What is an alpaca? Well...
Alpacas are members of the camelid (or camel) family. They are mild-tempered, gregarious animals with an inquisitive nature and a penchant for bringing great delight to their owners there are two different breed-types: the Huacaya (wah-KI'-ya) and Suri ("surrey"). Although both types of alpacas are physiologically nearly identical, one main physical difference is clearly identifiable: the fleece. Huacaya fleece has a degree of "waviness," or “crimp," thus giving Huacayas a fluffy, "Teddy Bear-like" appearance. Suris, on the other hand, have no crimp in their fleeces, so their fiber clings to itself, forming beautiful "pencil locks" that hang down from the body in gentle, silky cascades.

Indigenous to South America, the alpaca is raised for its soft fleece. This fleece is sheared once a year, yielding roughly five to ten pounds. After only minimal preparation, it is ready to be spun into yarn (for knitting, crocheting, and weaving) or used to make felt (for creating hats, cloth, or moccasins).

Alpacas stand approximately 36 inches tall at the withers (the area where the neck and the spine come together) and weigh between 100 and 200 pounds.

Commonly -Asked Questions

Are alpacas easy to work with?
Yes, alpacas are very intelligent animals that respond to a variety of training and handling techniques. They learn to halter and lead in just a few training sessions, and even children find most alpacas to be safe and easy to handle.

Is it OK to have just one alpaca?
As a general rule, the answer is no. Alpacas have very strong herding instincts and need the companionship of other alpacas to thrive. Gender appropriate (or neutered) llamas sometimes will successfully bond with an alpaca. Otherwise, it is best to provide each alpaca with a companion alpaca of the same gender.

I live in the city; would it be possible for me to own alpacas?
Absolutely! Urban dwellers can board (or "agist") their alpacas at our farm so they can enjoy the benefits of ownership while living in a large city or suburb.

Do I need a lot of land to raise alpacas?
No. The specific answer is quite variable, and is contingent on such factors as: type of terrain, amount of annual precipitation, seasonal factors, availability of pasture and/or hay, etc. For arid climates animals are usually fed on "dry lot," with little or no pasture feeding. In this instance, the number of animals that can be raised is generally between two to six per acre. In milder, wetter climates with abundant fresh pasture available, however, ten or more alpacas per acre might be the norm.