WHAT ARE ALPACAS?

Alpacas are members of the camelid family along with llamas, vicuna and guanaco.  Collectively, they are known as South American Camelids (SAC's) or New World Camelids.  They are related to Bactrian and Dromedary camels.

Alpacas were domesticated, from the vicuna, around 6,000 years ago by the Incas and the valuable fibre they produced became known as 'The Fibre of the Gods' and 'The Gold of the Andes'. The Inca's bred superb, very fine fleeced alpacas before the arrival of the Spanish, who slaughtered most of the alpacas in order to make way for sheep.

Today, the Andean people are dependant on the alpaca for their livelihood while careful, selective breeding around the world is working to provide a luxury fibre product of which the Incas would be proud.

Alpacas are found high in the altiplano of Peru, Chile and Boliva.  At 4-5,000 metres above sea level the environment is very harsh with widely fluctuating temperatures and very poor grazing.  The alpaca has become uniquely adapted to this environment, and as a result tends to thrive in the UK.

A herd of many colours

A prize winning black female showing correct conformation

      Before shearing

     and after........

       USEFUL TERMS

• huacaya - (pronounced wa-ky-ah) breed of alpaca with dense crimpy sheep-like fleece
• suri - breed of alpaca whose fleece is arranged in silky dreadlocks
• macho - the term for a male alpaca
• hembra - the term for a female alpaca
• wether - a castrated male alpaca
• weanling - cria 5 - 6 mths old
• yearling - alpaca at 1 year of age
• cria - baby alpaca (spanish for creation)
• orgling - the noise made by the macho when mating
• humming - the noise alpacas make to communicate with each other

        ALPACA FACTS

• there are two breeds of alpaca, the huacaya and the suri
• the huacaya has a crimpy fleece while the much rarer suri has a long lustrous fleece which hangs in tight locks
• alpacas live for 15-20 years
• height - 1m at the shoulder 1.5m at the head
• weight - 55 - 90 kg (120 - 200 lbs)
• there are 12 main colours and many shades of each
• they are intelligent and can be halter trained
• females have 1 cria per year. see Breeding
• they are efficient grazers, ideal for smaller acreages
• they are selective grazers who enjoy variety (beware of poisonous plants and trees)
• can be kept with other animals such as horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens etc.
• they have soft feet which don't poach the ground
• alpacas can be transported in a livestock trailer or horse box and sit when travelling
• they choose specific toilet areas in the field
• are very inquisitive
• appreciate gentle, respectful handling
• enjoy a good roll in the dust
• enjoy sunbathing

                 female suri alpaca

        ROUTINE CARE

       WHY KEEP ALPACAS?

• breeding alpacas can provide a long term investment opportunity in a growing industry.
• Suri alpacas are still rare and can provide a high quality niche market.
• to produce luxury fibre which provides an end product and long term viability.
• they are ideal for farming small acreages.
• non breeding males make excellent pets and 'grass cutters'.
• neutered males will guard other stock eg. sheep, chickens from predators such as foxes.
• to provide pure enjoyment.
• to breed top quality animals in order to attend show classes.
• no farming experience is needed.
• no government paperwork isrequired.
• alpacas are not slaughtered for their meat.

These animals are gentle, fascinating, easy to keep and very addictive.

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU BUY ALPACAS?

Start Building Your Herd - The alpaca industry is at an early stage of growth in the UK, with only an estimated 12,000 animals in the country at this time.  There is enormous potential to improve the quality of the fibre, and increase the numbers of the national herd, adding to the sustainability of the industry.  The standard of our alpacas is improving year on year and we are already beginning to rival other countries with the quality of the stock we are breeding. There are opportunities with alpacas for people with anything from 1 acre to 1000 acres, from pets to a hobby or to a serious breeding enterprise.

Pet males should be weaned and be at least 6 mths old before purchase.  They should be easy to handle and ideally should be halter trained.  Non breeding males are castrated from around 18 months of age.  Some pet males will be sold at around 2 years of age and will already be castrated (known as a wether). We recommend 3 wethers as the minimum ideal number.

Females can be bought at weaning (unproven as breeding stock) or may be purchased pregnant, with or without cria at foot.  Older females with a breeding history can also be purchased and are ideal for new owners.  Prices will vary according to quality, age and breeding status.

 

sociable and inquisitive

1mth old white male cria

WHERE TO KEEP THEM?

Alpacas can be stocked at a rate of up to 6 per acre of pasture, depending on quality of soil, size and type of pasture and drainage of the land.  We recommend 3 alpacas per acre. Please ask for advice before purchasing animals as overstocking should be avoided in order to minimise stress.  If possible there should be 2 separate paddocks so the herd can be rotated and the land rested.  Alpacas do not challenge fencing so well maintained stock fence is suitable at a height of 4 foot.  Barbed wire and electric netting should not be used.

If you intend breeding alpacas then you will need a paddock separate from the rest of the land where your crias (the young) can be weaned out of sight and smell of their mothers.  Entire males should be kept separate from females from about 9 months old. (Cria may be weaned by the farm of origin if this service is available )

Some form of field shelter is recommended to provide general protection from rain and sun, and for sick or premature alpacas. Alpacas can get cold and chilled and can get heatstroke if shelter is not provided. A three sided field shelter is ideal, although most alpacas prefer to live out.  Larger trees and hedgerows provide natural shelter as well as providing a varied diet. You will also need a dry place to store hay and feed. 

Fresh drinking water must be available at all times.  Alpacas can be kept with other animals and are often very happy with sheep or donkeys and with horses or cattle provided both species have time to get used to each other.

A simple 'catch' pen or holding area will make handling your alpacas easy.  Placed in one corner of the field, animals can be examined and routine care completed. We recommend a pen approximately 8 x 8 or 10 x 10 foot, or a pen large enough to hold the entire herd from that field, for handling purposes. 4 foot high lightweight alpaca hurdles are most suitable.

4' Post and rail fencing with stock wire is ideal