A. What is an Alpaca?

The alpaca is a domesticated member of the camelid family, and a cousin of the llama. Alpacas come in a broad spectrum of colors of very luxurious fiber, more than any other livestock. They grow to weigh about 150 pounds and can live 25 years or more. A female alpaca bears only one offspring (cria) a year after an 11 month gestation period. Alpacas are native to the harsh mountainous regions of the South American Andes. Here, they developed the ability to live on low protein vegetation and only the strongest survived. The result is a very hardy and tolerant animal.

There are two types of breeds of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri. The Huacaya fleece has a very definite wavy quality, or crimp, which enhances its value in textiles. The Suri (thought to be the recessive of the two) has pencil like lock fiber that has no crimp. The Huacaya constitutes approximately 95% of the worlds population of alpaca, while the Suris compromise only 5% .

Alpacas have definite advantages over any other livestock:

• Alpacas are small and easy to handle.
• Alpacas are safe and do not bite or butt. (No incisors, horns, hoofs or claws).
• Alpacas are clean and do not smell.
• Alpacas are quite, reserved animals.
• Alpacas require minimal fencing.
• Alpacas do not require butchering.
• Alpacas are intelligent and are easy to train.
• Alpacas do not require special shelter or care.
• Alpacas are adaptable in almost any environment.
• Alpacas require very little feeding cost.
• Alpacas are considered extremely disease resistant.
• Alpacas can be pastured at 5-10 per acre.
• Alpacas can be insured against loss.
• Alpacas cannot be mass produced (protects investment).
• Alpacas produce very valuable fiber in 22 different colors.
• Alpacas can be an extremely profitable and rewarding business.
• Alpacas will change your life!!!

B. History

Alpacas have coexisted with humankind for over 5,000 years. The Inca civilization of the Andes Mountains elevated the alpaca to a central place in their society. The royal Incas clothed themselves in garments made from alpaca and many religious ceremonies involved the animal.

The Spanish conquistadors failed to see the value of alpaca fiber, preferring only the merino sheep of their native Spain. For a time, alpaca fiber was a well kept secret. Beginning in the mid 1800’s alpaca was rediscovered by Sir Titus Salt of London , England.

The newly industrialized English were at its zenith when Sir Titus began studying the unique properties of the alpaca fleece. He discovered that alpaca fiber was much stronger than sheeps wool and that its strength did not diminish with fineness of staple. The alpaca textiles he fashioned were soft, luxurious, and soon began making their mark across Europe. Today, the center of alpaca textiles is in Arequipa, Peru; yarn and other products are sold primarily in either Japan or Europe.

Outside of Native South America, the number of Alpacas found in other countries is extremely limited. In fact, 99% of the worlds 3 million alpacas are found in Peru, Chile and Bolivia. Approximately, only 18,000 are in the United States.