WHAT IS AN ALPACA?
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Alpacas are a camelid species which include their wild cousin the vicuna, llamas and their wild cousin the guanaco and the Old World camels. Alpacas are native to the Altiplano region of the Andes where Chile, Peru and Bolivia meet. There are two variations (but the same species)- the suri and huacaya. Suris have highly developed lock structure and generally more luster to their fiber. Huacayas are generally larger with more “crimpy” and thus dense fiber. The weight range for alpacas is between 100 and 220 lbs with the average male being around 160 lbs with head height around 5 feet. Like other grazing livestock, they are ruminants which means they have multiple stomachs (only 3 as opposed to other livestock with 4) to aid in the digestion of the tough, fibrous food they eat. Like other ruminants, they chew their cud which is regurgitated, partially digested food- this is also the source of their “spit” which all camelids do when threatened or when their “space” is invaded by other alpacas- or you.
BEHAVIOR
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Alpacas are extremely mild mannered and easy to handle other than when threatened. They communicate with a variety of “hums”, ear, tail and body position. They are extremely intelligent and curious as evidenced by their complex social and communication behavior. They are a “prey” species which means in their natural environment they have predators. As a result, they have developed an extremely tight herd instinct as their only defense is their speed, agility and safety in numbers. When grazing, one or more will always have their heads up on “lookout”. This also means you have to have two or more. If alone, they can become stressed, paranoid or, worse, stop eating and die. It’s possible to have an alpaca with female or gelding llamas but it’s preferred to keep them with their own kind. This is the real value of geldings (males who have been neutered)- you can start with one bred or weanling female and keep her with a gelding.
BIRTH AND LIFE
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Females have one cria (baby) per year with an average gestation of 11 months. If they experience stress (poor diet, periods of extreme heat & humidity etc.), they can actually delay fetal development for up to another month or so. Cria are normally born during daylight hours and weigh between 13 and 22 lbs. Alpaca females tend to be extremely good and protective mothers. Cria are typically weaned at around 6 months. Lifespan in South America is around 18 years but with a better diet here they may exceed 20 years. Most females, after reaching maturity (18 months to 2 years) will produce a cria a year throughout most of their life.
FOOD AND DIGESTION
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As the region they come from has terrible and limited forage (some areas of the Altiplano have not had rain in over 50 years!), they are among the most efficient utilizers of food on earth. An adult will consume around 2 1/2 lbs of forage a day although most breeders in the U.S. supplement this with a grain and mineral mix. Due to their efficiency, their solid waste looks like large rabbit pellets and is primarily composed of indigestible fiber. This means, unlike other livestock, they are relatively smell free and their waste can be composted for 6 months and used as fertilizer- even on house plants as it is so mild. Clean up is fast and easy. It also means they can be intensively pastured- 5-10/acre ore more depending upon the quality of the forage and the amount of cleanup the owner does.
CARE
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Caring for alpacas is not like caring for a dog or cat, however. They are livestock and require more knowledge and care. Compared to horses, cattle sheep etc., they are far easier to care for. But the typical prospective alpaca breeder does not come from a livestock or farm background. Like myself, they come from another successful walk of life. They discover these amazing, endearing creatures and fall in love with them- as well as their outstanding investment potential. Raising livestock is a 24 hour/7 day a week job. The actual time involved in caring for them may only amount to an hour or two a day but it is every day. They are a much bigger investment than your goldfish, rabbit or dog and need to be treated as such.
STARTING A FARM
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If your intent is to breed them for profit, you also have a business to build which means bookkeeping, marketing, sales, shows and fairs, pasture management, shelter and fence care and much more. By the time our herd size reached 20, my typical day took on quite a bit more complexity. I approached the business seriously and preferred to do most of it myself so it can be time intensive. Of course, you can hire people to do many of these jobs- the only cost is money. I’m a very “hands-on” person- you may not be.
My point is that before purchasing your first alpacas, think through what is involved. Do your homework- read everything you can, visit and talk to breeders, take lots of notes, run your own financial spreadsheets (or hire someone to help you). No matter what kind of animal you have owned, all species are different and have different care and management requirements. The more educated and prepared you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be. Alpacas and their associated lifestyle are wonderful- if you’re ready.
