ALPACAS
Alpacas are members of the camelid(camel) family and
are mild tempered friendly animals with an inquisitive nature. Ask any alpaca owner and they will tell you
they bring great delight to their owners. I
can sit for hours and just watch them in the pasture.
There are two different breeds of alpacas.
The huacaya(wah-KI’-ya) and suri (surrey). They have one major physical difference and
that is their fleece. Huacaya fleece has
crimp that gives them a fluffy “Teddy Bear” appearance.
Suri fiber clings to itself, forming beautiful
“pencil locks” that hang down from their bodies in silky cascades. We have chosen to raise suri alpacas because
of their silky fleece and elegant appearance.
Adult alpacas weigh between 100 to 200 pounds and are
approximately 36 inches tall at the withers. Alpacas are easy to raise
as they only require about 2% of their body weight in hay per day. They require access to fresh water and
free-choice minerals. Many breeders supplement their alpacas’ diet with
additional grain.
Alpacas are raised for their fine
fleece. The fleece is sheared once a year and each alpaca yields
5 to 10 pounds of fiber. After only a little preparation, the
fleece can be spun into yarn or used to make felt. Alpaca fiber
is known for its softness and the warmth it provides. It has a
wicking quality that pulls moisture away from the skin. Many
breeders are harvesting the fleece and turning it into quality made
hats, scarves, mittens, and sweaters.
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