      |
 |
   |
 |
The camelid family ...
 Alpacas are part of the camelid family: camels, llamas, guanaco and vicuna. There are two types of alpacas - the Huacaya and the Suri. Huacaya are more common of the two types, with fiber coats dense, curly and tight. Suris make up about 10% of the alpaca population having dense strands of fiber in long spiral curls, wavy and silky. Alpacas have been successfully raised in the US since 1984, originally imported from South America. The lifespan of the alpaca is about 20 years and gestation is 11.5 months.
"I've heard of alpacas but ... what are they again?"
Their value is partly due to their long gestation period. It takes about 11 1/2 months for a baby (better known in the business as a "cria") to be born. Adults are about 36" tall at the withers and weigh about 150 pounds. Females are somewhat smaller. Most people are familiar what a llama looks like. An Alpaca is less than half their size. Rather then "banana" ears of the Llama, Alpacas have pointed "spear-shaped" ears. They sport a very nice "top knot" on the top of their head, and grow fiber several inches long before their annual shearing.
Alpaca fiber ...
Alpacas produce one of the worlds finest and most luxurious natural fibers you will ever find, second only to the vicuna. The fiber comes in 22 natural shades of color, judged in shows for fineness, crimp and luster. It is the goal of owners to produce the finest quality fiber in their herd through selective breedings. They are inquisitive animals, who love to herd together to feel safe among numbers. They are also very considerate by nature making use of a communal dung pile for easy clean up.
... the most luxurious natural fibers
you will ever find!
For the most part, they require little care and maintenance. Aside from routine vitamins, medications and the occasional nail clipping on their two toed feet, they are quite content to spend their days eating, humming and growing beautiful fiber. Virtually every alpaca in the U.S. is registered, and no serious breeder would ever consider purchasing one without a registration. The Alpaca Registry is important to you as an owner, established to help ensure accurate records and to document parental bloodlines.
|
|
|
|
