ALPACA FACTS

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS

There are two types of Alpacas, the Huacaya, which has dense fibre which grows straight out from the body with a crimp in the fibre, and the Suri, which has fine straight fibre which hangs down from the body with a part along the back. They originate from Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.

Shileigh

Alpacas are a regal animal, gentle, graceful and intelligent, a joy to own and work with. They are members of the camelid family, which were domesticated over 5000 years ago in the highlands of Peru, making them the oldest domestic animals in the world. Their multi-hued fibre is soft, luxurious and lightweight, stronger and warmer than wool, coming in 22 different shades of color.

Average weight of an Alpaca is between 110 lbs and 220 lbs, depending on the sex of the animal. Height average is approx. 36", at the withers. The lifespan of the Alpaca is approx. 20 years. Because of their size, Alpacas are easy to handle and great for small acreages.

Alpacas are induced ovulators, with an average gestation period of approx. 340 days. Females can be bred when they are approx. 12 months of age. They are easy birthers, excellent mothers, and usually produce a single offspring, referred to as a "cria". Breeding age of the males begin anywhere between two to three years of age. Most crias are born between May and August, arriving early morning to late afternoon. Very few births take place at night.

Alpacas are highly adaptable feeders. They graze the natural grasses in the summer, hay in the winter, averaging 1 1/2 bales per month per animal. Pellets, vitamins and minerals are added to their diet as supplements, which we feed individually twice per day.

Alpacas share a dung pile and are easy to clean up after.

Alpaca fleece is a soft, luxurious, completely natural fibre, waremer, stronger and lighter than wool. Our industry is striving to produce animals with fine dense fibre, satisfying the need for both quality and quantity, ensuring commercial viability for the future. Alpacas are shorn once a year, usually in spring, yielding 5 - 12 pounds of fleece per alpaca.