Why do people raise alpacas?

Rural and agricultural lifestyle, A greater sense of fulfillment and as a business to produce a valuable resource..
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.

Back to top

BUSINESS

What does an alpaca cost (price range and average)?
Price, as always, is a reflection of demand. Interest in buying alpacas is high and limited. Alpacas cost about $200 to $2000 for a non-breeding male, to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a top quality breeding stock.

Back to top

FIBER

How many ounces of fiber will one alpaca produce?
An adult alpaca might produce 50 to 90 oz. of first-quality fiber as well as 50 to 100 oz. of second and third quality fiber. Some alpacas already achieve, or exceed, these levels.

Who buys the fiber?
Alpaca fiber is sold several ways. Hand-spinners and fiber artists buy raw fleece. Knitters often purchase alpaca yarn. Fiber Cooperatives Mills collect alpaca fiber and process it on behalf of the producer.

What is an ounce of fiber worth?
This varies. In its raw state, an ounce of alpaca varies from $2.00-$5.00. Each stage of the process (cleaning, carding, spinning, knitting, finishing, etc) adds more valuable to the fiber. Most of our high quality yarns ell for $8- $12.00 per oz. Hand knit or woven goods are more desirable and have sold for $1,000.00, in some cases.

Back to top

ASSOCIATIONS

AOBA
The Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) began in 1988 and gained non-profit status in 1991. It serves the following purposes: (1) To promote public awareness and membership appreciation of the Alpaca's unique qualities; (2) To educate the membership on the care and breeding of the Alpaca; (3) To promote the growth of the Alpaca industry as a whole; and (4) To foster the establishment of the breed outside of its native land by encouraging husbandry and breeding practices based upon, but not limited to, herd health, overall soundness, and alpaca fiber production and products.
AOBA's Board of Directors, Marketing Committee, and Education Committee are volunteers who oversee everyday operations. Since AOBA's formation, with 87 members and a known alpaca census of 392, its membership has grown steadily to over 4,000 members with about 100,000 alpacas.

ARI
The Alpaca Registry, Inc., established in 1988, is a Colorado-based non-profit corporation that mandates blood typing for registered alpacas. It accepts only offspring of registered alpacas that qualify by blood typing. ARI owns the database that houses genealogy, blood typing and ownership records of North American alpacas. It is governed by a five-member elected Board of Directors. ARI membership includes all owners of living, registered alpacas. Board members serve staggered terms and are collectively responsible for policies and procedures governing registrations, transfers of ownership, and the screening of unregistered, non-pedigreed alpacas. Click here to visit ARI.

AFCNA
Incorporated in 1998, the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, Inc. (AFCNA) is an organization of nearly 700 North American alpaca producers. Most are small farmers, who have decided to raise alpacas to enjoy the country lifestyle and satisfaction of raising livestock. AFCNA pools their annual shearing of alpaca fiber and benefits from processing larger volumes of fiber and market products made from alpacas, on a national level. Click here to visit AFCNA.

Back to top

CONFERENCES

AOBA National Conference
The AOBA National Conference, is one of the the largest AOBA certified halter & fleece shows. Breeders witness the inner-workings of a billion dollar industry and learning never ends. Education seminars range from alpaca care to marketing techniques. Artisans compete with hand-crafted items. And, there is no better place to buy and sell alpacas, apparel, and a variety of alpaca-related materials.

AOBA/ARI Fiber to Fashion National Conference
The AOBA/ARI Fiber to Fashion National Conference, held mid-winter, highlights alpaca fiber and end-products. Educational seminars, hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and social events are available. The all-alpaca fashion show is a definite crowd pleaser. This event draws alpaca enthusiasts, near and far, who showcase and shop for the finest, and often one-of-a-kind, alpaca fashions. The Student Design Competition draws fashion and design talent from the nation. Vendors are available, selling everything from casual to elegant, formal apparel.

Back to top