Alpacas have become the darlings
of American animal lovers!
Indigenous to the Andes Mountains of
South America, Alpacas were first
imported to the United States in
1984.
Because alpacas have adapted to
living at a very high altitude in
the Andes, where it can get very
cold, they have evolved to produce a
warm, soft and luxurious fiber that
is an absolute pleasure to wear.
Alpaca fiber is a renewable
resource that grows yearly.
Alpacas are sheared annually and
produce 4 to 6 pounds of one of the
world’s most luxurious fibers. Soft
as silk and warmer, lighter and
stronger than wool, it comes in 22
colors, more than any other fiber
producing animal. Spinners and
weavers around the world now enjoy
this luxurious fleece, once reserved
for Incan royalty.
The harsh
environment of the Andes has created
an extremely hardy animal, so
minimal housing is needed. The
alpaca’s three-chambered stomachs
allow for extremely efficient
digestion. Because there are no
viable seeds in the manure, alpaca
manure does not need composting to
enrich pastures or ornamental
landscaping. Alpacas have only lower
teeth at the front of their mouths;
therefore, they do not pull grass up
by the roots.
Adult alpacas are about 36" tall at
the withers and generally weigh
between 100 and 200 pounds. They are
gentle and easy to handle and can be
pastured at 5 to 10 per acre.
The joy, ease of care and
potential profitability of raising
alpacas has attracted people from
many walks of life to become owners
and breeders. Some raise alpacas for
fiber, some as a business, still
others, an enjoyable pastime.
Regardless of the reason, raising
these gentle animals brings endless
pleasure to one’s life.
