All together now: “Awwwww how cute!” That is the universal reaction to the newest additions to Dick Whittick’s alpaca herd at Greenbank Farm.
Three baby alpacas have been born at the farm in the last week, with 10 more expected before summer’s end. While island residents are used to seeing the large herd of alpacas grazing the fields of Greenbank Farm, the babies are a novelty. This is the first year the alpacas have reproduced at the farm.
At birth the babies, called “crias,” weigh about 14 pounds, and stand about three feet tall, even with their long wobbly necks.
Mother alpacas Treasure, Tesali and Siesta Gold guard their crias as visitors try to get a closer look. The babies instinctively head for the far side of their mothers, then crane their long necks to peek out to see if the danger has passed. They bat their long curly eyelashes over their big baby eyes and bleat plaintively in a tiny voice. These tykes are Bambi-cute times ten.
Whittick said most alpaca babies are born between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the wild this gives them time to dry off in the sun and get steady on their feet so they are ready to dodge danger.
“The most remarkable thing is they give birth with no assistance,” Whittick said. “The labor is quite quick.”
The process is so quick that Whittick has not been present for any of the births. The white cria was born Thursday night, the fawn-colored one Friday and a gray one was born Saturday.
Whittick was especially pleased to see the gray cria, as it is an unusual and sought after color. Not so pleasing was the fact that all three were males. When they are weaned at seven months and can be sold, males go for $850 to $1,250 each, while young females sell for around $3,000. An adult, pregnant alpaca can sell for $5,000. Odds favor a 50-50 split in sex of the crias, so there should be some females in the next births.
Alpacas are prolific producers, with an average female giving birth 12 to 18 times in her life. Whittick said their pregnancies last 11 and a half months, and they are ready to be bred again just eight days after giving birth. Treasure and Siesta Gold have had six or seven babies, while this was Tesali’s first.
The North American alpaca herd is growing at a rate of 30 to 35 percent a year, what Whittick calls “a gradual introduction.” Whidbey Island Alpacas herd is growing in size, but it’s also growing in popularity.
“People say it’s so nice to see them here,” Whittick said. “They’ve really become part of the community.”
Name that baby
The three newest additions to the Whidbey Island Alpaca herd have yet to be named, and owner Dick Whittick would like the community to take part in naming them.
Stop by the farm to view the babies, then drop off your name suggestion at the farm office. A small alpaca-related prize will be awarded to the winners.
Whittick said the best time to see the babies is around 3 p.m.
You can reach News-Times reporter Marcie Miller at mmiller@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611
