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Alpaca Facts...
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Alpacas come in a whole range
of colors, 22 basic colors and then 250 different shades.
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They are fully insurable,
unlike the stock market
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There are two breeds of
alpaca: Huacaya, the most common, has a very crimpy fleece
that gives them a "fluffy" appearance and Suri: more rare,
having a very silky hair-like fiber which grows in tight
spirals and drapes down into pencil locks.
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A Male Alpaca is called a
Macho.
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A Female Alpaca is called a
Hembra.
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A Baby Alpaca is called a Cria.
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An Alpaca that turns one year
old is called a Tui.
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They live for up to 25 years.
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They can breed from 1 year of
age and then on until around 20 years old.
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Alpacas have soft feet with
Pads under their Toe Nails.
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Alpacas do not spit unless
they are really provoked and then it is rare.
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Alpacas have only bottom Teeth
like a sheep, and they never bite.
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You can run Alpacas on as
little as 2 acres of land.
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Alpacas belong to the camelid
family which include camels.
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Camelids have evolved over 37
million years.
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Alpacas have been domesticated
for some 7,000 years now.
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Alpacas are the easiest animal
in the world to herd (round up).
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There are only 3.5 million
Alpacas world wide and 2.7 million reside in South America.
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Alpacas were treasured by the
ancient Incas in South America for their fine fleece.
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Large numbers of Alpacas still
exist in South America, despite a decline after the conquest
of the Incas.
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South America can no longer
increase it's population of Alpacas. The future of these
animals is in North America, New Zealand and Australia due
to the grazing available.
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Alpacas are usually shorn
annually but can be shorn every 2nd year to obtain a longer
fleece.
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Shearing involves conventional
sheep-shearing equipment but the animal is restrained. The
annual yield per animal is around 3 kg with top animals
reaching 6 kg.
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The first fleece or Cria
fleece commands a premium because of it's extra fineness.
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Other than Shearing and the
usual de-worming and vaccinations Alpacas require little
else.
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Toenails and teeth may
occasionally need trimming. Alpacas do not suffer with
fly-strike or foot-rot.
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Female Alpacas are pregnant
for 355 Days and only produce one Cria at a time. Birthing
is relatively easy and trouble free and 99% of the time is
in daylight hours.
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Alpacas are induced ovulators
and can be bred throughout the year.
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Breeding success can range as
high as 100% in North America, while in South America it is
around 40% due to harsher conditions and less careful animal
husbandry.
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