About Alpacas
- There are around 4,000,000 alpacas in the world with around 150,000 in the U.S. and Canada.
- In the United States most all alpacas are registered with the Alpaca Registry (ARI) which can provide each animal's lineage back to the time of importation.
- The Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) is a national marketing organization with over 4,000 member farms. AOBA certifies a show system as part of its marketing strategy.
- About 1/3 of registered alpacas make it to the show ring where they compete for prestige and ribbons.
- Alpaca pricing covers a wide range with pet or "fiber quality" animals costing a few hundred to about $1000 and quality breed stock ranging from $3000 to over $20,000.
- Alpacas (and their cousins the Llama) are members of the Camel family.
- They are native to South America where they live in high deserts of the Andes.
- Alpacas are raised for their fleece which is warmer, softer and lighter than sheep's wool.
- Alpaca babies (called "cria") can be born at any time of year.
- Gestation is 11 to 12 months and almost always results in a single birth.
- Adult alpacas usually weigh bewtween 120 and 200 pounds taking 2 to 3 years to mature.
- Alpacas are usually shorn once a year in the spring with adults yielding 5 to 10 pounds of fleece
- In the U.S. alpacas can live to be 15 to 20 years of age.
- In most states alpacas are classified as livestock.
- While generally quite hardy, alpacas do require daily care and need regular shots, toenail trimming and occasional dental work.
- Alpacas are very intelligent, look cuddly and sometimes are quite friendly, but they are not dogs or cats.
- Alpacas thirve on good pasture and hay and can be supplemented with good quality horse feed or special alpaca feeds.
