A Kelowna alpaca farm took top honours at a recent national show held last month in Red Deer.

Called an Alpacafest, it attracted breeders and their alpacas from across Canada.

Among them were the Sumaq Valley Alpacas raised by Tracy and Jamie Banner of southeast Kelowna.

The Sumaq Valley Alpacas won nine ribbons at the Red Deer event.

Alpacas are a member of the camelid family. In North America, they are raised solely for their fibre.

Alpaca fibre is in great demand around the world, both commercially and by the cottage industry because of its unique characteristics.

It is warmer and stronger than wool, it is not itchy when worn next to skin, and it contains no lanolin.

Every yet, the quality of alpacas in Canada increases as the level of competition gets tougher.

Like any other livestock venture, alpaca farmers must stay on top of their game and breed good females to exceptional males.

The Banners began raising alpacas almost three years ago and named their farm after their first female, Sumaq.

Neither of them had any previous experience farming or raising livestock, but both sought a change in lifestyle with a more quiet, relaxed rural pace.

After initially purchasing 13 females and breeding them in each year since 2001 to the best males in Canada, Sumaq Valley now has 21 quality females and seven males, with eight more females expected this summer.

The results of the Banners’ breeding decisions with their stock were evident at the Red Deer show.

Sumaq Valley alpacas won ribbons for Champion Coloured Fleece, Reserve Best of Age, Reserved Best Female, as well as three first place ribbons, two second place ribbons and a third place ribbon.

The number of alpaca farms in Canada and the U.S. continues to grow annually.

The Canadian Alpaca Breeders Association has received more enquiries already this year than for 2002 even though alpacas have been in Canada for now more than 15 years.

The price for alpacas has remained fairly consistent since the mid-1980s.

Aside from the sale of th animals, raw fibre and end products make up the total income from raising alpacas.

Alpacas eat very little in comparison to other livestock and require very little in terms of shelter.Typically you can raise three to eight alpacas per acre.

They grow to about one metre (36 inches) tall at the withers and can weigh up to 90 kg (200 pounds), yet they are characteristically easy to handle.

Alpacas don’t have hooves, but rather two toenails with a soft pad on the bottom of their feet so they are extremely easy on the environment.