ALPACA FACTS
Alpacas are unique and mysterious animals, seen only in their native South America until the 1980's, when some were released for export.
They have been domesticated for their beautiful fleece for thousands of years, and the Incans described their incredibly soft fleece as The Fibre of the Gods!
- Alpacas are gentle and curious by nature, easily handled by one person for most purposes.
- Alpacas can be halter-trained to lead.
- They are born weighing about 6 kgs, growing to around 70kgs at maturity.
- They are well adapted to thrive in a wide range of climates and environments.
- They are friendly, and generally very safe with children and when mixed with other livestock.
- Alpaca fleece is silky soft and lightweight, yet durable - rare qualities, which meet the demands of the modern consumer in daily attire or haute couture.
- Alpaca fleece is highly sought after by fashion houses in Italy, Korea, China and Japan.
- Alpacas are shorn once a year, with fleeces weighing up to 7kgs.
- Alpacas fleece comes in a range of 22 defined colours.
- Alpacas are respectful of normal fences, and can be managed with most normal farm infrastructure.
- Alpacas are fun, interesting and prestigious to own.
- Alpacas are economical eaters and efficient feed convertors.
- Unlike other domestic livestock, alpacas have soft, padded feet, minimising the soil impact and compaction.
- Whilst Alpacas eat pasture close to the ground, they do not tear at the plant, and therefore do not cause erosion to the soil.
- The female alpaca gives birth to just one baby a year, called a cria.
- The lifespan of the alpaca is approximately 20 years, and the maiden female is first mated at one year.
- With a gestation of just over 11 months, the adult female has her first cria at about 2 years, then breeds one cria per year.
- Alpacas invariably give birth during daylight hours, usually without assistance. The cria are often standing and drinking within an hour of birth.
