Alpaca FAQ
Are alpacas really easy to take care of?
Yes, they really are. Many people that have never lived on a farm, or had livestock are finding that alpacas are the perfect animal to have. They are small and non-aggressive. Alpacas are very smart, and once they know the routine and what you want, they are usually very cooperative.
They are gentle and easy to handle. Clean-up is easy since alpacas deposit droppings in only a few places in the paddock. Alpacas are also a clean animal, and use communal dung piles. This makes clean-up much easier. Their waist, called beans, are virtually odorless and about the size of navy beans. A small rake and shovel make clean up quick and easy.
Regular care includes: trimming toenails every couple of months, shearing once a year, and giving regular worming and vaccinations.
One word of caution: Alpacas are extremely stoic and will show few signs of pain or discomfort. It is very important that you spend time with them to get to know their ways and habits. In that way, you can be on top of any unusal changes. As they are delightful animals to spend time with, this shouldn’t be a chore! [Top]
Alpacas are very gentle and inquisitive. They prefer to be with their own kind and, as a prey animal, can be a bit nervous around strange people. However, the more you work with your alpacas, the more accustomed they will become to you. Most will recognize their feed buckets and will come eagerly when they see them. [Top]
Why is there so much interest in alpacas?
Alpacas are raised mainly for their fiber. Said to be as soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool, alpaca comes in more colors than any other fiber-producing animal (approximately 22 basic colors with many variations and blends). Spinners and weavers around the world now enjoy this luxuriuos fleece, once reserved for Incan royalty.
The alpaca textile industry is new and growing rapidly. 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.
Along with providing an excellent investment opportunity, alpacas have also given countless people the opportunity to start a more laid-back and relaxing lifestyle. [Top]
Are alpacas dangerous?
No. Alpacas do not bite or butt, although one should never approach any animal from behind, as it may startle them. If alpacas do not want to handled, they will simply quietly move away as they are approached. If feeling threatened by your pet dog, however, they will attempt to protect themselves and the herd by stomping. [Top]
Adult alpaca average between 32″ to 39” tall at the withers, shoulder, and weigh about between 100 – 200 pounds. [Top]
The average live span of an alpaca is around 20 years. [Top]
Are there different kinds of alpacas?
There are two types of alpacas - the huacaya (wah-ki-ah) and the suri (ser-e). The suri’s fiber grows quite long and forms silky, pencil-like locks. The huacaya has a shorter, dense, crimpy fleece, giving it a very woolly appearance. [Top]
How mach acreage does it take to raise alpacas?
Depending on the quality of the pasture you have, between five to ten alpacas per acre. Alpacas are gentle on the land and are an excellent, environmentally-friendly livestock. Alpacas have soft padded feet that leave pasture undamaged and useable for years. [Top]
Can I start out with one alpaca?
No, alpacas need to have a herd to be happy. It can be a small herd of two, but this is the minimum. If you want to start slowly try purchasing one female and a gelding, or even two geldings. [Top]
Alpacas are a modified ruminant with a three-compartment stomach. It converts grass and hay to energy very efficiently, eating less than other farm animals. Alpacas do best on grass and hay, and only approximately 2 pounds per 125 pounds of body weight per day. A, 60-pound bale of hay can feed a group of 20 alpacas for one day. Additionally, all alpacas require free-choice mineral supplements and plenty of fresh drinking water. Commercialy-prepared feeds are also available. Consult your veterinarian for the feed mixtures and mineral supplements that are applicable to your area. [Top]
Do I need a barn to have alpacas?
Alpacas are a very hardy animal from the Andes Mountains in South America. During the winter, they have a dense, heavy fleece to keep them warm and dry. Many alpaca breeders in Virginia have open three sided shelters. This allows their alpacas to come and go as they please, while providing shelter from the wind, rain and snow if they desire. A good layer of gravel allows liquids to drain away, and is a good option for the floor, or many use stall mats that are easily hosed clean. In the hot, humid days of summer, fans are a necessity. Also in summer, regular hosing or wading pools are recommended to prevent heat-stress.[Top]
Alpacas are not known for challenging fences, and they usually do not wander far if they do get out. However, a good fence is vitally important to keep alpacas safe from predators. Even neighborhood dogs can be dangerous if they decide they like to chase the alpacas. A sturdy fence is also required to separate males from females in order to prevent unwanted breeding.
