Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, cousins to camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicuna. Alpacas are about half the size of llamas and have smaller ears, more rounded bodies, and are less inclined to spit. They have padded feet so cause minimal stress on their pastures. They live on average between 15 to 25 years, are 36 inches on average at the withers, and weigh on average 100 to 175 pounds. Their average gestation is 335 days, and they do not come into heat, but ovulate on demand, and have an average of one per year, twins are very rare. Birth weight is normally between 12-18 pounds, and babies (cria) can often stand and nurse within 30 to 60 minutes after birth. They come in 22 natural shades, white, shades of fawn, brown greys and black. There are two different kinds of alpacas – Suri and Huacaya. Huacaya alpacas have a thick, dense, crimpy fiber and resemble teddy bears in full coats. Suri alpacas are more rare (about 10% of the population) and have very long, fine, dreadlock-type fiber. Their fleece grows on average between 5 and 10 inches a year, and each year a mature adult yields between 1-8 pounds of fiber, some yield over 10! The fashion industry, spinners, and weavers love alpaca fiber for its softness, warmth, lightness, and durability, which far exceeds sheep’s wool. They are very adaptable to both hot and cold climates and have extraordinary intelligence, health, ease of pregnancy, delivery, breeding and ease of care.

What is a suri vs. huacaya alpaca?

The Suri alpaca is distinguished from the huacaya alpaca by its fiber. The fiber grows parallel to the body in long, separate, not-crimped locks, like dread-locks. Suri fiber has excellent luster, a slick had, and extreme softness. Suri alpacas are rare, about 10% of the world’s (and America’s) population. The suri characteristics are a dominant gene, and some suris have a recessive huacaya gene in their genetic pool that is not outwardly seen (Ss). If that suri is bred to another (Ss) suri, there is a 25% chance that a huacaya alpaca (ss) will result. At this time there is no way to test for the recessive huacaya gene.

The Huacaya alpaca is characterized by a fiber that is dense, crimpy, and fine in appearance. This abundant coverage gives the huacaya a soft and cuddly look and explains the overwhelming popularity the huacaya enjoys worldwide. 90% of the world population consists of Huacaya alpacas, making them a very wise investment.

What is Accoyo?

The Accoyo Ranch is a farm in Peru – one of the first to actually selectively breed for fleece characteristics of density, weight, and fineness. Because of this selective breeding, imports from the Accoyo ranch here in America, or their descendents, have a head start in characteristics. But, as with any animal, each one must be looked at individually. Just because it carries an Accoyo name, does not necessarily mean it is an outstanding alpaca.

Where are alpacas originally from?

Alpacas were imported from the high Andes Mountain countries of Peru, Chile and Bolivia.

Why are alpacas so popular as an investment?

An alpaca is a superior investment opportunity with excellent tax benefits and financial gain compounded through the years as you enjoy your animals. The alpaca fleece is prized for its fineness, lightness in weight, and hypo-allergenic properties. Alpaca clothing and home products are a luxury. The alpaca is a lovable, curious animal with a fun disposition. They do not bite, are not big enough to cause injury if they step on you, they have soft feet, not hooves and are gentle with children. They are fun to show as they are easily lead trained and are gentle enough to be handled by children. They can be take to family gatherings, parades, nursing homes, schools, and to use as 4-H projects.

What is a cria?

That is what a baby alpaca is called. Its mother is called a Dam, its father – Sire. Weanlings are 6-12 months old, Yearlings are 1-2 years old.

Can I get just one?

Because alpacas are herd animals, it is necessary to get at least two to begin with. Geldings, or pet quality males are much lower priced than breeding quality alpacas. In tact male and female alpacas should not be kept in the same pens to have better control over breeding and the overall health of the animals.

What if I don't have any land, can I still invest in alpacas?

Breeders offer agistment (boarding) services which usually covers feeding and housing the alpaca for a prearranged amount per day – usually from $2 to $4 per day. This does not cover veterinary care, worming shots, or other shots – they are extra.

Who buys alpacas?

Alpacas are purchased by a variety of people for a wide range of reasons. Doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, pharmacists, teachers, psychologists, bankers, accountants, real estate brokers, veterinarians, housewives, young, middle aged, and retired people are all alpaca owners. Most are technically savvy, and internet users. Some are professional people who are looking for a lifestyle change. Some enjoy the investment potential, some enjoy it as a second career, and some just enjoy the animals as pets.

How much land do you need to raise alpacas?

Alpacas generally need one acre for 5-10 animals. The more animals per acre, the more supplemental hay is needed, and the more frequently they must be cleaned up after.

How much time does it take each day to care for them?

