A local family will be opening their doors to the public the weekend of Sept. 27 as it celebrates National Alpaca Farm Days as well as their first-year business anniversary.

Mark and Vanessa Jeunehomme, who own the Candia Alpaca Co., say it’s been one year this month since they started raising the gentle South American animals. With the addition of a baby alpaca or “cria” born only two months ago, they now have a herd of 12.

Vanessa said the docile camel-like animals, which are native to Peru, Chile and Bolivia, have proven to be an excellent career move.

“We were into horses before this, and we were really looking for a livestock animal that we can enjoy that has lower maintenance than horses,” she said. “And of course, we needed something ‘baby safe,’ because our daughter Isabella is only 2. Alpacas have soft feet and only have teeth on the bottom, and as far as animals go in general, they are a very safe choice.”

Only 20 years ago, alpacas were largely relegated to zoos and other live displays, but today there are approximately 1,500 registered alpacas living in New Hampshire. In 1988, there were only 11 registered alpaca farms in the state, but today the Candia Alpaca Co. is one of about 100 farms where raising alpacas is the main business.

Their primary “crop” is the soft fiber that the alpaca is known for, and the Jeunehomme’s dozen alpacas represent a wide spectrum of the 22 color variations that alpacas are known for. Perhaps most striking is an alpaca named Michael, who boasts a rare light silvergrey that covers almost all of his body. Other alpacas on their farm range from jet black to even two-tone mixtures of white and brown.

Vanessa said breeding and bloodlines have a lot to do with the final quality of the fiber, which is renowned for being allergy- free as well as its warmth and natural elasticity. While some farms produce their own lines of socks, blankets and clothing, Vanessa said that she is content for now to supply her own fiber to the local crafting market, and the her farm is also putting out its own style of mini-alpaca toys to introduce youngsters to the animals.

For the most part, Vanessa said the “labor” of alpacas tends to revolve around their morning and afternoon feedings. The animals need little other than a safe pasture and the company of other alpacas. While some farms use a “guard llama” for protection -- the llama is a larger cousin of the alpaca -- Vanessa said a dog can work out just fine as a guard animal, and she said a recent report of a coyote attack also makes having an electric fence a good idea.

In addition to the coyotes, Vanessa said that domesticated dogs on the loose can also create a problem for alpacas. “So the fence is mainly to keep things out,” she said. “We can hear (coyotes) at night ... and we know they’re close enough to hear the alpacas whimper, but luckily we haven’t lost anybody.”

At the close of their first year of business, Vanessa said she was able to pay for the costs of maintaining her animals by selling two recently born crias to another local couple, but she warned that the animals are still a considerable first-time investment.

A good breeding female can cost between $8,000 to $50,000, and many alpaca breeders put startup costs in the $100,000 range. But on the other hand, she said the industry is still small enough now to allow most sellers to guarantee that their animals are healthy and suitable for breeding. Other than the considerable investment to start off a herd, Vanessa said that alpaca rearing requires a lot of research and consideration to make sure it is the right career move.

The open house will take place at the Candia Alpaca Co. at 451 High St. (Route 27) on Sept. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the animals from their herd, the Jeunehommes will also have a display of raw alpaca yarn and other items made from their fiber. For more information, contact the Candia Alpaca Co. at 493-2475.