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Alpaca Facts |
History
The Alpaca is a gentle, charming, and valuable member of the camelid
(camel-id) family, which includes camels, llamas, vicunas, and guanacos. Originally, they
were found only in the Altiplano (high plains) of Peru and Bolivia.
About 1200 AD the Inca were carving out an empire in the Andes amid a harsh environment.
They used crude tools to cultivate the land. Terraces and irrigation systems as well as
drainage systems were constructed. Stone storehouses were built to store food. The Incas
cultivated such foods as corn, potatoes, and squash. They also domesticated llamas a beast
of burden and kept alpacas for fine fleece. Garments made from alpaca fiber were reserved
for royalty. Peasants caught wearing alpaca clothing were punished, sometimes even killed.
With the Spanish conquest of the Incas in the 1600's, the alpaca herds were massacred
almost to the point of annihilation. The remaining animals survived with the help of the
Indian people and the alpacas' amazing ability to live under harsh conditions at high
altitudes.
In the mid 1800's Sir Titus Salt, a woolen manufacturer from Bradford, England, discovered
the wonderful qualities of alpaca fiber. Against his father's advice he accepted a
consignment of "alpaca hair" and proceeded to spin and weave it into beautiful
alpaca fabric and alpaca products. The result of his work gained prominence throughout
England.
In 1984, the first alpacas were imported into the United States. At present time, there
are only about 70,000 alpacas in this country, about 45,000 in Australia, and smaller
numbers in Canada, England, New Zealand, France and Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do with an alpaca?
Alpaca breeding is an excellent investment opportunity and alpacas provide one of the most
highly prized fibers in the world. Alpaca fiber is known for its lightweight warmth and
silky feel. Alpaca fiber rivals cashmere and mohair for beauty, but is much more durable
and resilient, resulting in a product which is of superior quality. The average
production is about three to four pounds of prime fiber for each adult alpaca
(some large males yield as much as 8 pounds). Fiber sells for
$2.00 to $3.50 per ounce, however value added processing such as roving, yarns
or finished goods, will yield a much higher return.
Alpaca breeding is rewarding financially, as well as being a soul satisfying occupation. The alpaca supply is very limited and due to the fact that alpacas only have one offspring per year, the demand for alpacas remains high. Scarcity of the animals and demand for their luxurious fiber has kept alpaca breeding and sales strong, in fact, prices have been stable for more than 20 years. Worldwide demand for alpaca fiber is not close to being satisfied.
It is not uncommon for female offspring to bring as much as the breeder paid for the dam. Can you think of another investment with returns comparable to that? There is good reason that alpacas are said to be "The Worlds Finest Livestock Investment". Alpacas are easily trained which makes them excellent pets as well as show animals. They are easy to transport and there are many alpaca shows around the country, which are always well attended. It is said that "An alpaca is an investment which you can hug!"
What do alpacas eat?
Alpacas adapted to life in very harsh conditions and as three stomached ruminants, they
are very efficient at utilizing their food. They need no special diet, low protein hay, or
orchard grass is used as a supplement to pasture grazing. As ruminants they chew their cud
like cattle and have a very efficient metabolism. An adult alpaca will consume only 2-3
bales of hay a month. A pelted feed is available and we give a mineral powder containing
selenium, which is offered on a free feed basis. Selenium is not naturally available in
many U.S. pastures.
Where does an alpaca live?
Alpacas prefer open pastures to a barn, but will happily take to a stall or a barn in the
worst winter weather. A simple three-sided shelter in winter and some shade in the heat of
summer are sufficient for alpacas. Alpacas do not challenge fences, the fences are more to
keep out other animals then to keep alpacas in!
How much land do they require?
One rule of thumb is that 6-8 alpacas can comfortably fit on one
acre of quality pasture land. Four acres of pasture can sustain 20-30 alpacas
with proper pasture management. Breeding females will place a greater load on
the pasture because of the nutritional requirements of their crias. One can
also expect to mow the pasture to keep high grass under control. Cross fencing
or partitioning is necessary for proper herd management. It is important to plan
fencing for keeping males separate from females, providing an area for weaning,
and perhaps a quarantine area.
