June 2, 2008 Alpaca farming: A growing industry in Maine Play video

(Amy Sinclair, NECN) - When Cindy and Tim Lavan moved to Bowdoin, Maine from Washington D.C., they were pioneers in Maine's fledgling alpaca industry.

Now, with 120 animals, Chase Tavern Farm is the largest and longest running alpaca operation in the state and one of 70 alpaca operations.

They don't eat much, they don't need much room or maintenance and their prize alpacas sell for around $10,00 a piece. And breeding is only part of the business model. Their wool is light weight and very warm so each alpaca sheering brings in 5-10 pounds of fiber. Cindy says farming is hard work but well worth it.