Alpacas are quiet, gentle creatures with captivating eyes. They are valuable for their long, silky fleece (wool) that is used in making
yarn for knitted and woven fabrics.

Alpacas are most closely related to the vicuna, a member of the camelid family, which also includes llamas, camels and guanacos. They were domesticated centuries ago in South
America, specifically the Andes Mountains regions of Peru and Chili. Macusani, Peru, is the center of the world’s alpaca industry.

At the present time, there are fewer than 200,000 alpacas in North America. This makes the investment value of owning, breeding and selling alpacas a unique business opportunity. The industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years with an increase from 600 to more than 5,000 farms since 1997. The current value of a female alpaca is $20,000 or more; while the value of a breeding male sometimes exceeds $500,000.

There are two types of alpacas: HUACAYA (with soft, woolly fleece like sheep) and SURI (with long, twisted locks of fleece). Alpacas
are usually shorn once a year in the spring. In warmer climates, shearing minimizes susceptibility to heat stress.

There are 16 natural colors of alpaca fleece ranging from white to tan, brown, gray and black. Other than overall appearance due to fiber characteristics, there is little difference between the two types.

Alpacas are pseudo-ruminants with a three-compartment stomach; they chew their cud like sheep and cattle. Their diet is hay (grasses) supplemented with grain and minerals. Nutrition is important in maintaining a desirable body score (i.e. weight). Herd health management includes routine deworming for intestinal parasites, vaccinations for disease prevention and nail trimming. Several alpacas can be maintained of a few acres of land (approximately 10 alpacas per acre).

Alpacas communicate with body language: ears forward indicates alertness; ears back indicates submission or may be a warning
they are about to “spit” if threatened at meal time or by humans infringing upon their space. They also communicate with humming sounds. If alarmed, the alpha member of the herd will sometimes produce a high-pitched staccato sound to warn the herd of possible danger.

HEIGHT: averages 36 inches at the withers

WEIGHT: ranges from 125-220 pounds

LIFE SPAN: 15-20 years

GESTATION: 11 to 12 months

CRIA (newborn alpaca): 15-25 pounds at birth