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People On The Move - Holli Eng
06/27/2010
RAISING ALPACAS
Some people know exactly what they want to do in early retirement and, well, some people get an idea from …an infomercial at midnight! That’s what happened to Holli Eng and her husband. One evening the two found themselves tossing and turning, so they turned on the television and there was an infomercial about raising Alpacas. The next thing they knew they logged onto a website and began to research the animals that ultimately would become their new family members! Within one month they reserved their space to attend “Discover Alpacas Day” in Hunterdon County. That’s where they met their new “fleecy” friends. Eng says, “We bought two pregnant females and the rest of the herd that we have today is from their offspring and some are now into a second generation.”
Holli describes Alpacas as animals that are native to the Andes. She says, “They are primarily found in Peru, Chile and Bolivia. They are gaining popularity, as they are presently being exported all over the world. They are related to llamas and camels and raised for their fleece, which is hypoallergenic, and they come in about 22 colors! She adds, “I can’t wear any other type of animal hair because I am allergic, so working with Alpacas is great for me!” The animals are generally very friendly and inquisitive.
The Engs, who first boarded in Pennsylvania, now keep their herd of 13 Alpacas on a farm equipped to take care of the animals in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Holli says, “We like to go out there and help them when it’s shot day. If a veterinarian is coming to the farm, I like to be on site, especially when it’s a new baby. We also tend to learn a lot from the vets.” Holli shares that last year a baby, also known as a Crea, was born unexpectedly! She explains that these animals are “induced ovulaters.” The males are usually brought in to meet with the female. In this case, when the two met, the female wanted no part of it! She says, “Lo and behold, Gracie must have jumped the fence and met up with a particular male that she had in mind when she was ready! Needless to say the three phone calls from the barn were quite a surprise when we were told she had a jet black Crea following her!” (Babies walk within just a few hours of birth). Eng says she never even knew Gracie was pregnant because she is a big gal, anyway. She and her son Alexander, who has a keen interest in the animals, are hoping to grow the herd to about thirty animals in all.
Sheering at the farm is done once a year, in the spring, with electric clippers. The animals are restrained and kept calm. Six grades of fur are found on each animal. The “blanket” is the really good fur, or the prime fur, that appears on the back. Fur from the Alpacas is usually tagged and shipped off to be made into yarn, which is then sold in the farm store or shipped off to the fiber co-op where it is turned into socks, blankets or yarn. Holli touts that several designers such as Rebecca Taylor, Calvin Klein and Eileen Fisher have used their Alpaca fleece in their textiles. Eng once had a career in New York’s Garment District herself. The Fashion Institute of Technology alum says, “If I were actually working this the way it ought to be, it could be very lucrative but I do not have the time to devote to it. Today the value is really in the animals themselves, but I am not really fond of the show-ring.”
Holli and her husband Jimmy, along with son Alexander, made the move from Queens to Marlboro in 2000, after looking at real estate for quite some time. They settled here, like many, because of the excellent school system and the proximity to New York City.
Holli’s other interests include being a Boy Scout leader, which she has served as for ten years, and she is a member of the Raritan Bay Power Squadron, where she and her husband are Vessel Safety Examiners. That’s not all this “retired” mom does; she is also a massage therapist, too!
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
The Manor, West Orange
FAVORITE MUSIC
I listen to everything
FAVORITE MOVIE
“Gone with the Wind”
PET PEEVE
People driving while talking on cell phones
THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Paula Dean, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lena Horne
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