The alpaca is a member of the South American Camelid Family, which includes Llamas and Alpacas, as well as the wild Guanaco and Vicuna from which the Llama and the Alpaca were domesticated. Unlike llamas, which are primarily used as pack animals in South America, alpacas have been bred for their cashmere-like fiber, once reserved for Incan royalty.Alpacas have been domesticated for over 5000 years in South America, specifically the Andes regions of Peru, Chile and Bolivia. Today, alpacas are raised worldwide.
There are approximately 40,000 alpacas in the United States, having been first imported in 1984. They are adaptable to most climates but are especially well suited to the moderate summers and cold winters of New England. There are approximately 115 farms in New England.
Alpacas only require the most basic of shelters. A 3 sided lean-to with the opening facing south is all that is required.
There are many regional and national Alpaca Shows throughout the year where hundreds, or even thousands, of pedigreed alpacas and their owners gather to compete for ribbons and prize money.
There are two types or breeds of alpacas, the Huacaya (WA-KY-YA), which accounts for about 95% of the alpacas in North America and the rarer Suri. The Huacaya fiber has a fuzzy crimped appearance while the Suri alpaca fiber forms long pencil like locks .
Alpacas are very intelligent, gentle creatures that are quiet, and easy to care for. They even create communal dung piles making it easy for their owners to keep the area clean.
(Lama pacos), South American member of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla), that is closely related to the llama , guanaco, and vicuņa, which are known collectively as lamoids. The alpaca and the llama were both apparently domesticated several thousand years ago by the Indians of the Andes Mountains of South America. The other two lamoid species, the guanaco and vicuņa, exist basically in the wild state.
The llama—it and the alpaca were the two camelids domesticated by the Andean peoples—could live at altitudes ranging from sea-level to those in the high mountains. The alpaca's habitat, however, was much narrower; it did best above 13,000 feet, and its preference for a swampy range was catered to by pastoralists. It has been found that even today alpaca-herding is a full-time occupation, almost impossible to combine with agriculture. While Andean herders did belong to wider ethnic groups, they tended to be specialists, relying for their food staples on their kinsmen closer to Lake Titicaca.
Present-day distribution and use of these animals (known collectively as camelids) tends to mask their importance in pre-Columbian times. A European inspector, reporting in the 1560s on the camelid wealth of a single Aymara chiefdom near Lake Titicaca, claimed, “I have heard of an Indian who is not even a lord, one don Juan Alanoca of Chucuito, who has more than 50,000 head.” Such control of vast herds, combined with the hundreds of varieties of high-altitude tubers and grains, helps to explain the density of Andean populations. (source: The Encyclopedia Britanica Online)
More Information Follows:
*Alpaca Factoids* *Investment & Costs* *Fiber (Fleece)* *Food* *Boarding & Shelter* *Alpaca Statistics* *A Final Thought*
Alpaca Factoids
Alpacas average lifespan ranges from 15-25 years. Alpacas average height is 36" at their shoulders. Alpacas weigh from 100 to 180 pounds.
Their average gestation is over 11 months long! Normally ranging from 320 -376 days and females are typically pregnant again just 3 weeks after giving birth.
The average weight of a newborn alpaca is 15-19 pounds. Babies (or crias, pronounced kree-ahs) are usually standing and nursing within 30 minutes after delivery.
Alpacas are ruminants like deer and cows. They have a 3 compartment stomach, a very efficient digestive system, and consume only a single bale of hay per week.
Alpacas do not require special fencing or a lot of acreage (5 - 12 animals/acre depending on pasture growing conditions)
Alpacas are very social animals and communicate extensively with each other by humming, various other vocalizations, and body language. If vocalizations and body language are not sufficient to resolve a disagreement, the situation may escalate to spitting at each other. Alpacas do not typically spit at people.
Most alpacas in the United States are DNA tested to prove their lineage and are registered with The Alpaca Registry, Inc.
Raising and selling alpacas is a serious part or full time business for many families across America. However, it is often the lifestyle and charm of the alpacas themselves that has really encouraged people to begin raising them. Pet quality Alpacas, such as a gelded male, can cost a few thousand dollars. Breeding quality maiden females will more likely fetch between 10 and 25 thousand dollars. Females bred to proven herd sires are often sold in the $20-25K range. Proven herd sire quality males can command significantly higher prices.
