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The alpaca is a domesticated member of the camelid family, and a distant cousin of the llama. Alpacas have large, expressive eyes, a short triangular muzzle, a sheep-dog mop of hair over the brow, and abundant fine fiber. Alpacas come in a broad spectrum of colors, more than any other livestock. They grow to weigh about 150 pounds and can live 20 years or more. A female alpaca bears only one offspring a year after an 11-month gestation period. The offspring is called a cria. There are two types or breeds of alpaca: the Huacaya, whose fleece has crimp or wavy quality that enhances its use in spinning and the Suri, which has lustrous fine fiber with no crimp. Alpacas are still fairly new and uncommon in North America, but are quickly growing in popularity. They are gentle, friendly and in increasing demand for their luxurious fiber. Garments made from alpaca fiber are known throughout the world for being soft, warm and durable, light weight and lustrous. With their loveable dispositions and manageable size, alpacas also make wonderful companion animals. They are easily trained and are gentle enough to be handled by children. Alpaca management is relatively uncomplicated. They require no special fences or barns. Fences should be designed more to keep predators out than to keep alpacas in. Alpacas prefer an open pasture as opposed to confinement in a barn or stall. Occasional trimming of toenails and teeth, annual shearing, and regular worming and vaccinations are advised. Alpacas are ruminants, and need no special diet. They are grazers and browsers with highly efficient digestive systems. They do very well on low protein, good quality forage and hay. Some breeders supplement their alpaca's diet with a pelleted feed which supplies the necessary vitamins and trace minerals for bone development. An alpaca costs far less to feed than most traditional domestic animals. Because of their small size and easy care, alpacas are ideal animals to raise on small acreage. Four to six alpacas may be stocked comfortably on a single acre. This makes alpacas ideal in areas where farm land is limited. Alpacas are an attractive, easy to maintain livestock and offer an excellent livestock alternative for those that want and encourage the attempts to maintain agricultural use of our land. Alpacas can be sheared with regular sheep-shearing equipment. An annual yield of fiber is approximately five pounds from a female and up to eight pounds from a male. The first clipping from a young alpaca is very valuable as it is very fine and has a lustrous feel. Alpaca fiber can be made into garments of beautiful colors and shades. It is easily dyed and may be blended with other natural fibers including sheep's wool, hair, silk and llama. Alpacas are intelligent animals and are amazingly alert. They quickly learn to halter and lead. They communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements and a variety of sounds. The sound alpacas produce most often is a soft humming. 
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