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Alpaca Facts |
Alpaca are woolly mammals related to camels and llamas. Domesticated more than 5,000 years ago, alpacas were treasured by the ancient Inca civilization. These herding animals played a key role in the Incan culture of the high Andes mountains in South America. Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984. Alpacas are now being successfully raised and enjoyed throughout North America and abroad. The US and Australia have the largest population of alpaca outside of South America. The animals have flourished on farms because they are so adaptable.
The alpaca's feet are padded and they leave even the most delicate terrain undamaged as it browses on native grasses. Alpaca have a very non-aggressive personality. They have no teeth on top in the front, so they do not bite. The alpaca does not usually eat or destroy trees, preferring tender grasses, which it does not pull up by the roots.The alpaca is a modified ruminant with a three-compartment stomach. It converts grass and hay to energy very efficiently. One alpaca will eat about one bale of hay a week. Its camelid ancestry also allows the alpaca to thrive without consuming very much water, although an abundant, fresh water supply is necessary.
A female alpaca will have her first cria at 18 to 24 months of age. The average gestation period is
335 days. Birth weight of the cria is usually 15 to 19 pounds. Babies can often stand and nurse within 30 to 60 minutes of birth. Infant mortality is very low. Alpaca generally live 15 to 25 years. A full grown alpaca will be 36 inches tall at the withers with weight averaging 100 to 175 pounds. Some alpacas make a humming sound; whining, grumbling, clucking, and other assorted sounds are used by alpacas to communicate. Spitting is used by alpacas, probably as a sign of dominance, fear, or a warning to intruders. Their spit has a very pungent odor, which can take several days to get rid of.
Based upon their fleece characteristics, there are two types of alpaca in the US. Suri alpaca have tightly wound fibers that appear in the form of long dreadlocks. The fiber is very soft and silky. Huacaya (pronounced wa-ki-a) alpaca have extremely fine, colorful fleece. This kind of fiber gives the animal a wooly, round appearance. Alpaca fleece comes in solid colors with many variations and blends. An alpaca produces enough fleece each year to create several soft, warm sweaters for its owners comfort.
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