 Information
About Alpacas
Alpacas are peaceful and adorable exotic animals who produce
exquisite fleece that is fine, soft, strong and comparable
to cashmere. Raising alpacas is fast becoming an established
livestock industry in the U.S. with a viable cash crop: alpaca
fleece. As such, they are providing many Americans with the
rare opportunity to live the American dream of a peaceful
and rewarding life on a small farm.
The alpaca industry has supported ongoing high values for
production stock since early 1980's due to a strong registry
that protects the market by excluding foreign imports.
Alpacas originated in the Andean mountains of Peru and Chile
where they were breed for many centuries to cultivate the
fine fleece that we see in today's alpacas. They are members
of the camelid family and thus related to their larger cousins
the llamas, as well as to camels, vicunas, and guanacos. Llamas
are much larger and thus are good candidates for guarding
other livestock and carrying packs. The smaller alpacas are
not used for packing or guarding but are raised for their
excellent fleece and to produce valuable breeding offspring.
 Physical
characteristics: Alpacas live approximately 18 to 20 years.
They are generally about 3 - 4 feet tall at the shoulder and
4.5 to 5.5 feet tall at the head. Average weight: Adult, 150-185
pounds. Baby, 16-20 pounds at birth. Average gestation: 11
months.
Alpacas are easy on the environment. With adults weighing
between 110 and 200 pounds, they are 1/10th the weight of
cattle and horses, eating a proportionately smaller amount.
They nibble grass, leaving the roots and their soft padded
feet are also gentle on pastures.
Alpacas are relatively easy to care for. They need overhead
shelter from sun and snow, fresh clean water, and food. They
eat grass or hay, grain that is generally available in feed
stores, and benefit from a mineral supplement.
For more information of every kind from physical characteristics
to investment potential, be sure to check out the Alpaca
Academy website, put together by the national registry,
Alpaca Registry, Inc (ARI).
One of the best ways to find out more about
raising alpacas, is to visit several farms and take a look
at their breeding program and farm setup in person. We welcome
the opportunity to introduce you to this wonderful industry.
Please contact us to arrange
a farm visit.
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