How much maintenance do they require?
Managing alpacas is not difficult. Occasional grooming, trimming of toenails and sometimes
teeth is required. Vaccination against tetanus, clostridia organisms, rabies, and
leptosporosis is necessary as well as regular parasite control. Annual shearing
is necessary to keep them cool in summer and also provides a source of fiber for
their owners. The alpaca habit of depositing their waste only in certain common
areas facilitates clean up and insures that their grazing areas remain clean.
Alpacas are hardy, healthy and easy to care for.
Other Facts:
Size- Alpacas are small gentle
animals with wonderful dispositions and beautiful soft fleece, which is called
fiber. They stand about 3 feet at the withers and about 4.5 feet at the head and weigh from 100 to 175
pounds.
Life span - Alpacas live from 20-25 years.
Maturity - Females can be bred at about 13
months or 100 pounds, whichever occurs last. The males achieve full maturity at around
three years of age. At which time they can be used for breeding.
Gestation and Birth - Gestation for
alpacas is from 11 to 11.5 months and a single cria (baby) is born during daylight hours
with usually no human assistance necessary. Twinning is extremely rare in alpacas. Crias
usually weigh from 14 to 22 pounds at birth and can stand and nurse within two hours. The crias are weaned at five to six months of age.
Physical Characteristics - Alpacas have no
upper teeth. They have lower teeth and an upper dental pad, and do not bite. They have
soft padded feet with two toenails on each foot. Alpacas are ruminants, they chew a cud
and have three compartments to their stomachs. Alpacas come in 16 colors, which range from
brilliant white to the deepest black with all shades of grays including the rare rose
gray, to browns, fawns, and reds.
Fiber - Alpaca fiber (fleece) is very
fine, soft, and dense. It is very warm and insulating. Alpaca fiber is almost free of
guard hair, which makes it a "non-itchy" material. Alpaca fiber spun into yarn
is especially resilient and strong. Garments made from alpaca fiber are comparable to
cashmere, but much more durable and easy to care for. Fiber from alpaca contains no
lanolin so is not greasy and can be shorn and spun the same day. Alpacas are usually shorn
once a year in the early spring. One alpaca will usually yield from three to seven pounds
of fiber.
We market the fiber
primarily to hand spinners and weavers, the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North
America (AFCNA), the New England Fiber Pool and a couple of local mini
mills. The alpaca industry is working hard to create a sufficient supply of
alpaca fiber to support a commercial market. Plans are being made for the day when there
is enough fiber to support the growing demand for alpaca knitted garments and textiles to
supply the American fashion industry. Future demand for American alpaca fiber is very
promising.
Disposition - Alpacas are among the most
gentle of animals. They are curious and friendly. Alpacas are not aggressive animals,
kicking is a very rare behavior and biting is not in their repertoire. Alpacas do
occasionally spit at each other to maintain their space or when competing for food, but
they rarely spit at people unless they have been abused. They communicate through humming
and also by ear, tail positions, and body postures. They can make a shrill alarm call when
threatened by a predator. Alpacas make a variety of sounds, including clicks and snorts,
but they are best known for their humming which is soothing to both animals and humans
alike.
Summary - Given a little training they
make wonderful pets. Their calm and happy dispositions make them a favorite of children
who can handle them with ease. Alpacas are herd animals and their social structure
requires that they live in the company of other alpacas. An alpaca will be lonely, and may
even sicken and die if taken away to live by itself. Therefore, we advise prospective
alpaca owners to choose two or more in their first purchase unless they plan on agisting, or
boarding, their animal with other alpacas. Alpacas can be halter trained and will walk on
a lead. They enjoy being paraded about and will allow you to take them to schools, fairs,
and even hospitals and nursing homes, where they are always a big hit!
Copyright 1996 - 2007 Ó by Foxrun Farms Alpacas All rights reserved.