All About Alpacas:
The Treasure of the Andes

by Jo Overbey

These cute and furry animals are alpacas, the smaller cousins of llamas. Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America in the countries of Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, where they have lived for thousands of years. It is believed that the Alpaca is descended from the Vicuna, which has the finest fiber in the world. The Vicuna cannot be domesticated, but their little descendants handle it very well.

There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas are fluffy with fine, crimpy fiber. The Suri's fiber curls in a spiral rather than crimps, which makes it form pendulous locks instead of fluff. Suri fiber is generally more lustrous and often finer than huacaya. Suris are rarer than huacayas, and not quite as adept at withstanding severe weather without shelter, since the lock formation of their fleece allows rain and snow to penetrate to the skin more easily.

Alpacas produce their abundant and luxurious fiber in twenty-two recognized colors. During the reign of the Incas, alpaca fiber was to be worn only by high-ranking officials and nobility. It continues to be highly prized today, being used for luxury apparel. A high-quality alpaca sweater can cost hundreds of dollars and an alpaca coat, thousands.

Alpacas are quite rare, with only about 12,000 on the North American continent today. However, it is an increasing population, have risen from about 5,000 in 1993. Alpacas range in price from around $1,000 for a gelding to $25,000 or better for a high-quality, bred female. There are some animals that sell even higher, but these are generally herdsires who have proven their ability to pass along highly desirable characteristics to their offspring.

Alpacas are perhaps the world's gentlest creatures with a great affinity for children. They are never aggressive, are not large, (a mature animal weighs from 135 to 185 pounds), and they are gentle on the environment. Rather than hooves, they have pads on their feet similar to a dog's, with only two toenails. Instead of upper incisor teeth, they have only a hard pallet, so they cannot crop grass as closely to the ground as sheep or goats. Alpacas spit as part of their communication with each other--they almost never spit at humans.

These appealing animals are easy to care for and have minimal space requirements, with five to ten fitting nicely upon one acre. Alpacas are basically healthy animals; there is no disease that is specific to alpacas. They are shorn once a year to harvest their fiber, which offers lots of opportunity for owners to try their hands at spinning, weaving, felting, etc. There is also a national co-op to assist in marketing the fiber, as well as numerous fiber festivals in every region.

Alpaca events are found throughout the country. Those held under the auspices of the Alpaca & Llama Show Association, (ALSA), offer opportunities to show the animals under-halter and over obstacle courses. These shows generally include a Junior program. Alpacas are highly intelligent animals and can be easily taught to trust their handlers and to try new activities. Their gentle nature makes working with them a pleasure.

There are several other national and regional organizations related to the alpaca industry, notably the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, (AOBA),the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI), and the AOBA Regional Affiliates, of which MaPaca is one. These organizations are aimed towards educating their members and the public and enhancing the alpaca industry as a whole.

Alpacas offer a significant return compared to other types of livestock. Because of their ease of care, lack of slaughter, and income potential, they have become popular with people who have a little land and wish to raise some kind of livestock. Many breeders depend upon their alpaca operations for their primary income, while many others use them as a secondary source. In both cases, the lifestyle and opportunity of working with these animals can be a great source of joy and satisfaction.

Copyright © 1997 Jo Overbey