Livestock Books
- Alpaca/Llama Specific
- A Guide to Raising Llamas: Care, Showing, Breeding, Packing, and Profiting, Gale Birutta, 1997, Storey Publishing. -- Though specific to llamas, this is a very complete and approachable overview of issues and getting started information.
- The Alpaca Book: Management, Medicine, Biology, and Fiber, Eric Hoffman and Murray Fowler, 1995, Clay Press. -- A little dry, but still worthwhile. Lots of good alpaca-specific info not available elsewhere.
- Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle, Michael Safley, 2001, Northwest Alpacas. -- Not a how-to book, but it provides a very complete picture of the modern alpaca industry, genetics, fiber processing, and breed standards.
- Caring for Llamas and Alpacas: A Health Management Guide, Clare Hoffman and Ingrid
Asmus, 1989, Rocky Mountain Llama and Alpaca Association. -- If you've never owned livestock
before,this is a really helpful overview of issues ranging from traveling and restraint to
medical and safety issues that's all specific to camelids.
- First Aid for Llamas and Alpacas, Murray Fowler and Audrey Fowler. --
We haven't needed to reference this handy book much yet, but we feel better just having
it. Lots of good info, photos and diagrams.
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- Other Livestock
- Small-Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health Sustainability,
and Profit, Carol Ekarius, 1999, Storey Publishing. --
Really good introductory book, especially if you're new to farming and livestock management.
- Raising Sheep the Modern Way, Paula Simmons, 1989, Storey Publishing. --
Though many aspects of sheep husbandry are quite different, the industry is more mature
than the alpaca industry and this book is full of many useful insights on business, marketing,
herd management, and fiber sales.
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- Genetics
- Genetic Improvement of Cattle and Sheep, Geoff Simm, 2000, Diamond Farm
Book Publishing. --
Way more interesting and understandable than most genetic texts we've struggled through.
- Horse Color Explained, Jeanette Gower, 2001, Trafalgar Square. --
We don't pretend to know how completely horse inheritance patterns relate to alpacas,
but this book provides a clear explanation of the genetics of color and is very
useful for breeders with colored breeding programs.
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Farming and Farm Management Books
- Farming as a Business
- Successful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach,
Karl Schwenke, 1991, Capital City Press. -- Great intro, especially for new farmers, to
thinking of farming as a business. Other topics include: soils, plants, farm practices
and machinery, and cash and specialty crops.
- Fencing, Barns, and Maintenance
- Fences for Pasture and Garden, Gail Damerow, 1992, Storey Publishing. --
What every alpaca owner needs more of.
- Renovating Barns, Sheds, and Outbuildings, Nick Engler, 2001, Storey Publishing. --
For fixing up that old property.
- How to Build Small Barns and Outbuildings, Monte Burch, 1992, Storey Publishing. --
For starting over or from scratch.
Livestock Magazines
- Alpaca Specific
- Alpacas Magazine -- Published by AOBA, full of lots of pictures and useful info about farm practices and what others in the alpaca industry are doing.
- One Voice -- Published jointly by ARI and AOBA for members of both organizations (don't know if you can subscribe separately). Full of industry specific information and happenings
- International Camelid Quarterly -- is an independent full color, high-quality, Camelid specific magazine. (www.llamas-alpacas.com)
- Livestock and Small Farming
- American Livestock Magazine -- Includes information about many non-traditional livestock and specialty crops. Generally several alpaca-related articles in an issue.
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Hobby Farms Magazine -- Great magazine for learning about working your small farm. Many articles about alternative livestock, including alpacas and llamas
Fiber Magazines
- Spinning
- Spin-Off Magazine
- Fiber Arts
- Vogue Knitting
- Interweave Knits
- Piece Work
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