What Is An Alpaca?

The alpaca is a domesticated member of the camelid family which includes camels, llamas, guanacos, and vicunas.  When comparing the size of an alpaca to a llama, alpacas are one-half to one-third the size.  Alpacas grow to be about 3 feet high at the withers and 4.5 feet high to the top of the head.  An adult alpaca weighs between 100-150 lbs.  A female alpaca can breed at 12-18 months of age.  Pregnant females, known as dams, bear only one offspring, (aka. cria), per year.  Rarely is there twining.  The gestation period is 11-12 months.  Crias (meaning creation in Spanish), weigh between 16-20 pounds at birth.  A male alpaca, (a.k.a. sire or macho), can breed at 2-3 years of age.

Types Of Alpacas

There are two types of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri.  The distinguishing factor is their fiber.  Huacaya have a lot of crimp to their fiber, whereas, Suri have a waviness appearance to their fiber.  The Suri fleece tends to hang on the animal.  Grand River Alpaca Farm specializes in Huacaya alpacas.

What Alpacas Produce

Alpacas are very gentle animals.  They have large, expressive eyes and padded feet.  These animals produce an abundance of fine fiber which is harvested once a year or every other year.  They produce between 2-10 pounds of fiber per year.  The cost of alpaca fiber ranges in price from $2-$6/ounce depending on quality and color.  They come in a broad spectrum of colors, 22 identified and all shades in between.  Alpacas come in more colors than any other livestock animal.  Alpaca fiber is known as the "World's Finest Fiber."

Where Did Alpacas Come From?

Alpacas were first introduced into the United States in 1984 and were imported from Chile.  The first herd of Peruvian alpacas came to the U.S. in 1993.  There are approximately 100,000 alpacas in America to date.  The largest population is located in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.  Alpacas can no longer be imported into the United States.  The last importation was in December 1998.  A popular vote among U.S. alpaca breeders determined this decision.

Cost Of Raising Alpacas

Alpacas are very easy to care for and much less expensive to raise than any other livestock animal.  It costs approximately as much as a large family dog, including medical and feed, to care for alpacas.  Alpacas can also be insured against theft and mortality.

What Do Alpacas Eat?

Five to eight alpacas can be raised on one acre.  Alpacas are ruminants, and do not need a special diet.  They like to graze in pastures.  They do very well with good quality hay and forage.  Many breeders will supplement alpacas with a pellet type food made up of necessary vitamins and minerals.

Housing And Fencing

Alpacas do not require any special housing or fencing.  A three sided shelter is sufficient to protect against bad weather conditions.  Alpacas prefer to be outdoors in the pasture.  Fences should be designed to keep predators out.  Alpacas will not challenge a fence.  On our farm we use five foot high horse fence on the outside parameters with electric fence at the bottom, outside of the fence.  This assures us that our alpacas are well protected.

Tax Advantages From Raising Alpacas

Raising alpacas offers excellent profit opportunities as well as tax advantages.  All expenses that attribute to the business of alpacas can be written off against current income.  These expenses can help to shelter current cash flow from taxes.  A small herd of alpacas will grow over time and the breeder does not pay any tax on the increased size and value of his/her herd.  Taxes are not paid until there is a sale.  However, trades in breeding of animals is tax-deferred.  Many breeders enjoy an average return on investment of 57%.  This is why alpacas are known as the "World's Finest Livestock Investment."  Unlike many investments, alpacas are a hands-on investment that you control.  The demand for alpacas is far greater than the supply.  Smaller breeders can generate a generous profit from owning these gentle animals.