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ORIGIN
Alpacas were domesticated from the vicuna by the Incas over 6000 years ago and are among the most ancient of the world's domestic animals. The majority of the 3 million alpacas found in the world today inhabit the high plains regions of Chile, Bolivia, and Peru - in South America there are no wild alpacas. The closest living species are the wild Vicuņa, also native to South America. Along with Camels and Llamas, Alpacas are classified as Camelids. Larger than the wild Vicuņa, the Alpaca is smaller than the other Camelid species.
Of the various Camelid species, the Alpaca and Vicuņa are the most valuable fiber-bearing animals: the alpaca because of the quality and quantity of its fiber, and the vicuņa because of the softness, fineness and quality of its coat. Alpacas are too small to be used as pack animals. Instead, they were bred exclusively for their fiber and meat.
Alpaca meat was once considered a delicacy by Andean inhabitants. A recent resurgence in Alpaca meat was curtailed by a recent change to Peruvian law granting the Alpaca protected status. Today, it is illegal to slaughter or trade in Alpaca meat.
There are two recognized alpaca fleece types: that of the huacaya (wa-kye-ya) which has a fine, dense, crimpy wool-like structure with excellent insulating qualities and the suri (sir-ee) which has a longer, straighter, silky textured fiber with no crimp. Both are distinct and have excellent value. 90% of the alpacas in the world are huacayas and 10% are suris.
BEHAVIOR/INTELLIGENCE
Alpacas are very social and intelligent creatures. Alpacas do spit, but normally just at each other. Rarely do alpacas spit at people. A female will spit off a male, refusing his advances if she is pregnant. Alpacas tend to be docile and easy-going creatures that get along with people and other livestock. Young alpacas are readily halter trained. Alpacas are easily herded without a dog.They are gentle, elegant, inquisitive, intelligent and observant. As they are a prey animal, they are cautious and nervous if they feel threatened. They like having their own space and may not like an unfamiliar alpaca or human getting close, especially from behind. They warn the herd about intruders by making sharp, noisy inhalations that sound like a high pitch burro bray. The herd may attack smaller predators with their front feet, and can spit and kick. Due to the soft pads on their feet, the impact of a kick is not as dangerous as that of a hoofed animal, yet it still can give quite a bruise, and the pointed nails can inflict cuts.
FIBER
The primary function of the alpaca is fiber production. This animal sports one of the most luxurious and valuable fibers that exists today. It is the combination of softness, tensile strength and variety of color that set alpaca apart from other luxury fibers. There is no need to dye the fiber in order to have a wide spectrum of color, as the alpaca is found naturally in a wide variety of hues and tones, including black, gray, brown, fawn, rose-gray, red, apricot and white. There are 22 internationally recognized colors of alpaca fiber, however approximately 95% of the worldwide alpaca population is white. The rarity of colored alpacas contributes to their value. Products created from alpaca fiber are comfortable to wear because of the lack of "prickle", due to the absence of guard hair. The fiber shaft is partly medullated. For this reason, garments made of alpaca are extremely lightweight, yet very warm. Once utilized by the Inca Royals, alpaca fiber today is a popular material for the works of top Italian designers.
ALPACA FIBER VS. SHEEP'S WOOL
There are a number of factors that set alpaca fiber apart from sheep's wool. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the wide range of color naturally occurring in the alpaca population that is not found in sheep.
A very important characteristic of alpaca fiber is the handle or the "feel". The pleasing softness felt when alpaca fiber is placed next to the skin can be attributed to a number of factors. The fineness of the fiber contributes to the luxurious silky feel. However, a very fine sheep fleece (i.e. Merino) may have a comparable fineness, but a more harsh handle. This is because handle is also related to additional factures such as scale structure.
Alpaca fleeces tend to yield a higher percentage of clean fiber. Alpaca is lanolin-free and can be spun directly off of the animal. Sheep's wool requires cleaning prior to spinning.
Alpaca fiber has a higher thermal capacity and is extremely light weight in comparison to sheep's wool.
SHEARING
Alpacas should be shorn once a year, normallly in the spring, and yield anywhere from 3-10 pounds of exquisite fleece. The fiber, virtually grease-free, can be handspun directly off of the animal. Many breeders will have their fleece turned into rovings or yarn, and then into a variety of handmade products like socks, scarves, hats, sweaters, etc.
REPRODUCTION
Females are "induced" ovulators and therefore are ready to breed at most any time of the year, and will ovulate in response to mating. A female will normally spit off an advancing male if she is pregnant. Female alpacas can be bred back as early as 2 weeks after partrition and can start breeding as early as 12 months of age, though the recommendation for age is around 15-18 months or so depending on the weight and body score of the female. Male alpacas normally can begin to breed between 2-3 years of age, though some can begin much earlier.