With a small herd of say 10 animals, ½ hour to 1 hour per day is all that is necessary for their care. They must be fed their grain (vitamins), their hay and water must be checked, and the barn cleaned out if they have messed it. This can all be done in about 10 minutes, but then it is nice to watch them for a while to make sure all is well. Some days will take longer than others, as shots will need to be given, hay stacked, feed bins refilled, etc.

What kind of shelter do they need?

Alpacas prefer to be outside, but need a shelter if the weather is too harsh. They need a minimum of a 3 sided shelter for the winter, but we recommend a 4 sided structure with doors that open to allow ventilation. If needed, you have the ability to shut them in, or open all doors to get a breeze.

What do they eat, and how much does it cost to feed an alpaca?

Alpacas eat hay and grass and are supplemented with a grain for nutrients. An alpaca goes through on average 1 bale of hay per month, more in the winter, much less in the summer. For grain, they eat a little over 1 cup per day. It costs us much less to feed one alpaca than it takes to feed our dog!

What is the best type of fencing for an alpaca?

Alpacas generally do not challenge fences, so fencing is more to keep things out than in. 4’ no climb fence is fine in an area without predators, 5’ no climb fence is better to discourage predators. Horse fencing with 4x4 openings is not recommended as the alpacas can get curious and get their heads stuck.

Are alpacas easy to take care of?

Alpacas are very easy to maintain, especially when compared to other livestock, or household pets. Alpacas are extremely “earth-friendly”. In their pasture, they graze the grass down evenly but do not destroy the root system. They consolidate their waste materials in one area of their pasture, which allows for easy cleanup and minimizes the spread of parasites. They only require yearly inoculations and monthly/bimonthly worming. They require no grooming, and only shear them once a year, in the spring, to protect them from the hot weather. Even if you are planning on showing them, getting them ready requires only minimal effort. Their toenails need to be trimmed regularly, and their teeth should be checked also, that they don’t get too long. They need fresh water daily, hay or grass to eat, and a grain supplement (about 1 cup per day) to supplement vitamins and minerals they need.

How do they survive in the winter an summer in Ohio?

Alpacas enjoy the cold weather, and often sleep outside while its snowing, and wake up with frost on their coats. They must have access to a shelter to get out of the wind, and if temperatures go below 10 degrees, they need lots of hay and some cracked corn to help them keep their body heat up. In the summer, shearing is a must so they will not overheat. Shade, fans mounted close to the ground, and a soaker hose should be provided to help keep them cool.

Do alpacas make good pets?

Most alpacas are gentle and cooperative with humans. Children especially love these huggable little creatures, and the feeling is mutual. Alpacas seem to exhibit a special warmth in their reactions to humans. They are usually very tame and can be enjoyed in parades, as therapy animals in nursing homes and hospitals, as 4-H projects, and in their official roles as farm mascots. It is best to use pet quality, gelded males as they derive their value from their fiber, not their breeding ability. You typically do not want to stress a pregnant female as they could abort.

Are alpacas dangerous?

No. Alpacas are non-aggressive and tend to move away when they feel threatened. They assert dominance with other members of their herd, but are submissive and non-threatening towards humans. Their feet are padded, they do not bite (they only have 4 teeth on the bottom and none on the top) and they are small enough to be safe even around small children.

Do alpacas spit?

Alpacas will occasionally spit at each other. This sometimes happens at feeding times, and other times when dominance is being asserted. Alpacas, unlike llamas, do not spit at people, though if people get in between, they might get hit!

Are alpacas intelligent?

Alpacas are intelligent, inquisitive, curious, and highly adaptable. They follow the lead of the dominant members of their herd, but cooperate with their handlers during halter training, and loading for shipment. They learn new tasks and seem to enjoy interacting with humans.

What is their gestation period?

Approximately 335 days (11-11.5 months).

How old must an alpaca be to be bred?

This varies, but generally a 15 to 18 month old female and a 28 to 30 month old male will be ready to begin breeding.

How many babies do they have at once?

They only have one cria at a time. Twins are extremely rare.

How do you transport alpacas?

They travel very well. A family minivan, station wagon, utility vehicle can be used to transport alpacas. We use a minivan in the winter, for sick or injured animals, or when we only need to take one to a show. Most of the time we use our horse trailer, and can carry up to 5 animals at a time. Once they are in transport, they usually lay down and relax.

When will I need to get a trailer?

You will only need a trailer when you need to transport more than 3 alpacas at the same time, usually to a show. Even then, a larger van would work until you need to transport 5 or more.

How often do you shear alpacas?

Alpacas are shorn once per year in the spring before it gets too hot.

What do you do with its fiber after it's shorn?

