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Like most breeders, we get asked a range of questions about alpacas.  Here are our answers to those frequently asked questions.

 

Alpacas are members of the South American Camelid family.  Other members include llamas, guanacos and vicuna. [click here for more information]

 

The value, or cost, of an alpaca is related to its breeding potential and the potential quality of its offspring.  Presently, in Australia, the cost of an alpaca can start at around $300 - $400 for a wether, or on the other end of the scale, an exceptional stud male with proven results can carry a price tag of several thousand dollars.  The price of a female alpaca is driven by her quality, age, pedigree, cria and, in some cases, the stud male she has been mated to.  Females can bring anything from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

 

Alpacas are a luxury fleece animal, their fibre is valued for its fineness, light weight, warmth, softness and lustre.  Their fleece comes in a range of natural colours, from white to black with varying shades of brown and grey.  Alpacas also make excellent companion animals, they are gentle and easily trained, making them ideal for showing.  Alpacas are also used with other stock, such as sheep or goats, as guards against predators.  Their natural herding and protective instincts lend them to being very effective at this type of work.  If running with other herd animals, such as sheep or goats, it is advisable to treat the alpacas with the same parasite control.

 

Alpacas make very good pets and like most animals, the more handling an alpaca receives in it’s early years, the quieter the alpaca will be as an adult.  Our herd are very calm and interact very well with humans, we are able to walk through our herd without disturbance.  Alpacas are gregarious, curious intelligent and affectionate.  Most alpacas will approach a human for interaction, in their own time, but they do not like having their heads patted, as you would a dog.  Generally an alpaca will pull away at this action, as it seems to appear aggressive to the alpaca.  The best place that we have found to feel or cuddle an alpaca is gently on the neck.  Clever, alert and learning quickly, alpacas are quiet animals, who mostly communicate through humming and non verbal methods, such as posture, tail and ear flicking.  Sometimes you will hear them make a cluck-cluck type noise.  Going to a show, especially overnight, it’s really something to hear a shed full of humming alpacas.  They will make a high pitched distress call if needed.

 

Alpacas are herd animals by nature, and one alpaca will live quite well with the company of another domestic animal, such as a sheep, goat or small horse, however, they do not respond well to large aggressive dogs.  We would never recommend having an alpaca to live on its own and always suggest that a new owner has at least two alpacas.  Alpacas are not at all dangerous, although, like all livestock, it is advisable to treat them with respect.  Alpacas respond very well to children, and this was a primary reason for our choice in having alpacas instead of other livestock. 

 

Yes, alpacas spit, as this is their main method of defending themselves.  It is not common for an alpaca to spit at a human unless they are feeling intimidated or threatened.  If we get spat at, it is usually because we are getting too up close and personal, it rarely happens during our normal interaction with our alpacas.  Alpaca spit is regurgitated grass, so it’s green and after it has dried, spit will brush off.  It has a smell that will stay with you all day - but it won’t hurt.  Some alpacas may kick if they feel threatened by an approach from behind.  Alpacas have a soft padded foot, so it is rare for a serious injury to occur.  Most alpacas will gradually become used to being handled around the hind quarter as they grow older.  When we train our alpacas, we expose them to being touched around the legs and the body as well as training to lead on a halter.

 

Alpacas are easy to care for and are excellent for small land holdings.  Basic weather protection is needed, but this can be natural protection, such as a few stands of trees or gullies.  They are territorial, that is they like to know they have their own space and so do not challenge fences in attempts to get to other paddocks.  Alpacas eat pasture, just like sheep or cattle.  Whilst they enjoy eating the commercial alpaca mixes that are available, they really only need suitable paddock pasture.  There are some garden plants that are toxic to alpacas, but these are generally toxic to most animals.  Alpacas are ruminants like cattle, but unlike cattle with four stomachs, alpacas have only three stomachs.  Being ruminants they chew their cud.  Alpacas are relatively disease free when compared to other animals, basic husbandry includes vaccinations, vitamin injections and selenium management. 

 

Alpacas are shorn once a year, we have ours shorn as we come into spring.  This is the biggest hands-on task of owning alpacas.  Most alpacas are shorn in a prostrate position, with their legs harnessed to ensure a safe working environment for both the animals and the humans.  Some shearers prefer to shear on the floor and others on a purpose-built table.  Our alpacas respond very well to having their fleece removed, in most cases it seems to be quite a relief for them.  Alpaca fleece can be processed into anything that sheep wool can be processed into, including high quality suits, jackets, skirts and coats.  The fleece can also be made into home products, such as doonas, pillows, blankets and carpet.  Alpaca wool carpet is beautiful.

 

Alpacas mature to breeding age depending on their gender.  Females are generally ready for mating at around twelve months.  The sexual maturity of females is also governed by their weight.  Males mature between two and three years of age.  Alpacas mate in the cush, or sitting, position.  Female alpacas do not cycle like most livestock, instead they are induced ovulators - this means that the act of mating stimulates ovulation.  If the female is not receptive to being mated, perhaps she is already pregnant, she will refuse to cush and will most likely spit at the approaching male.  The female’s reaction to mating is a useful method of monitoring the progress of her pregnancy.  The gestation period for alpacas is taken to be eleven and one half months (342 days), however, any period between eleven and twelve months is considered normal.  Birthing is usually trouble free and mostly occurring before early afternoon (how civilised!) with the cria up and nursing within a few short hours.  The arrival of twins is extremely rare, however there is one reported case in Australia of a dam unpacking her second set of twins - perhaps the only dual multiple birth in managed breeding?  We usually remate our females after three weeks from birthing has passed and wean our cria at about six months.  We usually wean a small group together.

 

Please feel free to email any other questions and we will endeavour to post an answer.