The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

There are few things cuter than a baby alpaca, and with three new baby alpacas, and four more due any day now, Panorama Ranch is ripe with cuteness. The seven new additions will bring the herd back to the desired number of 25.

"That number is manageable for us," said Barbara Pieper. The Pieper family operates the 50-acre ranch east of Sisters, where they breed and raise alpacas.

A baby alpaca is called a cria and is born after an 11.5-month gestation period. A female alpaca can be bred again in as little as three and a half weeks after giving birth.

Alpacas are related to llamas but are smaller and, unlike llamas, which are used mainly as pack animals, are bred for their silky fiber.

The herd at Panorama Ranch is made up of both types of alpaca, the Suri and Huacaya. The difference between the two is in the characteristics of their wool. The Suri has fiber that resembles dreadlocks and is heavier. The Huacaya's fiber is fuzzier and grows more like an "Afro." Both types are spun into yarn and used to make sweaters, blankets, rugs or just about anything made out of fabric. While still a niche market, alpaca fiber is becoming more popular as people learn of its quality and diversity.

The versatility of the fiber is one of the reasons alpaca wool is becoming more popular. Alpacas have 22 different natural color possibilities, and the fiber is very soft, velvety, lightweight and durable.

The animals are sheared once a year in the spring.

"We sell the raw product," said Pieper. "Except for some limited product, rugs, which we have made, we don't do any processing beyond hand cleaning out any debris."

One of their buyers is the Pendleton Company, which uses the soft fiber to create beautiful blankets.

Panorama Ranch is a family operation run by Darrell and Barbara Pieper, their son Scott, his wife Julie and 6-year-old daughter Meghan.

The alpaca herd is guarded night and day by four huge Great Pyrenees dogs. The dogs, who've become part of the herd, keep watch for any signs of danger. If a potential threat to the alpacas appears, the dogs will sound the alarm, i.e. bark, and position themselves between their charge and the danger. Their size alone is enough to discourage even the most tenacious predator.

Visitors to the ranch are welcomed by the dogs, several cats, the Piepers, and of course, the friendly, gentle alpacas. Panorama Ranch is located approximately eight miles east of Sisters. To arrange a visit to Panorama Ranch call 541-317-4623.