Updated:  February 06, 2008

Alpacas are an exotic livestock originally from South America. Most alpacas in the United States can be traced back to Peru, Bolivia, or Chile; however, alpacas can no longer be imported into the United States and we are now breeding our own lineage in the US.

Alpacas can be best described as small llamas with straight ears. Llamas weigh close to 300 pounds where alpacas usually weigh around 150 pounds.  Alpacas are raised in South America and now in the US for their fiber.  Alpaca fiber is the second most sought after fiber after cashmere. The United States herd of alpacas is still not large enough for large scale processing of the fiber. However, many hand spinners, people using felt, and smaller fiber processors are enjoying the benefits of alpaca.

Alpacas live for approximately 20 years and they have a gestational period of eleven months. This means each female has one baby a year and is only not pregnant for about three weeks a year. It is also very rare for alpacas to have twins.

Alpacas come in 22 different colors. In South America they desired the white fiber because the fiber could then be dyed to any color they wanted.  The breeders in the United States are breeding for color and utilizing more of the natural alpaca fiber.

There are two different types of alpacas, Huacaya and Suri. The Hucaya have a full and fluffy type coat where the Suri have a coat that grows in locks.  Both of these types of alpaca will produce all 22 colors. The Suri are rarer only comprising about 10% of the alpaca population in the United States.

Alpacas are extremely smart and very curious. Our alpacas will follow us around the fields just wanting to know what we are up to and they visit our neighbor when she checks her mail. Alpacas are easy to care for. They eat a small amount of grain, hay in the winter, and grass in the summer.  Don't be surprised to see an alpaca lying in the sun chewing their cud because they have a digestive tract similar to a cow.

Alpacas are the perfect animals for small acreage farms. One acre of land can support from 5 to 8 alpacas. For additional information about alpacas please visit the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association web page.