There are around 60 alpacas living at Oak Knoll Farms in Albert Lea, which is owned by Ed and Jean Schlede. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

The Schledes have been raising alpacas since 2000. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

The Schledes are members of the National Alpaca Breeders Association. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

The alpacas at Oak Knoll Farms are fed hay during the cooler seasons, and are put out to pasture to graze during the warmer months. They’re also fed supplemental pellets year-round for extra nourishment. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

The baby alpacas are fed mineral pellets separately at Oak Knoll Farms to make sure they get enough nutrients. Ed Schlede said they breed their alpacas to give birth in the warmer months so they're stronger by the time Minnesota's harsh winter weather shows up. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Schlede said they shear their alpacas once a year in the springtime, and that, pound for pound, alpaca wool is three times warmer than sheep wool, and is also softer and doesn’t itch. Alpaca fiber is hollow and thus has a higher insulation value when spun into yarn. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Alpacas are very gentle, Schlede said, and their only natural defenses are running or spitting. He said the alpacas generally only spit when trying to fend others away from their food, and tend not to spit at people like their relatives, llamas and camels, sometimes do. The only predators domesticated alpacas have are coyotes, and while he knows there are coyotes in the area, Schlede said they have never had problems with them. He said stray dogs are a risk, too, as a dog chasing the alpacas, even just to play, could make them run until they drop if they're too scared. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Alpacas have a gestation period of about 11 1/2 months. The Schledes have male alpacas for breeding that they keep separate from the female and baby alpacas. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

The alpacas’ toenails and teeth are routinely trimmed if they’re not worn down naturally. Alpacas only have a bottom row of teeth, and those teeth continually grow throughout their lifetime. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune