Alpaca:(al-pak-uh)
The alpaca is a domesticated South American mammal of the camelid family. Alpacas have long, soft, silky fleece that is used to make yarn and fabric. Alpacas are gentle, calm, curious and intelligent. They are easy to handle and easy to care for. In addition, they are very "environmentally friendly" animals given that they have padded feet and are not as "hard" on the land as other types of livestock.
History
The majority of alpacas originated in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. For thousands of years they have grazed the foothills and altiplano of the Andes Mountains. Alpaca fleece was cherished by the Incan civilization and was worn by Incan royalty. In 1984, alpacas were first imported to the United States and Canada.
Types
There are two types of alpacas- Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas are more common and their fleece looks soft and fluffy (often referred to as "teddy bear fleece"). Suris have lustrous, straight fiber that fall into "pencil" looking locks. In all, there are approximately 22 unique colors found in alpacas.
Alpaca care
Alpacas are easy and fun to care for. Their gentle disposition makes them easy to handle. They don't have top teeth and their feet are padded. If they feel threatened their primary defense mechanism is to run or spit. Alpacas primarily eat grass and hay. It is a good idea to give them a small amount of vitamin and mineral supplement.
Alpaca fleece requires little or no grooming. Alpacas are shorn once a year. Fleece can be sold "raw", in it's natural state, or it can be processed into yarn or garments. Each alpaca can produce 5-10+ pounds of fleece anually. Alpacas live 15-20 years, making investment potential long lived.
