Getting Started

Alpaca FAQ's & General Information

Physical Characteristics

• Two kinds of Alpacas: Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ya) and Suri (pronounced surrey)
• Huacaya fiber is short, dense, crimpy and gives a woolly appearance
• Suri fiber is silky and resembles pencil-like locks
• Short and low set tail
• Have soft padded feet with two toes
• Do not have horns, hooves or claws, incisors, or upper teeth
• Eat grass and chew cud
• Adult alpacas generally weigh between 150 and 200 lbs.
• Average height is 36 inches at the withers
• Have three stomachs
• Adaptable to any climate

History

• Members of the Camelid family (Vicuna, Guanco, Llama and Alpaca)
• Native to Andean Mountain range of South America
• Primarily found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile
• Provided clothing and transportation to the Incas
• First imported in the United States in 1984
• Domesticated for over 5,000 years
• Current figures note about 50,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.

Reproduction

• Average lifespan of an alpaca is about 20 years
• Gestation is 11.5 months.
• Female alpaca normally gives birth, without assistance, in the daylight hours
• Baby alpacas are called crias
• Have single births. Twins are extremely rare. Most recent figures note 1 in 2000 is a twin

Behavior

• Alert, intelligent, curious, and predictable
• Social animals that seek companionship
• Communicate by softly humming
• Also communicate with neck posturing, ear and tail positioning and head tilt
• Deposit their odorless bean-like pellets in concentrated areas

Maintenance/Care

• Sheared without harm every 12 to 18 months
• Require minimal fencing. They can be pastured at 5-10 per acre
• Virtually disease-resistant animals
• Require annual vaccinations with tetanus and other locally appropriate vaccines
• Need routine parasite control
• Need occasional nail and/or teeth trimming

End Products

• Main end-product is fiber
• In ancient times, alpaca fiber was known as the "Fiber of Gods"
• Soft as cashmere and lighter and warmer than wool
• Hypo-allergenic and contains no lanolin
• Comes in 22 natural colors

ALPACAS

Who raises alpacas?

Alpaca owners and breeders come from all walks of life. Many are doctors, financial advisors, educators, or cattle farmers, to name a few. Some raise alpacas as a full-time business, others commit part-time. From young families to empty-nesters, phased retirement to full-retirement, raising alpacas offers countless options for everyone.

Why do people raise alpacas?

Alpacas offer a very attractive business and farming opportunity no matter where you live: urban, suburban, or rural. Urban dwellers can board (or "agist") their alpacas at nearby farms/ranches so that they can enjoy the benefits of ownership while living in a large city or suburb. People also raise alpacas for companionship and to enjoy a rural lifestyle.

How do you transport an alpaca?

If traveling for short distances, they can be transported inside vans or other larger vehicles. Most folks put down a piece of old carpeting or inexpensive Astro-turf to minimize the impact on the vehicle's carpeting in case an "accident" were to occur. Most of the time, however, the animals will "cush" (that is, sit down) for the journey. Longer distances generally require transport in a livestock trailer.

How much acreage does it take to raise an alpaca?

Because the animals require so little pasture and food, you can usually raise two to eight alpacas per acre, depending on terrain, rain/snowfall amounts, availability of pasture, etc. They can also be raised on dry lot and be fed grass hay, if desired. Consult with your local County Extension Officer for specific local recommendations.

Are alpacas easy to care for?

They are a small and relatively easy livestock to maintain. They stand about 36 inches tall that the withers (the point where the neck and spine come together), weigh between 100-200 pounds, and establish communal dung piles that are easy to manage. The alpacas need basic shelter and protection from heat and foul weather, and being livestock, they do require certain vaccinations and anti-parasitic medicines. Additionally, their toenails need to be trimmed every couple of months and the fleeces sheared off once a year. Speaking of toenails, these animals do not have hooves-they have two toes, with hard toenails on the top of their feet and a soft pad on the bottom of their feet, much like a dog's foot. Therefore, you don't experience compaction of the soil to same degree that you would with other types of livestock.

Can you raise alpacas in a hot, humid climate?

The answer is generally yes. Alpacas have proven to be amazingly resilient animals. Alpacas are being raised successfully in Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and also in Alaska and many Canadian provinces. Certainly, in the hotter, more humid climates, the alpaca breeder does need to take health and safety precautions, like shearing fleeces off early in the year, providing plenty of fresh water to drink and dip their bellies into, and areas of shade.

What type of shelter and fencing do alpacas need?

This varies widely, depending on such things as weather and predators. But as a general rule, the alpacas do need at least a three-sided, open shelter where they can escape inclement weather. And if predators are present in your neighborhood, then a minimum of five-foot-high, 2 foot by 4 foot no-climb fencing is necessary to keep out the predators. Traditional horse fencing (with 4 foot by 4 foot openings) is not recommended, as curious alpacas might be physically harmed if they put their heads through that type of fencing.

