FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) WHAT’S AN ALPACA?
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These cute little animals are a member of the camelid family and are a smaller cousin to the llama. They are native of Chile, Bolivia and Peru where they have lived for thousands of years. It is believed that they descended from the Vicuna, which has the finest fiber in the world.
There are two types of alpaca…the huacaya and the suri. The suri is the rarer of the two, making up only about 6% of the alpaca population. Huacaya’s were first imported into the US in 1980. They are fluffy like a teddy bear with fine crimpy fleece. Suri’s were first imported in 1991. They have spiral locks that hang down and resemble dreadlocks. The suri fleece is generally more lustrous than the huacaya. |
2) WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?
Alpacas are raised for their fleece. Their fleece is very strong, light weight, and extremely pleasurable to the touch. It is often compared to cashmere, only with a stronger tensile strength. Thousands of years ago, during the reign of the Inca, alpaca fiber was only worn by nobility and high-ranking officials.
| 3) ARE THEY HARD TO TAKE CARE OF? |
Because alpacas originated in the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, they are a very hardy animal. During the winter months, for protection from the elements of the weather a simple three-sided shed is sufficient. During the hot summer months, alpacas need shade and fans to keep their body temperature down. The best fencing for alpacas is 2”x4” square horse fence. This is more to keep predators out than to keep the alpacas in. Alpacas do not challenge fences, however they do like to rub up against the fences. |
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| In addition to shearing once a year, alpacas require regular worming and yearly vaccinations. We recommend worming every 4 – 6 weeks. Also the alpaca toenails require trimming on a regular basis. |
4) HOW OFTEN DO YOU SHEAR THEM? |
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| Alpacas are only shorn once a year. Most farms shear during the months of April and May. An experienced shearer can shear and alpaca in 5 – 10 minutes. |
5) WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEIR FLEECE?
Because alpaca fiber does not have the prickly factor known to wool, it can be used in many applications. High quality prime alpaca fiber is usually fashioned into all kinds of high quality garments such as suits, jackets, skirts, sweaters, dresses and coats. Sweaters knitted out of alpaca fiber are very soft, light weight and extremely warm. The courser fiber is made into socks, gloves, hats, etc.
Fiber prices vary with the finer fiber bringing the higher price. It typically ranges from $2 to $8 an ounce.
6) WHAT DO THEY EAT?
Alpacas are ruminants, which means they chew a cud like a cow. Because they evolved in very harsh conditions, they process their food more efficiently than other ruminants. This makes them very cost efficient to raise, allowing you to run 6 – 8 alpaca per acre. While they can survive in very harsh conditions, they thrive best on good quality low protein pasture grass and hay.
There are a number of alpaca feeds available, however, these are to be used more as a supplement for vitamins and minerals. Most alpaca feeds are fed at a rate of approximately 1 lb/day per animal. Alpacas get the bulk of their feed from good quality hay and grazing in good quality pastures.
7) DO THEY SPIT?
It is quite rare for an alpaca to spit at a human. Spitting is normally used to determine the pecking order within the herd. You are more apt to get caught in the crossfire of an alpaca squabble than to have an alpaca spit at you.
8) DO THEY KICK, BITE, OR BUTT?
Most alpacas to not kick, bite or butt. Since they have no upper front teeth, horns, hoofs or claws serious injury is not likely.
Some alpacas are more sensitive than others around their hind legs and sometimes instinctively kick out if they feel a threat from the rear. However, they can be desensitized by consistently working with them. Fortunately, even if they do kick, they have a soft pad on their foot and injury is usually no more than a bruise.
Biting and butting is extremely rare. If an alpaca bites a human it is more likely to be an affectionate attempt of a spoiled alpaca to get the owner’s attention. Butting is almost unheard of.
9) DO THEY COME IN DIFFERENT COLORS?
Yes, alpacas come in 22 natural colors
10) HOW BIG DO THEY GET?
Alpacas are smaller than their cousin, the llama. The females typically range in weight between 130 – 150 pounds. Males usually weigh a little more, ranging between 150 – 180 pounds, however they can grow to be a little over 200 pounds.
11) HOW LONG IS THEIR GESTATION PERIOD?
The alpaca’s gestation period averages 11.5 months, however pregnancies lasting a year or longer are not uncommon.
12) HOW MANY BABIES DO THEY HAVE?
Most births are trouble free and usually occur in the morning hours. Single births are the norm. Twins do happen, but they are rare. The newborn cria (baby alpaca) should have an average weight around 15 pounds and should stand to nurse within 2 – 3 hours. Alpaca moms are usually very attentive and protective of their young. The cria stays with its mom until weaning, around the age of 6 months.
13) HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
At this stage in our industry, price is directly related to breeding potential and the potential quality of the offspring. For example, a gelding (castrated male) who has no breeding potential would be the cheapest, ranging between $300 - $1,000. On the other hand, a high quality male, proven to have a lot of high quality progeny on the ground can command a price in the tens to hundreds of thousand dollars. In addition, he can command a high price for his stud services.
Female prices are related to their quality, age, breeding history and the male they are bred to. They can be worth anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. 
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