Where do Alpacas come from?
Alpacas are native to South America where they have been farmed for some 6,000 years.

What do you do with an Alpaca?
Alpacas produce Alpaca wool. Treasured by the ancient Incan civilization, their fine fleeces were reserved for Incan royalty. Today, the fleece comparable to cashmere, is known for its silky handle, lightness and lustre. It comes in an array of natural colors from pure white, through fawns, browns, greys and a true jet black.

Are Alpacas related to Llamas?
Yes. Alpacas, Llamas, guanacos and vicunas are all members of the camelid family of South America.

Are Alpacas dangerous?
Not at all. Alpacas have lovable dispositions and are gentle and docile by nature. They are easily trained to lead and are gentle enough to be handled by children. They do not bite or butt and they do not have teeth, horns, hooves, or claws to do serious injury.

Do Alpacas need special fencing?
No. Alpacas rarely jump and generally do not challenge fences. 4ft high sheep fencing is entirely adequate

How many Alpacas can be run per acre?
On average, Alpacas can be run at 4 or 5 to the acre

How long does an Alpaca live?
An Alpaca will live a long and productive life span of around 20 years.

What do Alpacas eat?
Alpacas graze and do well on pasture grass. Having evolved in incredible harsh conditions, Alpacas utilize their food more efficiently than other domesticated stock.

Are Alpacas intelligent?
Yes. They are amazingly alert and inquisitive animals that quickly learn to halter and lead. They constantly communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements, and a variety of sounds. The sound most often heard is a soft 'humming', a mild expression befitting a gentle animal.

Are Alpacas easy to care for?
Alpacas are extremely hardy. They are small and easy to manage, requiring no extraordinary care. They simply need shearing, worming, vaccinations and occasional toe-nail trimming. Fortunately, Alpacas do not require crutching or tail docking.

What do you call a baby Alpaca?
They are called 'cria', and in South America the females are known as 'hembras' and the males as 'machos'.

How many cria does an Alpaca have?
Only 1 each year. The gestation period is around 11 months. Births usually occur during daylight hours and most often a cria will stand and suckle within 1 hour of being born.

How big does an Alpaca grow?
An adult Alpaca stands around 3ft at the wither and weighs approximately 143 pounds.