Welcome to Llamatopia            

                

     Build your Llama Image with Llamas from

      BEACON HILL LLAMA  

                FARM 

                         Where Their Genes meet your Dreams

  Member, Llama Association of Southern California (LASC), Camelids ofmCalifornia (COC)                     
  International Llama Registry  (ILR), Alpaca and Llama Show Association (ALSA)

                                 JOIN THE FUN !!!!!

           Come Visit Beacon Hill Farm.  Llaugh a lot,  and llearn about Llamas. You will be charmed and amazed by these wonderful animals! 

Argentine madness has made it's way to BEACON HILL Farm.   We are so proud to number KOBRA's SERPIKO among our illustrious herdsires.  SERPIKO was the 2005 Celebrity World Champion from
LC-Llamas.  His has  seven crias  on the ground and they have definitely fulfilled our expectations.   Check them out below and on our "New Crias on the Block" page.  Serpiko is available for limited breedings.
Kobras Serpiko.jpg (29752 bytes)
Kobra's Serpiko                               Serpiko's Premier                             Absolut                            Royal Spinnaker            Serpiko's Spot On
2005 Celebrity World                            b. 6/1/2006                          2006 April Magic                       our stunning                         with his Mom
Class III                                                                                         Supreme Champion                   Millennium son                       Moonspinner
 

We have become active in learning how to spin and process our wool and thank our spinning teacher, Margaret Tyler of La Mesa, for all of her wonderful tips.  To learn more about our shearing activities and wool, please go to our wool page.  

  Llamas

Home Gene Dreams New Crias on the Block Our Future Llama Fun The Herdsires Production Males for Sale Females for Sale The Girls Llama Wool Links Contents New Kids on the Block 

 

Build your llama Image with  llamas from Beacon Hill Farm.

 

Adopt-A-Llama

Sale and Contact information:

 

Dr. Ruth Baak, Proprietor,

Beacon Hill Farm

Gene Nicholson, Proprietor,

Bonita Llama Farm

www.bonitallamafarm.com

Kenny Blakley, Farm Manager

2086 Mother Grundy Truck Trail, Jamul         CA

P. O. Box 1152,  

Jamul CA 91935

(619)468-6808 or   (619) 468-3074

Send mail to rebaak@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 Beacon Hill Farm

 

 

Thank you for visiting the Beacon Hill web page.

 


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Shown below is  Ken Jones, our shearer from New Zealand  And doesn't everyone look spectacular.  Have to admit a couple of our llamas received some funky haircuts, courtesy of Ken's enthusiasm.  Even the Great Pyrenees, Dana and Mac Duff (Duffy), sport new "dos".  They are full of energy and  very happy. Our next scheduled shearing will be in April, 2005.  Call for information.

                       

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           Is llama wool usable?  Of course it is...  

 

 

 

 
 

 

When the Inca Indians of Peru domesticated llamas and alpacas more than 5,000 years ago, they had specific uses in mind.   Alpacas were selectively bred to yield a fine, uniform fleece and the wool was used in making garments which kept the Incas warm in the harsh Andean environment.   Archeologists have discovered fine woolen goods (with weft counts of 190 to 240 threads per inch) which they believe were used in ceremonies and as burial shrouds.

   Today, alpacas produce one of the finest fibers known to man.  Llamas were used as a beast of burden, and emphasis was placed on sturdy packing ability.   Little thought was given to llama fiber. Because of this, today we find llamas with fine fleece, as well as llamas with very coarse fleece.   Is llama wool usable?  Of course it is, given that we select an appropriate use for each individual animals fiber.  Because of the range of wool types present in the llama population, we are able to make a variety of things from llama wool.  It is neither better nor worse than alpaca fiber and each fleece should be examined to determine its own merits

bulletIt is considered a natural, protein fiber since it grows freely on llamas.*  It has a hollow core (called medullation), giving it a good weight -to-warmth ratio and making it lightweight.  The degree of medullation decreases with fiber diameter, and the finest fibers can be solid with interrupted medullation.  Technically speaking, it is not wool but many refer to it as such.
bulletA whole fleece consists of two coats: guard hair and down.  Guard hair is thick and without crimp, making it excellent for use in rope.  It varies from 0% to 20% of the total fleece of an animal.  Down is soft and luxurious, suitable for finer garments.  Individual fibers range in size from 20 to 40 microns in diameter. One micron = 1/1000 millimeter or 1/25,000 inch.
                                                           
 
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bulletLlama fiber contains no natural oils or lanolin, making it light and yielding 90% to 93% of its original weight when processed. It shrinks little in washing.
bulletA myriad of colors can be found ranging from white, light brown, dusty rose, dark brown, gray and silver, to black.*  White fiber takes dye well but, like other fine fibers, is subject to alkaline damage.  For this reason, natural dyes work better than some synthetic dyes.
bulletCollection of wool can be accomplished by shearing or brushing. 

 

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When shearing, one harvests the entire fleece, including guard hair and down.  By brushing, only the down is harvested.

bulletFleece growth is about 3 to 4 pounds per year, with full re-growth after shearing occurring during a two year period.  Biannual shearing yields an average of 5 to 10 lbs. of fiber.  Brushing, while more time consuming, yields about 3 to 4 lbs. per year



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bulletBecause of its fineness, thin yarn that is double plied yields the softest, yet strongest yarn.  However, it can also be spun thick or as a single, or blended with other fibers.
bulletHas little or no memory, making it excellent for use in weaving.  When used in knitting, raglan sleeves work well, and adding elastic thread in ribbing will help hold the shape of a garment.
bulletSkeins and garments should be washed in cold water with a mild dish washing liquid such as Ivory.  Woolite is not recommended because of its alkalinity.  Be sure article is totally submerged since llama fiber tends to be water repellent.  Wet garments should be handled with care so they will not lose their shape.


bulletHarvest the fiber after sufficient grooming.  Collection can be by brushing or shearing.
bulletSkirt and separate usable fiber into like piles.  Dirty wool should be discarded.
bulletShake out any debris by gently pulling the locks apart.
bulletFor finer garments, remove guard hair by pulling the long, thick ends.
bulletCard the wool to align the fibers.  Can be done by using hand-cards, a drum carder, or sent to a mill for processing.
bulletSpin the wool into yarn by twisting it as you draw it out to make it thinner.  Use a spinning wheel, drop spindle, or a spinning service.
bulletGently wash the yarn to set the spin .*  When dry, your yarn is ready to be crocheted, knitted, or woven into a lovely memento of your llama.   
bulletFelting is another excellent use for llama wool.  It is an even easier technique than spinning and yields quick results.
 

 
Suggestions for using llama fiber
From llama to garment
 

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 Our thanks to Holly Eakes for compiling this information.