Alpacas are members of the camelid (Camel) family, originating from the Andes Mountains of Peru. An Alpacas life span is 20 - 25 years with an adult weighing 125 - 175 lbs. They are very gentle, intelligent and curious animals. Caring for them is very easy. An acre of good grass land will easily accommodate 7 - 8 alpacas. Fencing is designed more to keep predators out than alpacas in the pasture. A barn or enclosure with access at all times should be provided to protect from the cold and to give shade in the summer. One small square bale will feed between 8 - 12 animals daily during the winter months.
Females can first be bred at 12 -18 months with most males maturing between 2 and 3 years. Females are induced ovulaters and can be bred at anytime of the year with a gestation period of approx 335 days. Alpaca babies are called crias. Their birth weight can average between 14 and 20 lbs and most are born between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. Weaning is usually done at six months of age.
Alpacas are sheared once a year. Toenails are clipped and teeth trimmed as needed. Although disease resistant, yearly inoculations and deworming should be done.
Alpacas produce between 4 and 12 lbs of fibre depending on the size and age of the animal. There are 22 recognized colors ranging from black and white to fawn, brown and grays.
Alpacas produce one of the world's finest fibres. It is known for it's softness, fineness, and warmth (8 times warmer than sheep's wool). Alpaca fibre is lanolin free (non allergenic), naturally water repellant and the air pockets in the fibre create lightweight clothing with good insulating values. Alpaca fleece has all the right qualities to be one of the finest fibres in the world but is still quite rare. For every 32 pounds of sheep's wool, less than one ounce of alpaca fibre is produced.
HOME / HERD SIRES / FEMALES / MALES / CRIAS / LINKS / PRODUCTS