Frequently Asked Questions

What are alpacas?

Alpacas come from the camelid family, related to llamas, guanacos and vicuña. They have been domesticated for around 6,000 years.

Where do alpacas come from?

Alpacas originate from South America with most of them coming from Peru, Chile and Bolivia. However they can now be found all over the world.

What are alpacas for?

Alpacas produce a fibre that is very similar to cashmere but harder wearing. The fibre is very light with a high insulation factor.

Are alpacas easy to look after?

Yes they are very low maintenance. Worming, vaccination, and trimming of their toenails is required. They also need to be shorn once a year.

How many babies do they have?

Alpacas have just one baby at a time. The gestation period is from 10 to 12 months.

Are alpacas dangerous?

No they are not. They are safe and a pleasure to have around. They do not bite.

Are alpacas intelligent?

Yes, they are highly intelligent. They learn quickly. They constantly communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements as well as through sound.

Do alpacas spit?

It is rare for an alpaca to spit at people. It is normally used as a form of hierarchy in the herd.

How long do they live for?

They live a long and productive life of around 20 to 25 years.

How do you transport alpacas?

They are easy travellers as they sit down as soon as there is movement. It is not recommended to tie them up. A small trailor is perfect.

Is special fencing required?

They do not require special fencing, though plain, high tensile wire fencing is recommended. A height of 1.20 metres is more than sufficient. Barbed wire fencing and electrical fencing is not recommended.

When do alpacas reach sexual maturity?

Generally you can start using a male for reproduction between 2½ to 3 years of age. For a female it is between 14 to 16 months, however it will depend on her weight and whether she is ready.

What shelter do alpacas need?

Yes a shelter is required, closed on 3 sides. A size of 2.5 square metres is recommended for one alpaca.

How much space does an alpaca require?

It is recommended a minimum of 250 square metres for 2 alpacas with a further 30 square metres per animal. Alpacas are excellent grazers and dividing your field enables you to transfer your alpacas from one field to another, cleaning the used field and leaving time enough for the grass to regrow.

How large do alpacas grow?

An adult alpaca is usually around 1 metre high at his withers with a height of 1.5 metres to the top of his head. Their weight is around 65 kgs for an adult female and 80kgs for an adult male.

Can I mix alpacas with other animals?

Yes they bond well with other animals but they must be introduced slowly.

Can I buy just one alpaca?

No, alpacas are herd animals and need the company of their own kind. A single alpaca is prone to stress. It is strongly recommended that you start off with a minimum of 3 alpacas.

What do alpacas eat?

Natural grazing with hay, and feed to supplement through the winter months.

Why do people keep alpacas?

• As pets—purely for the pleasure of seeing them in your fields and to be able to benefit from their calmness.
• As breeding stock—the purchase of breeding females to establish a breeding enterprise; selling off surplus animals and using outside stud services
• As guards—alpacas are excellent guards because they are territorial. It is more usual that gelded males (wethers) are used in this role very successfully
• As fibre producers—breeders are now breeding to be able to produce their own fibre and therefore garments to sell