Alpaca Facts

Alpacas are part of the camelid family. Alpacas are closely related to llamas. They are said to be a cross between the vicuna and the guanaco.They are a modified ruminant with a three chamber stomach. This is different from the usual ruminant who has a four chamber stomach. However, just like cows they chew a "cud" and rely on the micro-organisms in their stomach to break down the hay they have ingested.

There are two types of alpacas. There is the huacaya, which has a fluffy cotton-like appearance. Most people relate to them as big, cuddly bears. Then there is the suri which has long, pencil-like twists.

Alpacas originated in South America. They are primarily found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. They date back to the times of the Inca Indians where they were considered a luxury item. Their cashmere-like fleece was prized and when no longer needed for the herd their flesh was eaten. Nothing of the Alpaca was wasted.

In 1984 the first importations of alpacas into the United States began. Huacaya alpacas have grown the fastest in regards to numbers in the United States. In 2006 the number of alpacas in the US is over 80,000. However,in order to become competitive in the fiber market we need at least 500,000 alpacas. Due to this demand you can see how ranchers are being drawn in to this type of business.

Although you may still import alpacas it is highly unrecommended. The Alpaca Registry Inc has closed registering alpacas with unknown parents since 1998. Unfortunately, in Peru and the other South American countries record keeping is either not done or kept up with.

Here are some general facts about the alpacas you might find interesting:

• Weight is approximately 100 to 175 lbs.
• Average height of an alpaca is 36 inches from the withers.
• Life span is 15 to 20 years.
• Gestation for an alpaca is 11 to 12 months.
• Baby alpacas (crias) are born weighing approximately 15 to 20 lbs.
• Alpacas eat hay which make them very inexpensive to feed.
• Alpaca fleece comes in 22 natural recognized textile colors and the fiber is stronger than wool.
• Alpacas are shorn once a year and the usable fiber can weigh between 5 to 10 lbs.
• They are small and take up little space. On average you can have 5 to 10 alpacas per acre.
• There is a communal dung pile for the herd. If they are in a large pasture then there are usually two communal dung piles. Therefore cleanup is easy. Not to mention that gardeners love to use the alpaca dung in their gardens.
• Alpacas do not have hooves. There feet are padded, so they do not damage the pasture. They also have no front teeth, so they cannot bite making them gentle enough to have around small children.

There are tax advantages to raising alpacas. Contact us for more information on the financial aspects of owning these wonderful animals. We also recommend that you speak with a financial advisor who understands agricultural tax laws.

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