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For a three-minute video presentation about alpacas, visit
About
Alpacas in the USA.
It's All About the Fleece...
Alpacas are raised for their exquisite wool, called fleece,
that is comparable to angora and mohair. Alpaca fleece is
shorn off the alpacas generally once a year in a process that
is harmless to the alpaca. From there it is processed into
the some of the loveliest, softest, strongest natural garments
and products available.
Hand spinners delight in creating yarn from alpaca fleece.
The high fashion industry has created fantastic suits and
garments from alpaca that are in growing demand across the
world. Even a thin blanket or cloth from alpaca is very warm
and delightfully soft.
Alpaca fleece grows on the alpacas in 22 beautiful colors
from white to every shade of brown, black, gray, and even
rose-grays! With the great variety of beautiful natural colors,
there is no need to dye the fleece for your wool creations.
People who are allergic to sheep's wool find that alpaca fleece
does not cause the same reaction.
Alpaca popularity is continually growing worldwide from the
fiber artist community to the living rooms of knitters and
spinners to the fashion world!
Where Do Alpacas Come From?
Alpacas are originally from the Andes Mountains in the South
American countries of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. They are members
of the camelid family, related to the llama and the wild vicuna
(a much smaller but similar animal). People began importing
alpacas into the United States in larger numbers in the 1980's.
Since that time, the US formed a registry to track pedigrees
through the use of DNA testing—the Alpaca Registry, Inc.
(ARI). And now the registry is closed to new imports, successfully
protecting the American alpaca industry and the value of these
animals.
Types of Alpacas
There are two types of alpacas: huacayas (pronounced wah-kai-yahs)
and suris (pronounced su-rees). Huacayas have crimpy, dense
fleece similar to a sheep and suris have fleece that is more
similar to hair that hangs in twisted locks all over their
bodies. Suris are more rare, and thus more valuable, than
huacayas. Suri alpacas make up about 20% of the US alpaca
population. Their fleece is equally fine to that of the huacaya
alpaca, but offers the additional benefit of luster. Suri
fleece at its best is fantastically lustrous and shiny, carrying
through to an end-product with beautiful and unusual sheen.
Huacaya Alpaca |
Suri Alpaca |
Alpacas Versus Llamas
Alpacas weigh generally between 120 to 150 pounds when full
grown, and their heads are about at eye level or slightly
below for most adults. They are a very manageable size for
health care maintenance. Llamas are much larger, heavier and
taller animals with generally less fleece coverage on their
legs. The most distinguishing characteristic between the two
is the llamas' banana-shaped, curved ears with rounded tips
while the alpaca has spear-shaped, pointed ears.
Regarding the fleece, both alpacas and llamas can produce
very nice fleece, but alpacas have been bred for centuries
to refine the guard hairs in their fleece. So generally speaking,
the entire blanket of an alpaca can be processed into an end-product
whereas often with llamas, the guard hairs need to be removed
during processing.
Do They Spit?
Yes, they DO! But usually they do so with each other over
food or to ward off an amorous male, when the female is not
receptive. Some alpacas spit more than others. Spitting is
a trait than can be removed from future generations through
breeding selections. Some breeders make breeding selections
that include a consideration of temperament which seems to
pass down from one generation to the next.
Tax Benefits and Lifestyle Benefits
Along with all the other benefits, like in any other business,
expenses are tax deductible. The cost of purchased animals
can be depreciated over a period of years as well. Check with
your accountant on the numerous tax advantages of owning and
operating a farm.
The alpaca market has remained consistent and strong since
it first became a noticeable market force in the 1980's, providing
many farms with a reasonable and often extremely profitable
source of income. Many farms offer products for sale in their
farm store.
Raising alpacas is the epitome of the American dream, a family-oriented
farming lifestyle in the country. Many people are finding
alpaca farms to be a satisfying fulfillment of this dream.
Reading Recommendations
Here are some books that will help you get familiarized with
alpacas. Most of these are available at Useful
Llama & Alpaca Items or through Amazon.com.
Secrets of the Andean Alpaca by Maggie and Richard
Krieger
The Complete Alpaca Book by Eric Hoffman
Caring For Llamas and Alpacas - A Health and Management
Guide by Claire Hoffman, DVM and Ingrid Asmus
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care by Smith, Timm and
Long, DVMs
The Color Chart with the different colored strands of alpaca
fiber can be purchased from the Alpaca Registry: http://www.alpacaregistry.net
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