About Alpacas
Alpacas are gentle animals that come from
South America, and are closely related to the
llama. They are valued for their fiber (wool),
which is very prestigious. Alpacas are a very
friendly animal. They are great with people,
especially children. Alpacas come in over 22
different colors. Their fiber can be used to make
everything from sweaters to socks.
Alpacas have been coming into the United Sates
since 1984. They have been able to adapt very
well to the climate, even though they prefer the
cold.
Alpacas can live in barns or three sided sheds, and prefer to be outdoors. They eat very
little, and are fairly simple to take care of.
The two kinds of alpacas in the United States are the huacaya (pronounced wa-ki-a),
and the suri. The huacaya has very fine fiber which gives it a full and round
appearance. The suri has long-hanging fiber that looks like pencil locks.
Investing in alpacas
The whole goal for alpaca breeding in the United States is to create a superior alpaca for their fiber. Since importation from South America is now closed, alpacas in the United States have birth certificates that trace back through their family tree. The Alpaca business is still a growing industry. People usually buy their alpaca pregnant, so their farms start to grow. The ideal number to start off with is 3. Once your alpaca has a cria (baby), you can get her (the mother) pregnant again in a two week span. It takes eleven to eleven and a half months for a cria to be born. Alpacas are truly a great investment!Raising alpacas
Alpaca care is generally simple. Alpacas don't eat a lot of food, and as many as 10 can live on 1 acre of land. Alpacas are very friendly and don't challenge any fence. Alpacas are quiet hummers and don't make much noise. They do occasionally spit, but it is generally at other alpacas.Alpacas actually prefer the brisk winter to the hot summer. In the summer, it is important to keep them cool. Most farms have fans on in the summer to keep the alpacas cool.
Traveling with alpacas is very simple, because they can easily fit into a mini-van. 85% of people who raise Alpacas never raised livestock before, including us. We are, however animal lovers, which makes raising alpacas great!