Four-foot-tall woven wire fencing with 2” x 4” openings works well. Field fencing is also a good option, and can often be purchase more economically. The openings at the top are larger and become smaller as you get closer to the ground. Many people use a combination of fencing, including light livestock panels, for the best protection for their alpacas. For example a strand of electric run low along the outside of the fence will help to prevent dogs, coyotes and other predators from trying to gain entry. [Top]
How do we get their fleece off them?
Alpacas produce one of the world’s finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is clipped from the animal without causing injury once a year in a process called shearing. When you purchase your alpaca, ask the breeder for the name of a good shearer. The cost is around $25.00 per animal, and does not take long. The amount of fleece you get from each animal vary from 3 to 10 pounds. [Top]
For traveling short distances, many people use vans, SUVs and even station wagons. An old piece of carpet or heavy canvas will help protect the vehicle from damage. Once moving, the majority of alpacas will quietly cush (lay down). For long distances, a professional transporters with livestock trailers may be required. [Top]
A female alpaca can start breeding between 18 and 24 months. The average gestation period is 11 ½ months — yes, that’s close to a year! Cria, baby alpaca, weigh between 15 – 21 pounds at birth, and are most often up and nursing within an hour. They are weaned around 6 months of age. Females will rebred between 2 and 4 weeks after giving birth, and can have a cria a year through their reproductive life. However, it is wise to give females breeding breaks.
Males become fertile between the age of 2 and 3 years old. A male that is used for breeding is often called a herdsire or macho. [Top]
Prices vary depending on the breeding quality of the animal. You can purchase a beautiful gelding or fiber alpaca for $500 to $1,000. However, a female that has a proven history of having high-quality cria may cost between $10,000 to $30,000. A proven, award-winning herdsire can range from $5,000 to several hundred thousand! [Top]
Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1985, and importation is now closed. Alpacas can still come into the United States, but newcomers can no longer be registered. A female alpaca can only have one cria a year, so herd growth is slow. Over the last few years, the demand for alpacas has increased, while the supply has remained low and slow growing. This makes the quality breeding alpaca in high demand. [Top]
If I want to consider purchasing an alpaca, what should I do?
First, it is important not to jump into any major life change without serious consideration. Visit the AOBA website and request some of the free alpaca magazines they offer. (https://www.alpacaowners.com/request/request.asp) The Internet is another source of information. I hope that our website will provide you with educational resources and practical advise about alpacas.
Next, visit some farms and talk to as many breeders as possible. As you read, write down your questions, and then ask them. Ask if you can help with the Saturday morning chores, spring shearing, or trimming nails and vaccinating. Be sure that you like the hands-on of alpacas, and not just the TV ad ‘glamour’. Find out about local veterinarians who will work with camelids.
Attend some alpaca shows if you have the chance. This will give you the perfect opportunity to see some high-quality alpacas. Many exhibitors at shows are proud to let you feel the fleeces of their animals, and this will help to train your tactile senses and teach you to compare crimp and brightness (or lock structure and lustre in suris.) In addition to fleece, conformation is an important part of raising alpacas, and there is nothing like a show to help you learn some of the basics.
Consider what you will do with all of that wonderful fiber that your animals will produce! Do you have a spinning guild in your area where you can market your fleeces? Perhaps there is an annual fiber festival nearby. Mini-mills, which can custom-process your alpaca fiber, are popping up nationwide. This is very exciting, as they were hard to find several years ago. Consult with your local alpaca breeders’ group to get recommendations and to find out what sells well in your area. Whatever you do, don’t let your fiber get eaten by moths in your attic!
Finally, if you do decide to purchase alpacas, choose a breeder that you feel you can trust and who will offer support after the sale. [Top]