FAQs

What type of animal is an Alpaca?

 Alpacas are part of the Camelid family and they are the smallest of that group.

Camels and llamas are also part of that species, but are very different. Everyone is familiar with Camels and their use in the dessert as a means of transportation.

Camels can go without water for long periods of time.

Llamas are very similar to Alpacas but are much larger and difficult to handle. They are slightly smaller than a horse and weigh around five hundred pounds. If they are handled and trained from birth they have been used as pack animals and are comfortable around people. When they are frightened they  pin their ears back and "spit" at their predators or anyone within range. They have three stomachs which generates a large amount of hot and smelly spit. Many ranchers raise them for their fleece which is used to spin clothes, blankets and related products which is much warmer and durable than wool.

Alpacas originated in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia and Chile and have recently become a popular animal to raise and breed. Their fiber is becoming very popular and because the supply is not over abundant it has a high value. An average shearing yields around thirty pounds at a value of six dollars per pound. The real aim of most breeders is to have crias (babies) with traceable blood lines with great fiber for sale to other ranchers. It is not unusual for a well bred Alpaca to sell for over $30,000.

 Alpacas are herd animals and do not want to be isolated from their herd. They like to graze in pastures similar to sheep and they all deposit their waste (poop etc) in one area forming sort of a litter box effect which helps keep the pasture clean.Their diet is supplemented with pellets and hay.

 Like Llamas they are skiddish around people and use "spit" to fend off unwanted visitors.Their life span can be 20 years and the Dams can have a cria every year with a gestation period of around eleven months. Eighteen days after delivery they are ready to be bred again. Twins are extremely rare and the ratio of male and female is nearly 50% or one to one. Alpacas have very few problems during birth and usually occurs in the field. The crias are usually walking and feeding within a half hour after birth. The rest of the herd usually surround the new born and will walk up and sniff the cria as a greeting.

Alpacas are very curious and will walk up to visitors that keep still and try to stay "eye level" with the animals. Given enough time they will sniff  your hair or face which looks like an "Alpaca kiss". They are very gentle once they feel comfortable around their visitors, but when being handled they can become very unruly and will buck and jump.

How much acreage is required and what facilities do you need?

Three to five acres could make a nice pasture for about 6 or 7 Alpacas. A shelter with a supply of water is necessary to allow them to avoid rain and extreme cold. It is also very important to separate the males and females or the breeding will be random and bloodlines will be untraceable. Also mothers, fathers and their offspring would mate making the crias worthless and endangering their health.

Fencing should be at least five feet tall and insure that the Alpacas cannot escape under the railings or between the posts. Alpacas are very curious and seem to find small openings which could result in an animal being outside of the pasture. Being herd animals all of the Alpacas could in danger of being harmed or lost.

Several feeding baskets and water buckets should be placed around the shelter so that each animal has access to the food supply. There should be feeders to put the hay in to avoid it from laying on the ground. During the winter there needs to be electricity for heated water containers.

Each animal should have a bridle and lead which is required to control the animals during veterinary visits, shearing  and nail trimming.

A trailer should be available for transporting Alpacas for breeding, shows, auctions or veterinary visits.