Alpacas - Alpacas come from Peru, Bolivia and Chile. They were first imported into the United States in 1984. The importation of these fine animals was closed in 1998. All quality Alpacas are registered thru the Alpacas Registry Institute. They must be DNA tested to verify their lineage here in the US. The main product of the Alpaca is the fleece. It has an average micron count of about 18 to 30 microns, 23 being about average. The micron count is the measurement of fineness of the fiber. The finest fleece is cashmere at about 16 microns. The fleece that they produce is very warm and the prickle factor is minimal if non-existent. There are 2 types of Alpacas, the suri and the huacaya. The suri has fleece that is straight and hangs down in dreadlocks or pencil locks. The suri fleece is a straight fiber and has a luster to it. The huacaya has crimp in the fleece thus giving them their fluffy appearance.
Climate - The alpaca survives in the Altiplano where the temperature was below freezing 355 days of the year. They are susceptible to extreme heat. Mostly in climates with high humidity. They can be cooled off by hosing their under bellies or small wading pools sometimes work. You don’t want to get water on the blanket. It then becomes a thermal blanket as water evaporates and makes them even hotter.
Feed – It’s best to feed them a good quality grass hay. They need about 2 lbs of grass hay per alpaca per day. We also feed ours a pellet supplement. This contains their daily vitiams. They require A&D for proper growth especially during times of low sunlight.
Reproduction - The female alpaca is an induced ovulator. Ovulation occurs about 24 hours after mating. Their reproductive lifespan is between 14 and 20 years. The gestation period is typically 345 days. The baby alpaca is called a cria. The cria is usually born during the heat of the day. Weighing in around 15 and 19 lbs.
Shelter – Alpacas don’t like heavy rains or snow. Three sided structures are recommended. We use 16 by 10 shelters for approximately 8 alpacas.
Dung – Alpacas usually dung in 2 to 3 areas making it easy to cleanup.
Husbandry – They require an annual vaccination. Supplemental shots of A and D are recommended when crias are developing in low sun light situations. They need to be wormed 3 to 4 times a year depending upon your pastures. The toenails need to be trimmed once to twice a year. Most people trim the toenails when they are tied down to be shorn. The teeth need to be trimmed periodically. They have to be sheared once a year in the spring. We hire a local alpaca owner to shear our alpacas.
Tax Benefits – The breeding alpacas can be depreciated over a 5 to 7 year period. With the new tax laws a 30% depreciation may be taken the 1st year. Please check with your tax advisor.
Insurance – When starting out we recommend that you insure your livestock. You can expect to pay 3% of the purchase price yearly for insurance on Alpacas over 90 days old. Crias less than 30 days are 7% and less than 60 days and 5%.
Fleece – The fleece is sold mostly to hand spinners. There is a coop in the US that will take the fleece in exchange to wholesale prices on the end products. Some Alpaca ranchers prefer to process their own fleece by making products from their own fiber. Thus adding additional value to the end product. We here at KRA process our own fiber into yarns, hats and scarfs, etc.
Spit – The most asked question I get is do they spit. Yes they do spit but typically they won’t spit at you. They do spit at each other and you may get caught in the cross fire .
Future – This is the most asked question in the industry. Will they go the way of the Llama or the Emu? The answer is nobody really knows. Unlike the Emu or the Llama most alpacas are very friendly and easy to work with.