Buffalo River Alpaca More Alpaca Facts

Alpaca Facts

More alpaca facts

There are two breeds of alpacas: suri and huacaya
Alpacas eat grasses and chew a cud
Alpacas are small: about 36” at the withers, and from 100 to 175 pounds
Alpacas are small and easy to handle; they don’t bite or butt, but will spit at each other when annoyed
Alpacas are members of the camelid family; cousins are camels and llamas
Alpacas are herd animal; they will be lonely if kept alone
Alpacas are 100% insurable against loss
Alpacas are sheared like sheep
Alpacas are gentle, appealing animals that are easy on the environment and on their handlers
Alpaca produce a luxurious, non-scratchy fiber that is as soft as cashmere and lighter and warmer than wool
Alpacas produce fiber in 22 natural colors
The gestation period is almost a year and alpacas rarely produce twins; the female can be rebred within weeks of giving birth
The U.S. alpaca herd has grown from xxx in 1990, to 62,000 in February 2005
Alpaca young are called crias

Alpaca Facts

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Alpaca fiber is as soft as cashmere, and warmer, lighter, and stronger than wool
Alpaca fiber occurs in 22 distinct natural colors
Alpacas are shorn like sheep once a year
Alpaca fleece was once enjoyed by Incan royalty
Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin, so it is easier and cheaper to process than wool
Alpaca fiber does not have to be dehaired like cashmere
Alpaca fiber is easily dyed
Alpaca fiber is not irritating to the skin due to its smoothness and lack of lanolin
Alpaca fiber can be spun directly from the raw fleece due to its lack of lanolin

Alpaca Facts

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Alpacas are depreciable over 5 to 7 years
Alpacas are 100% insurable against loss
All expenses attributable to raising alpacas for profit can be written off against your income if you are an active breeder; passive investors can still enjoy tax benefits including depreciation of breeding stock
The female offspring of an alpaca commonly sells for as much or more than the dam
Alpaca produce a luxurious, non-scratchy fiber that is as soft as cashmere and stronger, lighter, and warmer than wool
Carded fiber currently brings $3.00 to $5.00 per ounce; alpacas generally yield 3-7 pounds of fiber each year
Pregnant females sell for $13,000 to more than $30,000
Prices for herdsire quality males range from $5,000 to over $30,000

Alpaca Facts

More alpaca facts

Alpacas are depreciable over 5 to 7 years
Alpacas are 100% insurable against loss
The female offspring of an alpaca commonly sells for as much or more than the dam
Alpacas are sheared like sheep
Alpacas are gentle, appealing animals that are easy on the environment and on their handlers
The alpaca is a cud-chewing animal; it is a pseudo-ruminant with a 3-compartment stomach
The alpaca is very efficient at converting feed to energy; a 125 alpacas eats about 2 pounds of hay daily
Land requirements are minimal: 5 to 10 alpacas can be raised per acre
Equipment requirements are also minimal; a sturdy fence is needed to keep predators out
Alpacas are small and easy to handle; they don’t bite, kick, or butt, but will spit at each other when annoyed
Alpacas utilize a communal dung pile
Alpacas are considered disease resistant and usually have a complication-free pregnancy
Alpacas are raised in all 50 states
The gestation period is almost a year and alpacas rarely produce twins; the female can be rebred within weeks of giving birth