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Alpacas - Earth Friendly Farm Animals
 Alpacas
are one of Mother Nature's favorite farm animals. They
are sensitive to their environment in every respect. The
following physical attributes allow alpacas to maintain their
harmony with our Mother Earth.
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The alpaca's feet are padded and leave even the most
delicate terrain undamaged as they browse daintily on
native grasses. They do not pull grass up by the
roots.
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The alpaca is a ruminant with three stomachs; it converts
grass and hay to energy very efficiently, eating far less,
as a percentage of its body weight, than other farm animals.
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Its camelid ancestry allows it to thrive without consuming
very much water.
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The alpaca, preferring tender grasses, does not eat or
destroy trees.
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South American Indians use the alpaca waste for fuel,
and local gardeners find the alpaca's rich fertilizer
perfect for growing fruits and vegetables.
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A herd of alpacas consolidates its waste in one or two
spots in the pasture, thereby controlling the spread of
parasites and making it easier to collect and compost
their fertilizer.
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One alpaca produces enough fleece each year to create
several soft, warm sweaters for its master's comfort. This
is the alpaca's way of contributing to community energy
conservation efforts.
Alpacas have peacefully coexisted with mankind for more than
5,000 years. Historically, almost all of the world's
alpacas have lived in the Andean mountains of South America. Beginning
in 1984, they were imported to the United States where they
enjoy milder climates. Below you will find answers to
the most frequently asked questions about alpacas.
Frequently Asked Questions
 What
do you do with an alpaca?
They provide an excellent investment opportunity, and are
the source of luxurious fiber. The fleece, comparable
to cashmere - only softer and warmer - is known for its
fineness, light weight, and luster, Alpaca textile
products are recognized world wide. Everyone should
own a soft, warm alpaca sweater.
What do alpacas do besides grow fiber?
They make excellent companion animals and are also show
animals with high aesthetic appeal. They have lovable
dispositions. Alpacas are easily trained to a halter-lead
and are gentle enough to be handled by children. They
are always a hit in a parade.
INPUT Processing? (What do alpacas eat?)
They are ruminants, which means that they chew cud like
a cow or deer. Alpacas survive well on different kinds
of low protein hay or pasture grass as long as they have
balanced mineral content. Because alpacas evolved in
harsh mountainous conditions, they utilize their food more
efficiently than other ruminants. They cost about as
much per month to feed as a dog.
OUTPUT Processing?
Alpaca manure is easy to deal with. First of all,
they are very neat. They pick one or two small spots
in the pasture to do their thing. Everything is concentrated
in this spot. Second, with three stomachs, they are
incredibly efficient in digesting hay or grass. Very
little is left. The manure can be used for fertilizer
even without composting.
Are alpacas smart?
Yes, they are amazingly alert animals who quickly learn
to halter and lead. They constantly communicate with
each other through body language, tail and ear movements,
and a variety of subtle sounds. The sound heard most
often is a soft humming, a mild expression befitting a gentle
animal.
Do alpacas spit?
They will spit on one another if sufficiently provoked,
but they rarely spit on people. A less than 100% scientific
way to determine if a female alpaca is already pregnant
is to introduce an amorous herd sire. If she is pregnant,
she will spit him off big-time. A sailor's foul weather
gear may not be enough.
Are alpacas easy to care for?
They are small and easy to maintain, rarely overeat, and
require no extraordinary care. They should have basic
shelter for protection against heat and foul weather. They
do not challenge fences. They simply need annual shearing,
worming (frequency depends on location of farm), and a few
vaccinations. We shear in the late spring. Our
regular monthly maintenance program includes vaccinations
for worms, vitamin and selenium supplements for pregnant
females, and toenail trimming as required.
How much acreage does it take to raise alpacas?
They are ideal small acreage livestock. You can comfortably
stock between 5 and 8 alpacas per acre. This makes
the alpaca ideal for people who have only a few acres and
who want the pleasure of a small herd and a healthy investment
return. We have 15 acres in pasture and plan to maintain
the herd at 50-60 animals.
How do you transport alpacas?
They are stress resistant, load and travel calmly, and
can be transported in the family mini-van, station wagon,
utility vehicle, or horse trailer. Once en route, they
simply lie down and enjoy the ride! We think three
alpacas are just about right for our van.
What do you call an alpaca?
A baby is known as a cria. The weaned crias are known
as weanlings, or tuis. In Spanish, the adult males
are known as Machos and the females as Hembras.
Are alpacas dangerous?
Absolutely not! They are safe and pleasant to be around. They
do not bite or butt, and they do not have the teeth, horns,
hooves, or claws to do serious injury. Thumb through
Alpacas magazine and you'll be amazed at how many of the
photographs show alpacas with small children draped around
their necks.
Alpaca rolling in the dust
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