A male in the act of mating, or hoping for a chance to mate, "orgles"(sings). This orgling helps to put the female in the mood, and it is believed to also help her to ovulate after mating. A male is usually ready to mate for the first time between one and three years of age. A female alpaca may fully mature (physically and mentally) between 12-24 months. It is not advisable to allow a young female to be bred until she is mature, as over breeding a young female before conception is possible is a common cause of uterine infections. As the age of maturation varies greatly between individuals, it is usually recommended that novice breeders wait until females are 18 months of age or older before initiating breeding.
The young male's penis is attached to the prepuce, and generally does not detach until one to two years of age. The penis is a very long, thin, prehensile organ that is perfectly adapted for the task of finding the vaginal opening despite a fluffy tail, penetrating the hymen (if present,) navigating the vaginal canal and entering the cervical opening, where deposit of the semen occurs.
Crias may be weaned through human intervention at approximately 6 months and 60 pounds. However, many breeders prefer to allow the female to decide when to wean her offspring. Offspring can be weaned earlier or later depending on their size and emotional maturity.
It is believed that alpacas generally live for up to 20 years and occasionally longer. Conditions and nutrition are better in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Europe than in South America, so animals live longer and are healthier.
GESTATION & BIRTHING
The gestation period is approximately 335 days or about 11 1/2 months though it's not uncommon for a female to give birth either earlier or later than her due date and can range from 320-376 days. Alpacas normally give birth during the day and do not usually require human intervention. Out of hundreds of births that we have attended, we have yet to see a night birth. Alpacas almost always have single births, as twins are extremely rare. Shortly following birth, the mother will hum to her baby which is her way of communicating with her offspring. The average weight of a newborn alpaca is 15-19 pounds. Babies stand and usually begin nursing within 30 minutes after delivery.
ALPACAS IN NORTH AMERICA
Most alpaca herds in North America are very small, housing less than 20 animals. These hardy animals are very adaptive and at present can be found on small acreage farms from Alaska and Hawaii to Maine and througout Canada.
CARE
Alpacas are simple to care for. They require the occasional trimming of their nails and teeth. They should be shorn annually, which is normally done in the spring before temperatures get too warm. They have communal dung piles, that is they defecate in fixed areas and avoid grazing these areas thus keep parasite infestation low. They are on strict deworming programs and require annual boosters of certain vaccinations.
Once they know their owners and feel confident around them, they may allow their backs and necks to be touched. They do not like being grabbed. Once socialized well, some alpacas tolerate being stroked or petted anywhere on their bodies, although many do not like their feet, lower legs, and especially their abdomen touched or handled. If an owner needs to catch an alpaca, the neck offers a good handle - holding the neck firmly between the arms is the best way to restrain the animal. Holding the neck from the rear with the animal's head under one's arm is also very effective.
FEED
Alpacas are modified ruminants. For thousands of years, alpacas have lived where grass grows sparsely. They require low amounts of protein in their feed to produce a high quality and healthy fleece. A good quality grass hay and/or pasture are optimum. Because 6-8 alpacas require only 1 acre of pasture, they are ideal for small acreage farms. Alpacas will not normally overeat. Unlike hoofed animals, their softly padded feet are extremely easy on pastures unlike other livestock like cattle.
SHELTER
Alpacas originate in the high mountain areas of South America where they do not have any sort of protection from the harsh weather conditions. They are most content when they are outside. However some form of protection from the elements should be provided such as a 3-sided building. Alpacas will not normally challenge a fence.
MANURE
Conveniently, alpacas deposit their pellet-like manure in communal dung piles, allowing for easier clean-up and natural protection against the spread of parasites than other livestock. This low nitrogen fertilizer is a must for the garden.
LIFESPAN
Average lifespan is approximately 15-25 years. Unlike most other types of livestock, alpacas are profitable without going to the slaughterhouse.
SIZE
Adult alpacas stand approximately 3 feet tall at the shoulders or withers and weigh 100 - 180 pounds.
TERMINOLOGY
A baby alpaca is called a "cria". A female is called a "hembra" and a male is called a "macho".
TRANSPORTATION
In our experience, alpacas travel and transport very well. Upon sensing motion, they usually "kush" or lie down. Many farms have had a positive experience in transporting alpacas. In parts of South America, particularly Chile, alpacas have been known to be transported over 4500 miles via truck and boat without any problems. Many have been moved from South to North America, Australia and Japan, as well as across the United States successfully.
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