Raw fiber can be sold directly to hand spinners and other craft people. There are fiber coops, where your fiber will be pooled with other fiber, and made into items that can be purchased. You can have your fiber processed by a mini-mill and spun into yarn, and even made into products. Alpaca fleece is easy to work with, you can even spin it yourself and make a variety of apparel and craft projects.

Why is alpaca fiber valuable?

Alpaca fiber is classified as a rare specialty fiber. It is five times warmer than sheep’s wool fiber and more luxurious than cashmere. There are more than 22 natural colors of alpaca fleece. Alpaca fiber can also be easily dyed, the fiber is strong and resilient and has more thermal capacity than almost any other animal fiber. The fiber actually contains microscopic air pockets that help in the creation of lightweight apparel with very high insulation value. The fiber does not itch as wool often does because it does not contain lanolin, and it has a smooth cell structure.

What are the characteristics of alpaca fiber?

Fineness, Length, Fiber type, Medullation, and Tensile strength. These characteristics may be altered by husbandry, breeding, and herd management procedures. It is vital to have a consistent nutritional program during the alpaca’s growth period to ensure uniformity of fiber growth.

What is AOBA?

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association. This organization provides information to members regarding alpacas. It has an excellent library and promotes the alpaca breeding industry.

What is The Alpaca Registry?

The Alpaca Registry was established to help ensure accurate records and a state of the art record keeping system to document bloodlines. Alpacas must be blood typed and DNA tested in order to be registered.

What is the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America?

This fiber cooperative accepts fleece from its members and turns the fleece into quality alpaca garments and products. Members benefit from an outlet for their fiber, and the cooperative works to increase awareness and demand for the luxurious clothing, yarn, textiles, and home products.

How much do alpacas cost?

Alpaca prices vary and depend on many factors. Among these are the alpaca’s sex, quality (conformation, fiber density, luster, pedigree), age, color, ribbons, experience (proven/unproven).

Which do you think is a better investment - a suri or huacaya alpaca?

Look at both. Which do you enjoy looking at most? There are fewer suri than huacaya alpacas in the world and in the US. Because of this, there are more buyers for huacaya than suri, so a beginning breeder would have a larger market for huacaya than suri. Suri on the other hand, command a higher price, but have fewer buyers. Whatever type of alpaca you choose, select the best quality you can afford. Five years from now, you’ll be glad you did, as you will have an outstanding herd.

Do I need to buy a very expensive alpaca to have a good quality herd?

Many different things affect the price of an alpaca, other than the alpaca itself – the size of the farm you purchase from, the need of the farm to make a sale, purchasing a younger animal, etc. In order to have a good quality herd, you need to buy the best quality alpacas you can afford, not necessarily the most expensive. Alpacas of Ohio specializes in finding quality alpacas and helping you keep the price down.

What do I need to consider to insure a better return on my investment?

Why do alpacas command such high prices?

They are pleasant, gentle, clean, do not smell and are earth friendly.
They are easy to take care of – low maintenance, hardy/healthy.
They produce beautiful fiber that is in high demand because of the low supply of these rare and beautiful animals.
There are tax advantages in a recognized and sanctioned livestock business.
They are very enjoyable to be around, and make you laugh.

Today it is a breeders market, and this will continue for some time. The alpaca will always be valuable because of the intrinsic value of their remarkable fleece. The fiber production in this country will increase until eventually there will be enough volume to enter the mass market with alpaca products. Alpaca farmers can opt to send their fiber to the Fiber Co-Op. The Co-op also offers its members the opportunity to purchase wholesale product to sell retail.

How much does insurance cost per year?

An alpaca can be insured so you are protected from financial loss. The cost to fully insure an animal is approximately 3 % per year. Once you insure 11 or more animals, your farm can qualify for a herd policy, which then drops the insurance to 1.5% per year, with a 2% deductible, which helps the insurance become more affordable.

What are the vet costs per year for alpacas on average?

The cost depends on your level of experience with animal care, local vet costs, the health of your animals, and your level of concern. As you become more experienced in the care of your alpacas you can do many of the things yourself. Alpacas need worming shots monthly/bimonthly, and inoculations yearly, which after instruction, can all be done by the owner. What we usually have a vet out for are the monthly ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy to 90 days, show paperwork and tests that need to be done, checking and blood drawing of new cria, and times when there is a health issue with one of the herd. We probably see the vet on average once a month to once every 2 months, with a herd of 12 animals.

Will the price of alpacas fall when the herd levels rise in the US and the wool industry is established?

Yes. The price of quality breeding stock will, however, remain high. Breeding based businesses are the same in that the best animals will always hold their value. The United States will eventually have a commercial market, where inexpensive alpacas are used only for their wool.