Alpaca Facts

After Learning more about Alpacas, we knew that they were for us!

• Alpacas are small, gentle and easily handled even by children.
• They come in 22 beautiful colors with many variations and blends.
• There are two breeds of alpacas:
  • Huacaya: the most common, having a very crimpy fleece that gives them a "fluffy" appearance.
  • Suris: more rare, having a very silky hair-like fiber which grows in tight spirals and drapes down, giving them an elegant, slender appearance.
• Alpacas typically live from 15 to 25 years.
• Alpacas are members of the camelid family along with llamas, vicunas and guanacos.
• Alpacas gestation is approximately 11½ months. They almost always give birth during the daylight hours.
• Their crias or babies weigh between 12 and 20 pounds at birth.
• They eat grasses and chew cud.
• Alpacas are ruminants with three stomachs. They convert grass and hay to energy very efficiently, eating far less as a percentage of their body weight than other farm animals.
• Their feet are padded and leave even the most delicate of terrain undamaged as they browse.
• A herd of Alpacas consolidates waste in one or two spots in the pasture, controlling the spread of parasites and making it easy to collect and compost their waste for low-nitrogen fertilizer.
• The alpaca's fleece is comparable to cashmere, is known for it's fineness, lightweight and luster.
• They cost about as much to feed as a large dog.
• Alpacas are ideal for small acreages. You can comfortable manage between 5-10 per acre.

• Alpacas can be transported easily in a van or trailer.
• Each alpaca can be insured for it's full purchase price.
• Alpacas only require fencing adequate to keep predators out. They don't normally challenge fences.
• Three-sided shelters, with an opening out of the prevailing wind, are usually adequate for alpacas since they prefer being out in the open.
• Alpaca fiber is free of natural oils which may cause allergic reactions.
• Alpacas are easily trained and are very inquisitive and intelligent.
• They spit on one another over food or invasion of personal space, but they rarely spit on people.
• Alpacas are sheared once per year normally prior to the summer heat.
• They are safe and pleasant to be around, they do not bite or butt.
• Alpacas are considered disease-resistant animal, which lowers insurance and veterinarian costs.
• Alpacas are inexpensive to maintain, yet command premium prices, which make them- One of the World's Finest Livestock Investments!