Alpaca Facts

    Alpacas originate from South America - Peru, Bolivia and Chile.  Approximately 3 million alpacas are in their native homeland.  Alpacas were first imported into the United States in 1984.  Importation of these magnificent animals ended in 1998.

    There are two breed types of alpacas - the huacaya (wah-Ki-ya) and suri (surrey).   The difference between the two breeds is their fiber characteristics.  The huacaya's have wavy structure to their fiber (crimp) which gives them a fluffy appearance.  The suri's fiber are made up of individual long strands that look like "pencil locks".  An adult alpaca can produce 5 to 10 pounds of fiber a year.

    The average height at the withers is 36" and the average adult weight is 120-200 pounds.

    They are a social herd animal.  They feel safest in numbers.  Alpacas defense is flight!

    There are approximately 60,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.  In order to register an alpaca with the Alpaca Registry each alpaca is required to have DNA testing performed.

    Alpacas come in 22 colors with over 200 variations of the 22 colors.

    Fences are built to keep predators out more so than to keep alpacas in.  Llamas are sometimes used as a guard in the pasture to deter predators.

    A basic three sided structure to provide shade and to block wind is all that is required to house alpacas.

    Female alpacas become old enough to breed between 15 to 18 months.  Alpacas do not have a breeding "season"; they ovulate shortly after breeding.  Their average gestation is approximately 335 days and 1 out of 2000 births result in twins.  After 4 weeks of giving birth, the female alpaca is bred again.  The female reproductive life span is approximately 14 years.

    Males can impregnate a female at approximately 2 to 3 years of age.

    A baby alpaca is called a cria.  There is an 85% survival rate in newborn crias.

    Approximate life span of an alpaca is 20 years.