb” fence around the perimeter for predator protection, 4 ft fencing inside is usually enough (alpacas rarely challenge fences)

Herd setup: Males and females need to be kept separate

Other animals: Alpacas shouldn’t share pasture with other livestock
Some farms also use guard llamas or livestock guard dogs for added protection.
✂️ Ongoing care

Alpacas need to be shorn every spring
Fibre can be processed at mills (there are several in Ontario), or through local spinning guilds—sometimes on a “Spin a Pound, Get a Pound” basis

📚 Learning resources
Books can be helpful, including:
Alpaca Field Manual by Dr. Norman Evans
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care by Dr. Bradford D. Smith, Dr. Murray E. Timm, and Dr. David Long
The Camelid Companion by Marty McGee Bennett
The Camelid Care Handbook for Llama and Alpaca Owners by Claire Whitehead DVM
There are also alpaca associations you can join, though they’re more for resources than day-to-day help.

🧡 Final thought
Visiting farms and learning firsthand is one of the best things you can do. Alpacas are easier to raise than many types of livestock—but they’re still a long-term commitment. You can’t just head off for the weekend without a plan.
That said… they bring a lot of joy ❤️
Let us know what other alpaca questions you have—we love answering them!

www.alpacatours.ca

★★★★★ Grey Highlands Tourism Business of the Year 2023 Unforgettable Alpaca Tours for Every Adventure Hands-on, interactive experiences at Kickin’ Back Alpaca Ranch in Markdale, ON. Family visits, private groups, or full-class school field trips — we make it magical. ✅ Clean — no m...

04/21/2026

We do everything possible to use just natural fibre, to recycle, reuse and reduce. Everyone can make a difference.

Natural wool vs synthetic (petrochemical) clothing.

Here’s a simple lifecycle timeline that gets missed in the “what’s more sustainable?” chat.

WOOL (natural fibre)
1) Starts on-farm: sheep grow a renewable fibre each season.
2) Shorn, classed, processed into yarn and fabric.
3) Worn hard for years: wool is naturally resilient, holds its shape, and keeps performing.
4) Often repaired, handed down, repurposed.
5) End of life: as a natural protein fibre, it can biodegrade under the right conditions.

SYNTHETIC (polyester / petrochemical)
1) Starts with fossil feedstock: crude oil extraction and refining.
2) Turned into PET polymer and spun into fibre.
3) High energy demand in production: one analysis reports up to ~125 MJ of energy per kg polyester fibre and ~27.2 kg CO2e per kg polyester woven fabric.
4) During use, washing and everyday wear can shed microfibres. One review summarises studies reporting ranges like ~640,000 to 1,500,000 fibres released per kg of polyester fabric per wash in some tests (results vary widely by fabric and wash conditions).
5) End of life: PET is highly resistant to biodegradation, so it can persist for a long time in landfill and fragment into microplastics.

The honest truth: the biggest sustainability lever is often how long we keep a garment in use. Durability matters.

We’re proud to work in a chain that starts with good farmers, good stock, good sheds, and good people right through to the finished garment. We love this industry and we want to see it thrive.

03/30/2026

A great graphic showing the difference in the scales between sheep wool and alpaca fibre.

FUN FACT FRIDAY! 😉

Why alpaca fibre is less prickly than sheep’s wool. 🤓

👉 Alpaca fibre has very smooth handle. This is partly due to the scale structure (or cuticles) of the fibres that protrude less from the fibre shalt than those of sheep. This means that the fibre feels less prickly when wearing!

Compare each of the fibre types shown in the illustration… Polyester fibres and silk are super smooth (towards the right) while on the left you can see that coarse wool fibres have very prominent scales protruding from the surface of the fibre. Finer wool, although it has a smaller diameter fibre, still has much more prominent scales than alpaca or cashmere. On this photo, I think alpaca looks smoother than cashmere…?

Anyway, now you know why many people who can’t wear wool can wear cashmere or alpaca. I’m one of them! (Lanolin is another part of the story…but we’ll save that for another day…)

02/08/2026

This shows how well alpaca fibre keeps your feet, hands, anywhere you are wearing alpaca dry and warm in the winter.

01/30/2026

❄️ Winter is fine… if you’re wearing alpaca ❄️

This has been a very, very cold winter, and we’ve got everything you need to beat the chill.

🧦 Alpaca socks to keep your feet warm, alpaca hats, scarves and more (even on the coldest days),
🦙 Alpaca tours that will warm your heart and make winter way more fun

Cozy up in alpaca fibre, then come meet the herd and experience the joy in person.

👉 Check out our on-line gift shop www.laslynalpaca.com

👉 Book a tour www.alpacatours.ca

01/24/2026

We have lots and lots of socks from kids size up to adult 14 !
Check out our page www.LaslynAlpaca.com

01/17/2026

Winter doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave… and neither is the cold ❄️
If you’re feeling it, let us help keep you beautifully warm.

We’ve got you covered from head to toe, whether you’re braving the outdoors or staying cozy inside.

🧦 Thermal Alpaca Socks – perfect for standing in the snow, walking the dog, or any outdoor adventure.
👢 Alpaca Insoles – add instant warmth to your boots or shoes, available in two thicknesses.
🧤 Mittens & Knit Gloves – soft, warm, and cozy, with styles to suit everyone.
🧣 One-of-a-kind Scarves & Shawls – created right here on the ranch using fibre from our own alpacas. Truly unique pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
🎩 Hats, Hats & More Hats – three styles to choose from, plus cuddly ear warmers for extra cold days.
🧥 New Arrivals! Ponchos, capes, and lightweight blankets — just in and not yet listed on our website.

Warmth that feels good, looks great, and lasts.

👉 Shop online at www.LaslynAlpaca.com

👉 Or visit our ranch store in person — please call ahead to be sure we’re inside.

Stay warm. Support local. Wrap yourself in alpaca. 🦙✨