Alpacas are considered a livestock investment and can be depreciated yearly.
Further information about raising alpacas can be found on the web at www.aoba.org (Alpaca Breeders and Owners Association) or www.neaoba.org (The New England Alpaca Breeders and Owners Association).
Alpacas produce one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is clipped from the animal without causing it injury. Alpaca fiber is as soft as cashmere and comes in 22 recognized colors; more natural colors than any other fiber producing animal. Alpaca is warmer, lighter and stronger than wool.
There is a cottage industry of hand spinners who will purchase alpaca fiber and automated mini-mills that will process and return alpaca fiber in the form of rovings or yarn to its owners.
There are also organized cooperatives such as the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool and The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America that accept fleece from their members and turn the precious textile into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from a ready outlet for their fiber, while the cooperative works to increase awareness of and demand for this luxurious fiber.
Hand spinner, weavers and commercial mills around the world are producing stylish garments from alpaca that are warm and nearly indestructible.
Alpacas are principally grazers and do best on good quality grass pasture or hay in the winter supplemented with an alpaca mix containing vitamins and minerals.
As a rule of thumb, an adult alpaca will consume less than a single bale of hay per week.
The cost of feeding one adult alpaca in New England will range $125 to $200 per year or an average of $3 to $4 per week. The same or less than an average dog.
Agisting is a term used for boarding alpacas at a farm other than your own. The fee for this service is a minimal amount per day and is an option for those who do not have the land or time to take care of their own alpacas.
Often new owners will agist their alpacas while they are looking for farmland or getting existing land ready with fencing or shelter.
The benefits to "agisting" are: it makes it easy to begin investing in alpacas; the breeder feeds, houses and cares for the animal(s); the owner can visit and enjoy the animals as time permits.
Agisting is a sound way to begin investing in a new business while enjoying the appropriate tax deductions with relatively little risk.
Alpacas prefer open pastures to a barn or stall but take calmly to stables or barns in the worst of winter weather.
They are mostly content with simple shelters in winter weather and appreciate shade in the summer's heat.
Despite their delicate appearance, alpacas are hardy and adapted to a harsh environment. A simple 3 sided shelter is adequate protection from a New England winter.
LIFESPAN 15-25 years.
AVERAGE HEIGHT 36" at the withers.
AVERAGE WEIGHT 100 to 175 pounds or about one-half to one-third the size of a llama.
AVERAGE GESTATION 335 days.
BIRTH Birth weight 15-19 pounds. Babies can often stand and nurse within 30 minutes to one hour. Infant mortality is very low.
COLOR Alpacas usually come in solid colors. there are 22 basic colors with many variations and blends.
The Alpacas that are currently in The United States of America are what the future of Alpacas will be here. Importing of the animal is no longer allowed. The Alpaca is a unique animal, the more one learns about them, and the more time one spends with them, the more you understand our love for them. Each has a distinct personality, likes and dislikes. A unique animal that is made more unique by individuality.
The Alpaca's coat is referred to as "fiber". The fiber is highly prized and makes luxurious, warm and beautiful clothing. The fiber is harvested, by sheering the coat. The fiber is spun into yarn and thread for a variety of clothing and accessories. If you have never experienced the warmth, softness and luxury of Alpaca Fiber clothing, gloves, hats scarves and more, please drop by our farm, we maintain and inventory.
Alpacas are an investment for some, hobby for others and a pleasure to all. The babies, called "Crias" (kree-ahs) have an 11 month gestational period. As you can imagine, growing a heard takes time an patience. To create variety in the animals fiber and to enhance the herd, breeders use males from other herds and purchase females and crias from other herds. Every Alpaca at Safe Haven is available to help enhance the herds of other breeders.
If you are a breeder and would like information on our Alpacas, please contact is by visiting the "contact us" link. If you would like to know more about the clothing and accessories, visit the "Our Alpaca Store" link. If you would like to see, touch and interact with an Alpaca, then use the "Come Visit Us" link for information on spending time at our farm.
