ALPACAS
Who raises alpacas?
Alpaca owners and breeders come from all walks of life. Many are doctors,
financial advisors, educators, or cattle farmers, to name a few. Some raise
alpacas as a full-time business, others commit part-time. From young families to
empty-nesters, phased retirement to full-retirement, raising alpacas offers
countless options for everyone.
Why do people raise alpacas?
Alpacas offer a very attractive business and farming opportunity no matter where
you live: urban, suburban, or rural. Urban dwellers can board (or "agist")
their alpacas at nearby farms/ranches so that they can enjoy the benefits of
ownership while living in a large city or suburb. People also raise alpacas for
companionship and to enjoy a rural lifestyle.
How do you transport an alpaca?
If traveling for short distances, they can be transported inside vans or other
larger vehicles. Most folks put down a piece of old carpeting or inexpensive
Astro-turf to minimize the impact on the vehicle's carpeting in case an
"accident" were to occur. Most of the time, however, the animals will
"cush" (that is, sit down) for the journey. Longer distances generally
require transport in a livestock trailer.
How much acreage does it take to raise an alpaca?
Because the animals require so little pasture and food, you can usually raise
two to eight alpacas per acre, depending on terrain, rain/snowfall amounts,
availability of pasture, etc. They can also be raised on dry lot and be fed
grass hay, if desired. Consult with your local County Extension Officer for
specific local recommendations.
Are alpacas easy to care for?
They are a small and relatively easy livestock to maintain. They stand about 36
inches tall that the withers (the point where the neck and spine come together),
weigh between 100-200 pounds, and establish communal dung piles that are easy to
manage. The alpacas need basic shelter and protection from heat and foul
weather, and being livestock, they do require certain vaccinations and
anti-parasitic medicines. Additionally, their toenails need to be trimmed every
couple of months and the fleeces sheared off once a year. Speaking of toenails,
these animals do not have hooves-they have two toes, with hard toenails on the
top of their feet and a soft pad on the bottom of their feet, much like a dog's
foot. Therefore, you don't experience compaction of the soil to same degree that
you would with other types of livestock.
Can you raise alpacas in a hot, humid climate?
The answer is generally yes. Alpacas have proven to be amazingly resilient
animals. Alpacas are being raised successfully in Arizona, Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Florida and also in Alaska and many Canadian provinces. Certainly,
in the hotter, more humid climates, the alpaca breeder does need to take health
and safety precautions, like shearing fleeces off early in the year, providing
plenty of fresh water to drink and dip their bellies into, and areas of shade.
What type of shelter and fencing do alpacas need?
This varies widely, depending on such things as weather and predators. But as a
general rule, the alpacas do need at least a three-sided, open shelter where
they can escape inclement weather. And if predators are present in your
neighborhood, then a minimum of five-foot-high, 2 foot by 4 foot no-climb
fencing is necessary to keep out the predators. Traditional horse fencing (with
4 foot by 4 foot openings) is not recommended, as curious alpacas might be
physically harmed if they put their heads through that type of fencing.
What do alpacas eat?
The main thing alpacas eat is just grass or hay, and not much of
it-approximately three pounds per 150 pounds of body weight per day. A single,
60-pound bale of hay can generally feed a group of about 20 alpacas for one day.
Alfalfa is discouraged or fed only sparingly, as it has high protein content
that can be unhealthy for the animals. Additionally, all alpacas require access
to free-choice mineral supplements and plenty of fresh water to drink.