What is an alpaca?
Alpacas are in the Camelid family, so they are cousins to the llama, camel and vicuna. They have been in the U.S. since the mid-1980’s and there are currently about 45,000 alpacas in the United States. Alpacas are bred for their high quality fleece, as show animals and for companionship. They have a range of 22 natural colors and are disease resistant. Alpacas produce one of the world’s most luxurious natural fibers, soft as cashmere and lighter, stronger and four times warmer than wool. It is enjoyed by spinners and weavers and is in high demand around the world.
An alpaca is a member of the camelid family. Most closely related to Llamas, and descendants of camels. Alpacas are small, gentle animals raised primarily for their soft, luxurious fiber. Their valuable fleece is harvested annually by shearing them in a way similar to the way sheep are shorn each spring. Due to harsh weather conditions prevailing in the Andes and a unique protein-free diet, Alpacas grow a fine hair with remarkable softness, fineness, length and strength. The fiber measures an extraordinary 8 to 12 cm. in length, and, depending on the grade, a fine 16 to 30 microns in diameter. These unique fleeces offer a wide range of 30 natural colors. This wide spectrum of natural colors makes alpaca an attractive alternative for top designer’s worldwide. Alpacas are carefully tended on a small scale by native Andean herds people. Shearing takes place every two years, with each animal yielding about 7.8 pounds of fleece. The sheared fiber of live animals is so valuable that alpacas
The alpaca is an animal related to the llama. Alpacas are the domesticated form of the guanaco, a South American wild animal that roams the mountain slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The alpaca looks like a long-haired, shaggy llama, with thick, soft wool that covers its eyes and often drags on the ground beneath its body. Alpacas are gentle animals that are agreeable with people, hearty to raise, and easy to transport. They live about 20 years, stand about 3 feet (1 meter) in height, and weigh between 100 and 200 pounds (45-90 kg.). Much like cows or sheep, they graze on grasses and chew a cud. Alpaca reproduction is fairly trouble-free and gestation is between 11 and 12 months. Alpacas originally played an important role in the ancient Incan culture where they were treasured for their soft fleece that was worn only by Incan royalty. Large herds of alpacas high in the mountain villages of the Andes were seen as a sign of great wealth and good fortune. Having bee
Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, along with camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicuñas. To Top 2. Are there different types? Yes. There are two types. The Suri has long fibers that resemble strands of rope. The Huacaya has a more fluffy fiber with a lot of crimp. ABQ Alpacas have only huacayas for sale in the US. We have both Suris and Huacayas in Chile. | To Top 3. The Alpaca Family. The dam is a Hembra. The sire is a Macho. The young are Cria. | To Top 4. How big are Alpacas? Their size. Baby alpacas weigh 5-9 Kgs at birth. In adulthood, they weigh between 45 -70 Kgs. Adults are about as tall as your hip, or 80-90 cms tall. | To Top 5. Do they spit? Not very often. When they do, it’s usually when their food or young is threatened. As a general rule alpacas are very social and each has a distinct personality. They are gentle and non-aggressive and will halter train. | To Top 6. How long do they live? Alpacas live around 20-25 years. | To Top 7. Feeding requirements. Alpacas are b
Alpacas are camelids, cousins to camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicunas. Alpacas are about one third the size of llamas and have proportionally smaller ears and snouts than their llama cousins. There are two different kinds of alpacas. The suri alpaca is the very rare alpaca and has very long, fine, dreadlock-type fiber. The huacaya alpaca is the second type of alpaca and is the more common of the two. The huacaya alpaca has thick, dense, crimpy fiber and resembles a teddy bear when in full coat. What is a huacaya alpaca? The huacaya alpaca is characterized by a fiber that is dense, crimped, and woolly. This abundant coverage gives the huacaya a soft and huggable look and explains the overwhelming popularity the huacaya enjoys worldwide. The huacaya is a hardy and healthy animal that produces a fine and highly-prized fiber. The new and burgeoning alpaca fiber movement will be literally built on the backs of these plush and puffy little “teddy bears.” Alpacas are native to South America,
