BEHAVIOR/INTELLIGENCE
Alpacas are very social and intelligent creatures. Alpacas do spit, but normally just at each other. A female will spit off a male, refusing his advances if she is pregnant. Alpacas tend to be docile and easy-going creatures that get along fabulously with children and as a result can make good pets. Young alpacas are readily halter trained. Alpacas are easily herded without a dog.

FIBER
The primary function of the alpaca is fiber production. This animal sports one of the most luxurious and valuable fibers that exists today. It is the combination of softness, tensile strength and variety of color that set alpaca apart from other luxury fibers. There is no need to dye the fiber in order to have a wide spectrum of color, as the alpaca is found naturally in a wide variety of hues and tones, including black, gray, brown, fawn, rose-gray, red, apricot and white. There are 22 internationally recognized colors of alpaca fiber, however approximately 95% of the worldwide alpaca population is white. The rarity of colored alpacas contributes to their value. Products created from alpaca fiber are comfortable to wear because of the lack of "prickle", due to the absence of guard hair. The fiber shaft is partly medulated. For this reason, garments made of alpaca are extremely lightweight, yet very warm. Once utilized by the Inca Royals, alpaca fiber today is a popular material for the works of top Italian designers. At present handspinners pay $3.00 - $7.00 per ounce for this luxurious fiber. At Alpacas de la Patagonia we custom design and hand craft alpaca products.

ALPACA FIBER VS. SHEEP'S WOOL
There are a number of factors that set alpaca fiber apart from sheep's wool. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the wide range of color naturally occurring in the alpaca population that is not found in sheep.

A very important characteristic of alpaca fiber is the handle or the "feel". The pleasing softness felt when alpaca fiber is placed next to the skin can be attributed to a number of factors. The fineness of the fiber (lower micron count) contributes to the the luxuriously silky feel. While a very fine sheep fleece (i.e. Merino) may have a comparable fineness, it may have a rougher feel. This is because handle is also related to additional factures such as scale height/frequency and crimp. The scale frequency and height refer to the structure of the individual fibers. Crimp is a measurement of the fiber's natural waviness. Sheep's wool typically has more crimp than alpaca fiber. Though it has been widely perceived that higher crimp per unit length is related to fineness and softness, fibers with decreased crimp have been shown to actually feel softer. Higher crimps yield a thicker, rougher feel which is less pleasing to the touch.

Alpaca is considered a specialty fiber due, in part, to its luxuriously silky-smooth handle and also because it is rare and very much in demand. Sheep's wool, on the other hand, is found in abundance throughout most of the world.

Alpaca fleeces tend to yield a higher percentage of clean fiber. Alpaca is lanolin-free and can be spun directly off of the animal. Sheep's wool requires cleaning proir to spinning.

Alpaca fiber has a higher thermal capacity and is extremely light weight in comparison to sheep's wool.

SHEARING
Alpacas shoud be shorn once a year yielding 5-10 pounds of exquisite fleece. The fiber, virtually grease-free, can be handspun directly off of the animal. Hugo shears all of the alpacas at Alpacas de la Patagonia, as well as those of some of our clients.

BREEDING
Females are induced ovulaters and therefore are ready to breed at most any time of the year. She will ovulate in response to mating and will normally spit off an advancing male if she is pregnant.

GESTATION
The gestation period is approximately 335 days.

BIRTHING

Alpacas normally give birth during the day and do not usually require human intervention. Out of hundreds of births that we have attended, we have yet to see a night birth. Shortly following birth, the mother will hum to her baby.

ALPACAS IN NORTH AMERICA
Most alpaca herds in North America are very small, housing less than 20 animals. These hardy animals are very adaptive and at present can be found on small acreage farms from Alaska to Hawaii.

CARE
Alpacas are simple to care for. They require little beyond regular worming and vaccinations, in addition to occasional trimming of their nails and teeth. They should be shorn annually.

FEED
For thousands of years, alpacas have lived where grass grows sparsely. They require low amounts of protein in their feed to produce a high quality and healthy fleece. Because 6-8 alpacas require only 1 acre of pasture, they are ideal for small acreage farms. Alpacas will not normally overeat. Unlike hoofed animals, their softly padded feet are extremely easy on pasture.

SHELTER
Alpacas originate in the high mountain areas of South America where they do not have any sort of protection from the harsh weather conditions. They are most content when they are outside. However some form of protection from the elements should be provided such as a 3-sided building. Alpacas will not normally challenge a fence.

MANURE
Conveniently, alpacas deposit their pellet-like manure in common dung piles, allowing for easy clean-up and natural protection against the spread of parasites. This low nitrogen fertilizer is a must for the garden.

LIFESPAN
Average lifespan is 20 years. Unlike most other types of livestock, alpacas are profitable without going to the slaughterhouse.

SIZE
Adult alpacas stand approximately 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 100 - 150 pounds.

TERMINOLOGY
A baby alpaca is called a "cria". A female is called a "hembra" and a male is called a "macho".

TRAVEL
In our experience, alpacas travel very well. Upon sensing motion, they lie down and enjoy the ride. We have extensive experience in transporting these animals. In Chile, we have relocated alpacas from their native home in the mountains to Punta Arenas, a 4500 mile trip by truck and ship. We have also moved them from South to North America and across the United States.