Alpacas are members of the camelid family.  Yes, this means they are related to camels, along with llamas, vicunas, and guanacos.  Llamas, vicunas, guanacos, and alpacas are all indigenous to South America.

Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains.  All North American alpacas are direct descendents of an alpaca imported to the U.S. from Bolivian, Chilean, or Peruvian origin.  In 1998 the registry was closed to imports to preserve the American alpaca.

Alpacas are smaller than the llama, averaging around 150 pounds.  They have spear shaped ears as opposed to the llamas banana shaped ears.  Alpacas have two toes on their padded feet, making them soft on the land.  They have a compartmentalized stomach and chew their cud. 

There are two types of alpacas; suris and huacayas.  The suri alpaca grows long, twisted locks of fiber.  The huacaya grows fluffy, crimpy fiber.  Both breeds of alpacas are raised for their luxurious fiber.  

The Alpaca Pros List

(You'll have a hard time finding a cons list!)

Alpaca fiber has less guard hair than wool and does not contain lanolin.  Alpaca fiber garments can be worn next to the skin without the irritation of wool.

Alpacas are quickly gaining popularity across the U.S. as pets, investments, and lucrative businesses.  Alpaca breeders come from all walks of life; most do not have any livestock experience before starting with alpacas.
  

Alpacas are a great farm business for many reasons:

·         Alpacas are easy on the land

·         Alpacas require less acreage than most livestock

·         Alpacas are safer than larger livestock

·         Alpacas can be insured for their full value

·         Alpacas and farm supplies harbor hefty tax advantages
 

Alpacas have one baby a year called a cria.  The female’s gestation period is 11-11.5 months long.  They are rebred 2-3 weeks after the cria is born. (Don’t worry; this is how they do it in the wild.  If they are of age and open, they are attempting to get pregnant.). This results in one cria a year, twins are rare.

Owning alpacas is loads of fun.  They are cute, some are cuddly, and all are intriguing.  Alpacas use communal dung piles to make clean-up a breeze.