Click on Logo for Application Form, Complete, then email to alpacas@zoominternet.net Close-Knit Orchestrates ... There's a newly formed group of alpaca business owners and breeders in the U.S.A....They're dedicated members of a "Close-Knit Family" promoting alpacas and alpaca fiber as a sustainable investment and lifestyle opportunity.  They are responsible for launching the first impact movie about alpacas to be released worldwide!  This powerful marketing tool can be viewed by clicking on the main image on this site's home page ("A C-K Introduction"), or by visiting the A/USA website.  This unique group shares radio campaigns, point-of-purchase items, advertising, and other exciting, effective marketing tools.  Visit www.AlpacasInTheUSA.com to learn more and to watch the 3.5 minute impact movie! Close-Knit Works With ... Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for specialized care and treatment for our Close-Knit Alpacas, but also for our other farm animals, such as the horses, donkeys, pygmy goats and pig. The team in the office, where one checks in, are terrific and the crew of veterinary student, technicians, doctors and professors are tops! Cornell's Camelid Department is growing strong, plus they now present a focused program just for alpaca breeders each year in early March (click HERE for details on the next one coming up). If you click on their logo on this page here, you'll be taken to their website. Give them a call with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment. They'll always be glad to hear from you! 1-607-253-3100 Close-Knit Recommends ... Alpaca Solutions Magazine (and E-Zine, too!), for a beautiful new publication that covers the most important topics you want to read about. Check out this terrific find! Their advertising rates are affordable for alpaca farms of all sizes, and the quality? Top notch! Visit their website at: http://www.alpacasolutionsmagazine.com/ Call Pat Finke about advertising YOUR alpaca business with this stellar publication on the rise! Tell her Close-Knit Alpacas sent you! Close-Knit Endorsement ... When you're ready to get your herd management organized, and for the long-haul, employ this user-friendly, efficient program to record all information about your alpacas and your alpaca business: Alpaca Ease Herd Management Software.  Contact Ellen Gurewitz at 661/718-3370 or email her at: info@alpacaease.com for a free trial!   Visit www.alpacaease.com! Close-Knit Utilizes ... ARLYN SCALES, is a leader in the design and development of technology for the weighing industry.  Headquartered in Long Island, New York, this company has been manufacturing electronic weighing systems for more than twenty years. You can expect a lot from Arlyn Scales.  They pride themselves on bringing their customers the latest technology, superior quality and the utmost value.  Don't cut corners with one of the most important pieces of equipment your alpaca farm will utilize for years.  All parts are MADE IN THE USA, so purchasing an Arlyn Scale provides support for our All-American products and work force! Call the people at Arlyn today, to learn more about the various weighing systems they have available. Their number is Toll Free: 800-645-4301 Visit www.arlynscales.com to  learn more.  Close-Knit Recommends ... Prairie States Insurance Agency, for quality service you can depend upon.  Owner Deborah Gale has worked closely with Close-Knit Alpacas since our first alpaca was purchased, and has always been available to answer our questions and guide us through the many options available for farm and livestock insurance needs.  She and her staff truly do "work hard to earn your trust!"  We know there are other very reputable livestock insurance companies out there, but we can only recommend the company we have worked with directly ourselves...and that's Prairie States! Call or write Deborah and the rest of her crew at:  Prairie States Insurance Agency, Inc. 100 North Broadway, Suite 2840, Oklahoma City, OK  73102 / Call Toll Free: 800-627-4677 / Visit www.PrairieStatesInsurance.com to learn more!  Close-Knit Referral ... Close-Knit Alpacas would like to refer you to Useful-Items.com, an on-line resource for all manner of alpaca and llama related products, from feed and supplements to halters and barn tools, from cria coats to people clothes and books and multi-media to medicinals.  Visit www.UsefulAlpacaItems.com to learn more! Close-Knit FYI ... When you're in need of helpful information regarding the transportation and import/export of alpacas, contact USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.  They can provide you with the "U.S. State and Territory Animal Import Regulations" you're looking for.   Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/ Close-Knit Recommends ... Jeffers Livestock, for farm supplies for all kinds of livestock, including llamas and alpacas.   The company has an extensive on-line catalog and can send you a free paper catalog, too....plus, they have a cool and helpful newsletter you may want to sign up for, AND an affiliate program!  Call Toll Free:  1-800-533-3377 or visit www.jefferslivestock.com. Re-Breeding Calculator Close-Knit FYI ... If you're new to the process of breeding and re-breeding alpacas or llamas, you will find this link of particular interest and quite helpful.  Brian and Jane Pinkerton of Mount Lehman Llamas of British Columbia have an extensive website and a handy online calculator you can use to help you better understand your llama or alpacas' "cycles" and when the best time to re-breed are, based on when the female's last cria was born.  Click on the picture to the right of the rainbow colored Female Huacaya Alpaca and you will be taken to the the correct page.  Have fun! Close-Knit Referral ... Morning Star Fiber opened for business on Jan. 24, 2005. This quality fiber mill seeks to provide value added services to animal growers and others in the fiber community.  They offer custom fiber and wool processing capabilities that begin with fleeces sent to them which they can wash, pick, cut, dehair, card, draft, spin, ply, felt, as well as other custom services. Their use of modern small batch equipment allows them to efficiently process individual fleeces. This follows along with their desire to specialize in Icelandic, Alpaca and Llama fiber whose variety of colors would be lost when handled with large older technology machines. Contact this fiber mill for your needs in Alpaca fiber processing or Icelandic wool fiber processing. Close-Knit TAX FYI ... The IRS has a comprehensive site with all sorts of information you are certain to find very helpful as you begin and build your Alpaca Business or Alpaca Hobby Farm.  Check out their site and spend some time perusing all the details and helpful information designed to support your goals and keep you "A.O.K. On Top of Things!"  Click HERE or on the logo at right to get there, beginning with "Audit Technique Guides - Agriculture." Veterinarians.net