Crapaud -
Three-year-old Demetri hums as he stands next to his owners, Melanie and Dan Hicks.
But the noise sounds less like a hum, and more like a sheep's bleating.
That's because Demetri is a fully-grown male alpaca who visited the Island along with dozens of others over the weekend.
"I went to the U.P.E.I. vet college, and that's where I was initially exposed to alpacas," said Melanie, a native of Little Harbour, P.E.I.
"They were such a wonderful animal to work with that...we decided alpacas would be a great fit to our lifestyle."
The Hicks brought four breeding-class animals, Demetri included, to Crapaud for the 2010 Mayflower Alpaca Show, held at the South Shore Actiplex.
The couple own Irishtown Alpacas, located near Moncton, N.B., which is home to 15 animals with three more "in the oven," said Dan.
The weekend in Crapaud was filled with exhibitions and judging, including an obstacle course for youth breeders.
Several exhibitors also displayed the luxurious alpaca fiber, used to make an array of cozy products.
"We've become more interested in the fiber aspect of things as time went by," said Melanie. "The alpaca fiber is eight times warmer than wool so it has a lot more insulating value. If you had a pair of wool mittens, the same thickness in alpaca fabric would be too warm for your hands."
The fiber is also more pricy than wool because of its rarity. For instance, there are only about three alpaca farms currently operating on the Island.
"It's becoming a growing industry," Melanie said. "You'll see (the fiber) in areas like farmers' markets and small local retail stores. It's a lot more valuable and some of the products made are higher end."
Most of the fiber produced by the Hicks' alpacas stays in their home province and can be used to make high-end ladies wear and men's suits. There are even Paca Blue Jeans, made from a mixture of cotton and alpaca fiber.
"It's quite lustrous and shiny," Dan said. "It's also considered hypoallergenic, so people who can't wear wool products will often wear alpaca."
For more on the Mayflower Alpaca Show and results from the weekend, visit www.mayfloweralpacashow.homestead.com
sbrun@journalpioneer.com
