About us: Besides farming alpacas, Andy Merriwether is a molecular anthropologist/geneticist/evolutionary biologist with Binghamton University (SUNY), and Ann Merriwether is a developmental psychologist, also at Binghamton. We have two daughters Kenny (aged 11) and Helen (aged 7) both also very into alpacas. In addition to our beautiful alpacas we have at this point a giant Newfoundland named Echo Hill's the Mighty Quinn, 4 angora bunnies, 4 cats, 3 turtles, 2 tortoises, 2 toads and one goldfish. People with allergies almost never visit us. We first noticed alpacas and llamas in a parade in Dexter, Michigan in 2002. Ann especially was struck by how beautiful the animals were and how docile and peaceful they seemed. Later that year we bought a 20 acre farm in Vestal New York, (and after a bit of convincing by Ann) we both decided that Alpacas would be the perfect animals for us to raise there (of course there was that initial sticker shock too). Andy attended some great seminars run by Dan Gromek, Jack Donaldson, and the wild and wonderful Dr. David Pugh at the fall alpaca show in Lansing. Andy also took the Alpaca 101 course at A.L. Paca's run by Doug and Denise Caldwell, and was immediately intrigued by alpaca color genetics. We completed purchasing the animals for our foundation herd of 12 in the fall of 2002, and are now the proud owners of nearly 20 animals. Andy and/or Ann visited over 30 farms in our quest to learn about and purchase alpacas. In the end, our foundation herd came from Benchmark Alpacas in Ortonville, Michigan, Pleasant Hills Alpacas in Portland, Oregon, Sunset Accoyos in Portland, Oregon,, Alpacas Allegra in California and Stachowski Alpacas in Manua, Ohio. We have since also bought alpacas from Alpacas Outback and Alpacas by the Sea. We decided our farm breeding goals would be huacaya colored accoyos and part accoyos and dark full Peruvians. Our ultimate breeding goal is to make the first black and brown full accoyos. We purchased our first animals with these goals in mind and our initial foundation herd including three black females, two light fawn accoyo females, two medium fawn males (one accoyo), and a white suri gelding companion male. All are full Peruvian. Our animals arrived at our farm in July of 2003, and we finished the barn and fencing in the ensuing months. Our animals feature the famous bloodlines of Caligula, Royal Fawn, Victor, Camilio, Shades of Grey, Silverado, Victor's Vic Junior, Choclateer, Black Magic, Nic Nac, El Capitan, Silver Cesario, Accoyo Capitan, The Saint, Donatello, and GLR Rasheed. We bought our animals young so we could afford animals from champion bloodlines. Our girls are currently bred to Accoyo the Babe, Accoyo Express, Accoyo Royal Avenger, King Crimson, Accoyo Julius Jax and Peruvian Dorado for crias in the coming year. Besides quality animals, we hope to offer unique genetic and molecular laboratory services in the future. Andy has a 2900 sq. ft. molecular genetics laboratory at Binghamton University. Ongoing research involves identifying the genes involved in coat and skin color in Camelids, using a candidate gene and STR-marker linkage-mapping approaches. Andy will also be looking to map the Suri coat phenotype gene and the allele that causes the Suri phenotype. We will be able to offer paternity testing immediately, and hope to add standard molecular lab tests such as progesterone tests for pregnancy, IgG immunoglobulin tests for cria health, and micron counts and spectrophotometric color testing of fiber in the future. Andy has a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh, as a B.A. in Biology, B.S. in Medical Anthropology and an M.S. in Genetics from Pennsylvania State University and has done research on the genetics of animal behavior (in chimpanzees and humpback whales) as well as human and animal dispersal patterns. Andy's postdoctoral training in Computational Biology at the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh provides a unique set of analytical skills to evaluate biological and genetic traits in camelids. This unique training should enable Nyala Farm to provide services that no other Camelid farm currently offers, as well as expertise in the color genetics for breeding Alpacas. Andy has served on the Board of Directors of the Alpaca Research Foundation (ARF) as is currently on the Genetics Committee of the ARI chaired by Shauna Brummet. Ann also has a strong background in genetics and has helped Andy write 4 articles on alpaca color genetics including articles on blue-eyed whites (if you would like references for any of these articles let us know). Besides alpaca genetics, we also have gotten very excited about alapca fiber arts. Ann first learned to spin alpaca fiber with the Chelsea Spinners Flock in Michigan, and has become an inspired needle-felter, creating dozens of unique ornaments, hats, and dolls out of alpaca fiber and other fibers. We now make and sell Alpaca Fiber products and Alpaca related art and Ann gives needle-felting lessons. Our daughter Kenny also learned spinning with a Michigan 4-H Alpaca Pack led by Nancy Lopez of Woodcreek farm (alpacasmichigan.com). Kenny (thanks to Sharon Hennesey at Aleatory Alpacas) has recently added knitting to her fiber skills and really enjoys knitting with alpaca fiber. Kenny and Helen both also like to needle felt and make many Christmas presents with their needle felting projects. However, the girls' favorite thing to do with alpacas is to show them. Both girls have done very well in the performance ring over the last couple of years taking numerous ribbons in halter, obstacle, PR, dressage, and gamblers choice classes. Their favorite is the costume class (that's right, the kids and the alapcas dress in costumes). Alpacas have really given us a lot of activities the whole family can do together, felting, showing,, poop scooping :) The fun never ends. We call our farm Nyala farm after the Merriwether homestead in Chester Springs, PA. The original Nyala Farm, sadly is no more. The new Nyala farm, much like the original, sits high up on a hillside, overlooking a beautiful valley, this time in Vestal, New York, adjacent to the City of Binghamton. Come see the beautiful Southern Tier of New York and visit Nyala Farm Alpacas. Beside other wonderful alpaca farms here in the Southern Tier there are many other fine attractions including beautiful waterfalls and parks, antique stores, wineries and wonderful working antique carousels.