Alpacas are part of the camelid family. They come from Bolivia, Chile, and Peru in South America. They are raised for their fiber. The fiber is used to make winter apparel, yarn, clothing, slippers, felted items, teddy bears, etc. There are two kinds of alpacas: Huacaya (wah-KI'-ya) and Suri (sir-ee). Huacayas look like fluffy teddy bears, while the suris have shaggy fiber that hangs to the ground.
Alpaca fiber is soft and luxurious. It is warmer and softer than wool, and does not itch like wool. Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin so it is hypo-allergenic. Alpacas come in a variety of colors: white, beige, fawns, browns, blacks, and greys.
Alpaca babies are called crias. Because of the harsh temperatures of their native land, alpacas have adapted to having their cria during the daylight hours, when temperatures are warmer. Alpaca breeders have their animals bred to deliver during the mildest temperatures of the year. For our area that is the spring and the fall. The gestation period for alpacas is 11-12 months. They only have one cria at a time, twins are very rare.
Alpacas are very unique. They are a joy to be around. Alpacas are very gentle, clean animals. They are communal poopers, meaning they have designated areas to go the bathroom. This makes pasture and stall cleaning much easier.
If you would like to experience these amazing animals, contact a farm near you to schedule a visit.
