"We looked at a lot of alpacas to upgrade our herd and discovered a gold mine of exceptional alpacas at Derwydd Alpacas. Jan had exactly what we were looking for." - Susan Leonard of Lionheart Alpacas
Over ten years ago, while living at Derwydd Vineyard, Jan Davis went with a neighbor to visit a llama farm across the Napa Valley. It was just for fun, and Jan had no thought of becoming a livestock owner. But, something happened when she met the llamas, and next thing you know there were two llamas living with her up on the hill. Three years later she met her first alpaca at the same ranch. Attracted by the fiber and economic aspects of raising alpacas, Jan quickly replaced her llamas with alpacas. In 2001 she moved her growing herd of alpacas from the Napa valley to a ranch in Esparto, California, where the alpacas now frolic in meandering pastures amidst almond orchards.
From the beginning she knew she wanted to breed the best alpacas possible. Since then, careful planning, and hands-on management have yielded an all Peruvian herd of huacaya and suri alpacas that have received recognition from breeders nationwide. With top-flight herdsires and prize-winning females in the herd, Jan is able to breed a variety of color, outstanding conformation, and desireable fleece characteristics into each alpaca cria born on the ranch. The Derwydd alpaca herd includes herdsires such as Peruvian Chaccu, winner of Get-of-Sire at AOBA 2001, and, 6p Accoyo Pinachi and 6p Ninaya, both hand picked by Dr. Julio Sumar and receiving rave reviews for their offspring. The value of Derwydd Alpaca's herdsires is truly reflected in their offspring.
Jan interacts with her alpacas throughout the day and has even been known to sleep in the barn to provide around-the-clock care if needed. She feeds the best grass hay available, and has her own supplement - the Jan Davis Special - milled to meet the nutritional needs of her alpacas. With this kind of attention, it is no wonder that Derwydd alpacas are healthy and well socialized. The excellent conformation, health, and fiber, of the alpacas of Derwydd are all a result of the careful attention to detail of Jan towards all the aspects of the Derwydd Alpaca ranch
Jan likes to compete, and she likes to win - in the alpaca
show ring! From AOBA to the AAA Futurity, alpacas from Derwydd
consistently bring home the ribbons.
In part, this reflects Derwydd Alpacas commitment
to the betterment of the North American herd. Jan has been active
in supporting the industry from early on. She served as the
secretary of the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) from 1998 until 2002. She
has served as both secretary and president of the California Alpaca Breeders
Association (CALPACA), a member of the State of Jefferson Alpaca Association and has participated in every AOBA
Conference since 1995. Jan is also an active member of the Suri Network. In 1999 she assisted with the production of the "California Alpaca Stud", a nationally distributed magazine featuring the
alpaca herdsires of California. More recently, Jan was instrumental in establishing the International Alpaca Odyssey, the only alpaca show in the United States that is based on international alpaca show rules.
Since her beginnings with the American alpaca industry, Jan has taken a long term view of the future of alpacas in the United States. In the big picture, Derwydd Alpacas and all the alpaca breeders must support each other in order to thrive. Jan stays plugged into the world-wide scene, looking to spot trends that will shape the future of the industry. She believes there is a growing international awareness of alpacas and all things alpaca related, and sees a need to educate breeders on ways to improve fleece quality, production, and to broaden the market for alpaca products. With that in mind, she works tirelessly through AFCNA to promote the public perception and enhance the credibility and viability of the Alpaca Fiber Co-op. At Derwydd Alpacas one will find a true industry leader, producing award winning alpacas, while assisting other alpaca breeders towards success.
Derwydd Alpacas sets the standard. In addition to award winning alpacas, Derwydd offers:
- Free transportation anywhere in the Continental United States
- Complimentary breedback to any Derwydd herdsire
- 30 day live cria guarantee
- Hand breeding for accurate breeding dates and live birth guarantee
- Ongoing customer support
Whether you are new to the alpaca business or an experienced breeder, call or email Jan Davis at Derwydd Alpacas to find out how the Derwydd fine art of breeding can help you paint success into your alpaca business.
