sleek Suri alpaca began gracing our shores only a few short decades ago. Brought here
not just for their “magical” quality, both types of alpacas have always been prized for their
thick, soft fleeces. Known for centuries as "The Fiber of The Gods," quality, versatility,
and rarity are some of the factors that have kept alpaca fiber growing in demand over the
years. In the fashion world it is considered to be one of the most exclusive fibers,
competing only with wool, cashmere, and mohair. Alpaca fiber can be used in a variety of
ways, from as sheer as the finest silks, to as thick and chunky as tweeds and wool. It
dyes easily, makes the warmest batting, the softest felt, spins like a dream, and can be
mixed with other fibers to combine textures and beauty.
Alpacas make good investments as well as practical pets. They are clean, safe, quiet,
intelligent and disease-resistant. Alpacas have soft padded feet, are gentle on the land
and can be easily transported in the family van. Through the year 2010 the IRS offers tax
incentives for breeding alpacas.
Alpacas (cousins to the Llama) are small endearing animals with a life span of
approximately 20+ years. Adults weigh 100 to 175 lbs. and stand 32-36" at the withers.
Their gestation period is around 11 ½ months. A single baby called a "cria" is normally
delivered without assistance during the daylight hours. Twins are rare, and a cria
generally weighs 14 to 20 lbs. at birth and can stand to nurse within an hour. Alpacas
communicate through soft humming sounds.
Alpacas are popular because they are the easiest to care for of all livestock. Alpacas are
clean (they share a communal dung pile), environmentaly friendly, quiet, odor free, and
possess gorgeous highly desirable fiber. These hardy animals require good fencing,
adequate shade, low protein hay or pasture, and fresh water. They are ideal small
acreage livestock, and a pleasure to raise. Alpacas are curious, intelligent and are easy
to train, in just a few repetitious sessions they will pick up and retain many behaviors
such as accepting a halter, being led, lifting a foot for toe-nail trimming and loading in or
out of a vehicle. Alpacas are great 4-H animals and easily handled by children.
Female alpacas are first bred from 13 to 20 months, and are capable of producing one
offspring a year. The new mothers are rebred 3 weeks after giving birth and the cria are
weaned by 6 months. Males reach breeding age at about 2 ½ - 3 years of age when they
begin settling females. Alpacas continue breeding well into their late years, unlike most
livestock.
not just for their “magical” quality, both types of alpacas have always been prized for their
thick, soft fleeces. Known for centuries as "The Fiber of The Gods," quality, versatility,
and rarity are some of the factors that have kept alpaca fiber growing in demand over the
years. In the fashion world it is considered to be one of the most exclusive fibers,
competing only with wool, cashmere, and mohair. Alpaca fiber can be used in a variety of
ways, from as sheer as the finest silks, to as thick and chunky as tweeds and wool. It
dyes easily, makes the warmest batting, the softest felt, spins like a dream, and can be
mixed with other fibers to combine textures and beauty.
Alpacas make good investments as well as practical pets. They are clean, safe, quiet,
intelligent and disease-resistant. Alpacas have soft padded feet, are gentle on the land
and can be easily transported in the family van. Through the year 2010 the IRS offers tax
incentives for breeding alpacas.
Alpacas (cousins to the Llama) are small endearing animals with a life span of
approximately 20+ years. Adults weigh 100 to 175 lbs. and stand 32-36" at the withers.
Their gestation period is around 11 ½ months. A single baby called a "cria" is normally
delivered without assistance during the daylight hours. Twins are rare, and a cria
generally weighs 14 to 20 lbs. at birth and can stand to nurse within an hour. Alpacas
communicate through soft humming sounds.
Alpacas are popular because they are the easiest to care for of all livestock. Alpacas are
clean (they share a communal dung pile), environmentaly friendly, quiet, odor free, and
possess gorgeous highly desirable fiber. These hardy animals require good fencing,
adequate shade, low protein hay or pasture, and fresh water. They are ideal small
acreage livestock, and a pleasure to raise. Alpacas are curious, intelligent and are easy
to train, in just a few repetitious sessions they will pick up and retain many behaviors
such as accepting a halter, being led, lifting a foot for toe-nail trimming and loading in or
out of a vehicle. Alpacas are great 4-H animals and easily handled by children.
Female alpacas are first bred from 13 to 20 months, and are capable of producing one
offspring a year. The new mothers are rebred 3 weeks after giving birth and the cria are
weaned by 6 months. Males reach breeding age at about 2 ½ - 3 years of age when they
begin settling females. Alpacas continue breeding well into their late years, unlike most
livestock.
For over 5000 years, the alpaca has been raised as
a domesticated animal throughout South America.
But here, in the United States, they’re still novel in
comparison. In 1980 the first 10 alpacas to reside
outside of zoos were imported into North America.
Both the cute, fluffy Huacaya, the more well known of
the two types of alpacas, and the elegant-looking,
a domesticated animal throughout South America.
But here, in the United States, they’re still novel in
comparison. In 1980 the first 10 alpacas to reside
outside of zoos were imported into North America.
Both the cute, fluffy Huacaya, the more well known of
the two types of alpacas, and the elegant-looking,