Alpaca Questions Answered

Moms and Moms-to-be

What do you DO with an alpaca?

Alpacas are raised primarily for their fiber. The "Fiber for Gods" was revered by the Incas over 5000 years ago, and only the nobility were allowed to wear this luxurious fiber that is as soft as cashmere, lighter weight and stronger than wool. Alpacas are the only fiber producing animal with 22 recognized natural colors, from black to white, with varying shades of browns, grays, and fawns in between. The alpaca fiber, which is shorn once each year, is used to make apparel from heavy socks, to wedding gowns and even lingerie.

Do they spit?

Yes, alpacas spit, but they are usually spitting at each other, trying to defend their food dish, or warning another alpaca to stay away.

Zoom Zoom eating first grass

What do alpacas eat?

They are foraging animals that need grass, or grass hay, and also pelletized supplements to balance their nutrition. Some alpacas like apples or carrots as a special treat, and clean fresh water should always be available. Alpacas eat very little—about as much as a large dog

Are alpacas smart?

The alpaca is a very intelligent animal easily trained to halter, to load and unload in a trailer, and can be taught to perform simple tricks with just a few repetitions.

How big do alpacas get?

Generally, full grown alpacas weigh about 130 lbs, although large herdsires can weigh as much as 225 lbs, standing between 30 and 40 inches at the withers.

How long do alpacas live?

Approximately 20 to 25 years.

Alpaca family - cria just born.

Where do alpacas come from?

It is believed the alpaca is a descendent of the vicuna, having been domesticated and revered for its luxurious fiber during the Inca Empire. The largest populations of alpacas are located in Peru, Bolivia and Chile, however alpacas are raised all over the world, and in all 50 of the United States.

Are alpacas mean?

No, in fact they are a very gentle, inquisitive animal, that, although their preference is to be with their own kind, alpacas easily become accustomed to a handler's voice, and actions. Like people, they each have a unique personality, and some are friendlier towards humans than others.

Can alpacas "talk"?

Alpacas communicate by using several different noises. A soft short 'hummm' is most common, but they also will sound a somewhat high pitched scream when in distress, and have a watch paco alarm to notify the rest of the herd of an intruder. They can 'cluck', and males will 'orgle' when mating, which is similar to a chant.

How many babies will a female have each year?

Breeding females will have only one baby, called a 'cria' (cree ah) each year, weighing between 14 and 20 lbs. The gestation period for the alpaca is 11 months, and rarely are twins born.

Cria being welcomed by the alpaca family

Do alpacas need a lot of room?

You can comfortably keep five alpacas on one acre, however some farms have more than that. Keeping the pasture clean of feces is important, and since they use one or two communal dung piles, this is an easy chore. A three-sided shelter for them to get in out of inclimate weather is necessary also. Because of their two-toed, padded feet, they don't tear up the ground as cloven hoofed animals do, and with their four bottom teeth, and soft upper pallet they utilize a very agile upper lip to simply 'cut off' the grass they forage, not pulling it from the roots. Alpacas are one of the most environmentally friendly animals known.

How many different breeds of alpaca are there?

The Suri and the Huacaya (pronounced wa-KI-ah). The main difference between the two breeds is how their fiber grows. The Huacaya fiber grows straight out from their body, making them look like an overgrown teddy bear, while the Suri has a more sikly like fiber that grows straight down in long 'locks'.

How do you tell the difference between a llama and an alpaca?

An Alpaca Summer

Llamas are substantially larger than their 1st cousin the alpaca, but the most easily recognizable difference is the ears. Llamas have "banana-shaped" ears, where alpacas ears are straight.

Do you have to give alpacas baths?

No. Alpaca fiber is naturally water resistant and is so dense, the only grooming required is to 'fluff up' the fiber occasionally to remove any hay or debris. Alpacas do love the water though, and in the summer, we use sprinklers or hold a hose pointed at their chest and underbelly to cool their legs where the sweat glands are. They come running when they see the water start, and immediately try be first to receive the cooling affects!