[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Alpacas are one of the camelid species, closely related to the llama. There are four species of South American camelid: Llamas (Lama glama) and Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) are domesticated and Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) and Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) remain wild and are protected species.
All four are found mainly in Peru in the Andes, with smaller numbers in Chile and Bolivia. Alpacas were domesticated from the wild vicuna into alpaca six to seven thousand years ago. The Incas were very successful in further refining the alpaca for better fibre quality. When the Spanish invaded Peru in 1532, they destroyed the breeding programmes and the alpacas were decimated in numbers and quality in favour of sheep.
There are now thought to be about 3.5 million alpacas in South America and they are now being successfully bred in North America, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, South Africa, China and throughout Europe.
How long do alpacas live?
Alpacas have a lifespan of about 20 years.
How big are they?
Alpacas stand about 1 metre tall at the withers (the highest part of the animal’s back). Cria, the young, weigh about 6 to 8kg at birth. Adult females weigh between 45 and 65kg, some males can be slightly larger.
Do they get many illnesses?
Alpacas are hardy and relatively problem free. However, like all livestock they can suffer from various diseases and may at times require veterinary treatment. They require vaccinations yearly and also regular worming.
What do they eat?
Alpacas are semi-ruminants, surviving happily on grass throughout the year. Hay must be provided on an ad lib basis all year round – particularly in the winter. Most owners provide a low protein supplementary feed which usually includes additional minerals and nutrients. A grazing regime of between 3-5 per acre is usual, but will depend on your conditions.
How long is their gestation?
Alpacas have a gestation of about 11 months, but this can vary. They give birth to a cria (young animal) that weighs about 6 to 8kg. Female alpacas tend to give birth in the morning. They rarely have twins but, if they do, it is unusual for the cria to survive. The cria is weaned at about 6 months of age.
Are alpacas difficult to breed?
Alpacas are induced ovulators and therefore can be bred at any time, although planning for spring births is preferable. The females are generally remated 2-6 weeks after the birth. Males become fertile at about 18 months to 3 years. To ensure successful breeding programmes, only the most outstanding males should be kept back for stud work.
Do they need special shelter or fencing?
Alpacas need a field shelter, large enough to house all of the alpacas in the field, to allow them to get out of the rain. Alpacas do not challenge fences and so a metre high barrier is adequate. Barbed wire should be removed because their wool can get tangled in it and they can become trapped.
Do they affect the pasture?
Alpacas are very gentle on the land because they have padded feet and therefore do not churn up the ground. They deposit their droppings in piles in only a few sites and cleaning up is easier than for other animals.
How are alpacas transported?
Alpacas are easy to transport in any covered trailer or horse box. They tend to sit down on the journey.
Can alpacas be kept on their own?
No, alpacas are a herd animal and will become stressed if kept alone even for short periods. They should be kept in groups of three or more. Alpacas can be run with other animals such as goats and sheep and provide good protection from foxes.
Are alpacas easy to handle?
Alpacas are gentle and easy to handle. They can be halter trained very easily, especially when young. They occasionally spit but only when provoked such as when they are being vaccinated. Some will kick when being touched on their back legs but, if handled when young, they can be desensitised in this area. Alpacas only have lower teeth which meet on a hard upper pad. They don't tend to bite, but sometimes pull at clothing to attract attention!
How often do they need shearing?
Alpacas need shearing once a year, although suris (a particular type) are sometimes sheared every other year. On average, a fleece will weigh between 2 and 5 kg but some high density stud males have fleece weights higher than this.
What colours can alpacas be?
There are 22 fleece colours ranging from white to fawns to browns to black, there are also greys and rose greys. They stay the colour they are at birth throughout life.
Do alpacas make good pets?
Alpacas make excellent pets. They are intelligent, easily trained and are usually very gentle with children. They are inquisitive, approaching people who stand and watch them. They will eat out of the hand if time is spent and training to lead by a halter is straightforward.
Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:25 am
Maybe we could be neighbours with our small holdings Noodle and then all the other folks wouldn't have to travel too far to visit from one to 'tuther