What do alpacas eat?

The main thing alpacas eat is just grass or hay, and not much of it-approximately two pounds per 125 pounds of body weight per day. A single, 60-pound bale of hay can generally feed a group of about 20 alpacas for one day. Alfalfa is discouraged or red only sparingly, as it has high protein content that can be unhealthy for the animals. Additionally, all alpacas require access to free-choice mineral supplements and plenty of fresh water to drink.

BUSINESS

What does an alpaca cost (price range and average)?

Price, as always, is a reflection of demand. Interest in buying alpacas is high and limited. Alpacas cost about $1000 for a non-breeding male, to over $250,000 for a top-class herdsire. Most people start their herd with good quality, bred females, costing $12,000 to $30,000. The slow rate of reproduction means that supply is unlikely to exceed demand in the foreseeable future.

When do you think supply will outweigh demand?

The fiber industry continues to evolve along with the breeding industry. The dynamics of the alpaca industry will continue to change but the potential for a financially rewarding business opportunity will still exist.

FIBER

How many ounces of fiber will one alpaca produce?

An adult alpaca might produce 50 to 90 oz. of first-quality fiber as well as 50 to 100 oz. of second and third quality fiber. Some alpacas already achieve, or exceed, these levels.

Who buys the fiber?

Alpaca fiber is sold several ways. Hand-spinners and fiber artists buy raw fleece. Knitters often purchase alpaca yarn. Fiber Cooperatives Mills collect alpaca fiber and process it on behalf of the producer.

What is an ounce of fiber worth?

This varies. In its raw state, an ounce of alpaca varies from $2.00-$5.00. Each stage of the process (cleaning, carding, spinning, knitting, finishing, etc) adds more valuable to the fiber. As a finished garment, it can sell for $10.00 per oz. Hand knit goods are more desirable and have sold for $1,000.00, in some cases.

ASSOCIATIONS

AOBA

The Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) began in 1988 and gained non-profit status in 1991. It serves the following purposes: (1) To promote public awareness and membership appreciation of the Alpaca's unique qualities; (2) To educate the membership on the care and breeding of the Alpaca; (3) To promote the growth of the Alpaca industry as a whole; and (4) To foster the establishment of the breed outside of its native land by encouraging husbandry and breeding practices based upon, but not limited to, herd health, overall soundness, and alpaca fiber production and products.

AOBA's Board of Directors and Sub-Committees: Marketing, Education, Affiliates, Fiber, Government, and Show are volunteers who oversee everyday operations. Since AOBA's formation, with 87 members and a known alpaca census of 392, its membership has grown steadily to over 4,000 members with about 55,000 registered alpacas.

ARI

The Alpaca Registry, Inc., established in 1988, is a Colorado-based non-profit corporation that mandates blood typing for registered alpacas. It accepts only offspring of registered alpacas that qualify by blood typing. ARI owns the database that houses genealogy, blood typing and ownership records of North American alpacas. It is governed by a five-member elected Board of Directors. ARI membership includes all owners of living, registered alpacas. Board members serve staggered terms and are collectively responsible for policies and procedures governing registrations, transfers of ownership, and the screening of unregistered, non-pedigreed alpacas.

AFCNA

Incorporated in 1998, the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, Inc. (AFCNA) is an organization of nearly 700 North American alpaca producers. Most are small farmers, who have decided to raise alpacas to enjoy the country lifestyle and satisfaction of raising livestock. AFCNA pools their annual shearing of alpaca fiber and benefits from processing larger volumes of fiber and market products made from alpacas, on a national level.

CONFERENCES

AOBA/ARI Fiber to Fashion National Conference

The AOBA/ARI Fiber to Fashion National Conference highlights alpaca fiber and end-products. Educational seminars, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and social events are available. The all-alpaca fashion show is a definite crowd pleaser. This event draws alpaca enthusiasts, near and far, who showcase and shop for the finest, and often one-of-a-kind, alpaca fashions. The Student Design Competition draws fashion and design talent from the nation. Vendors are available, selling everything from casual to elegant, formal apparel.

AOBA National Conference

The AOBA National Conference, held from May 16-21 2006 at Louisville, KY, is the largest AOBA certified halter & fleece show. Breeders witness the inner-workings of a billion dollar industry and learning never ends. Education seminars range from alpaca care to marketing techniques. Artisans compete with hand-crafted items. And, there is no better place to buy and sell alpacas, apparel, and a variety of alpaca-related materials.

< Back to Getting Started