Saturday, February 11, 2012

Tuesday, Aug. 03, 2010

Ranch welcomes baby alpaca

Owners surprised by her arrival

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Her appearance was a bit of a surprise to everyone but Funny Girl, her mother.

Donna Morris and her husband Dennis own an alpaca ranch, 16090 Breunig Road, where they run their business, Luv R Pacas.

The Morrises did not know their second alpaca birth was on the way until the morning of the birth.

Donna Morris, a retired courthouse supervisor, said the yet unnamed baby has been dubbed "Tinkerbell" by her granddaughter, but she is unsure if that name will stick.

Morris said the pregnancy lasted about 11.5 months and the baby will nurse for 5-6 months.

Alpacas come in two types, the mother and baby are huacayas.

"In full fleece, [huacayas] look like a big fluffy teddy bear," Morris said.

Morris said she's farmed alpacas for two years.

"We wanted a small business after we retired," Morris said. "So, we got into the alpaca farming."

Morris said the alpacas are fun and easy to take care of.

Dennis Morris, a retired manager for a phone company, said since he and his wife, who have lived in Los Banos for 35 years, already lived in a farming community, a ranch made sense. He also said alpacas were a good choice because nobody in the area eats them.

"You can name them and you won't have to be killing them," Morris said.

Donna Morris said she has shown the alpacas in competitions and to elementary school students.

Morris said she sells the animals, the fleece and the manure. The manure makes for good fertilizer, according to Morris, because it does not need to be composted.

"Alpaca farmers call it black gold," Morris said.

It's not uncommon for people to stop by the ranch and look at the animals up close.

"We love to show them off," Morris said.

The manure produced on the ranch, Morris said, is free to any takers, and the products made from alpaca wool make for good gifts.