Colour Chart 

Introduction to Alpacas

Some Basic Facts about Alpacas

The Alpaca

  • Member of the camelid family - eg Llamas, Vicunas, Camels and Guanacos.
  • The two types of alpacas are Huacaya & Suri.
  • Lifespan of 20 to 25 years.
  • Ideal for small acreages.
  • Curious, intelligent and easy to handle and halter train.
  • They eat pasture grass and thrive on low quality, low protein feed.
  • They use a common dung pile and so reducing the spread of parasites.
  • Need very little in the way of specialised fencing - mainly to keep dogs out.

The Fibre

  • 22 recognised natural colours
  • Bred for their fine, lustrous fibre which has remarkable insulating qualities
  • The fleece grows about 150mm per year
  • Shearing takes place once a year resulting in 3-4kgs per animal
  • In Australia, alpacas are generally shorn laid down and restrained

Reproduction

  • Females are mated at 12 to 14 months old
  • Gestation of 11 to 11 1/2 months
  • Their offspring are called Cria and they very rarely have twins
  • Generally give birth in daylight hours

 
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