Alpaca

The alpaca is a domesticated camelid, belonging to the same family as the llama, the guanaco and the vicuña. It originates from the high Andes and has been bred over thousands of years chiefly for its fine fleece rather than as a load-carrying animal. A fully grown alpaca usually stands about 0.8 to 1 metre at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 84 kg, which makes it noticeably smaller than its relative, the llama.

Alpacas are kept mainly for fibre, though quite a number of owners also value them as pasture companions and small-farm livestock. Being herd animals, they do not fare well when kept alone and are almost always housed in groups of two or more. Their temperament is generally calm and curious, and biting is rare. Most communication takes place through gentle humming and body posture rather than any show of aggression.

As a category of livestock, the alpaca is best suited to a rural or semi-rural setting with grazing land, secure fencing and shelter from heat and humidity. It is a farm animal rather than a house pet, and in most places local zoning or agricultural regulations will apply before one can be kept.

Who the alpaca suits

An alpaca suits an owner with land, who is able to keep more than one animal and is prepared for annual shearing and regular livestock upkeep. It is not suitable for flat or indoor living, for keepers wanting only a single animal, or for anyone without space for grazing and shelter.

The alpaca has only two breeds, both defined by the structure of their fleece rather than by size or build. The two are quite similar in body shape and temperament, so the choice between them usually comes down to the type of fibre an owner wants. The Huacaya is, by quite some margin, the more commonly kept of the two around the world.

How the breeds are grouped

Both breeds belong to the same species and are able to interbreed. They are grouped purely by fleece characteristics. Huacaya fleece is springy and elastic, while Suri fibre is smooth and lustrous. Within each breed, animals are typically described by fleece colour, which ranges across natural shades from white through fawn and brown to grey and black.

The alpaca is among the oldest domesticated animals of the Americas. Domestication took place in the high Andes of present-day Peru and the surrounding region, where archaeological evidence points to camelid herding several thousand years back. Genetic studies indicate that the alpaca descends mainly from the wild vicuña, a fact reflected in its scientific name, Vicugna pacos.

Unlike the larger llama, which was developed primarily as a pack animal, the alpaca was selected for the quality of its fibre. In the Andean cultures of the pre-Columbian period, alpaca fleece was a valued material, and the animals were managed in large herds across high-altitude grasslands.

The arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century disrupted Andean herding, and alpaca numbers fell sharply during that period. Even so, the species survived in the higher mountain zones where it was best adapted, and herding traditions carried on among Andean communities.

From the late twentieth century, alpacas were exported to and established in countries outside South America, including Australia, the United States and parts of Europe, where they are kept for fibre and as smallholding livestock. Peru remains the country with the largest alpaca population.

The alpaca has a compact body, a long upright neck, a small head with large eyes, and prominent upright ears. The legs are slender and end in soft, two-toed feet with padded soles rather than hooves. The body is covered in fleece that grows continuously and is removed through annual shearing. Compared with the llama, the alpaca is smaller, has a rounder face and shorter ears, and does not have the llama's longer, banana-shaped ears.

How appearance varies between the breeds

The main visible difference between the two breeds is fleece structure. The Huacaya has crimped, dense fibre that stands out from the body, giving it a fluffy, teddy-bear-like appearance. The Suri has long fibre that hangs in separate locks, giving it a sleeker, draped look. Body size and conformation are otherwise fairly similar across both breeds.

Alpacas are prey animals with a strong herd instinct, and their behaviour reflects a need for safety in numbers. A lone alpaca tends to become stressed, so they are almost always kept in groups. Within a herd they settle into a loose social order and spend much of the day grazing together. They remain alert to threats and will give an alarm call when danger is sensed.

Alpacas communicate through a range of soft sounds, the most common being a gentle hum, along with body language such as ear position and neck posture. On the whole they are quiet animals. Spitting is part of their natural repertoire, used mainly to settle disputes over food or rank within the herd, and is directed at other alpacas far more often than at people.

Most alpacas are wary of being touched at first and prefer not to be grabbed or restrained. With calm, regular handling they become used to human presence over time. They are not aggressive by nature and rarely bite, as they lack upper front teeth.

Daily care

• Provide access to clean pasture or good-quality hay
• Check that fresh water is available at all times
• Observe each animal for normal posture, appetite and droppings
• Keep at least two alpacas together for herd security

Environment

• Secure fencing to keep alpacas in and predators out
• A three-sided shelter or barn for shade and protection from rain and wind
• Well-drained ground to reduce foot and parasite problems
• Shade and ventilation in hot weather, as alpacas cope with cold far better than with heat

Grooming and handling

Alpacas are shorn once a year, usually in spring, to harvest fleece and prevent heat stress. Toenails need trimming from time to time, and teeth should be checked, as the lower incisors keep growing. Handle alpacas calmly and avoid sudden restraint, working from the side rather than head-on.

Alpacas are forage eaters with a three-compartment stomach that ferments plant material efficiently. The bulk of the diet is pasture grass during the growing season and hay when grazing is poor or unavailable. They eat relatively little compared with larger livestock of a similar weight, and tend to graze gently rather than pulling plants out by the roots. Overfeeding rich or high-energy feed can lead to obesity and health problems, so concentrates are given sparingly, if at all.

Treats should be limited and should never replace forage. In many places, pasture and hay do not supply enough minerals, so a mineral supplement suited to camelids may be needed. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times, and intake rises in hot weather and during nursing.

With good husbandry, alpacas are robust animals, and a typical lifespan is around 15 to 20 years. Because they are prey animals, they tend to hide illness, so subtle changes in posture, appetite or droppings are often the first sign that something is wrong. Many common problems relate to parasites, teeth, feet and heat.

Preventive care

• Routine parasite control and pasture management
• Annual shearing to prevent heat stress
• Regular checks of teeth, toenails and body condition
• Vaccinations as advised for the region
• Quarantine of new animals before adding them to the herd

Alpacas generally reach breeding maturity at about one to two years of age, with females often bred from around 12 to 18 months once they have reached a suitable size, while males mature somewhat later. Females are induced ovulators, meaning ovulation is triggered by mating rather than by a regular cycle, so breeding can take place across much of the year. Mating takes place with the female sitting in a position known as cush.

Gestation is long, running to roughly 11 to 12 months, and almost always results in a single offspring, known as a cria. Twins are very rare. Births commonly occur during daylight hours. The cria is usually up on its feet and nursing within a few hours of birth, and weaning takes place gradually over several months.

Is an alpaca right for you?

Alpacas need pasture, secure fencing and shelter, and since they must be kept in groups, you should plan to take on at least two animals. They live around 15 to 20 years, which makes them a long-term commitment on a par with other livestock. Ongoing costs include feed and hay, annual shearing, parasite control, veterinary care and fencing upkeep. They are not suited to indoor or urban living, and keeping them may be subject to local agricultural or zoning rules.

Where to get one

Alpacas are usually bought from established breeders or smallholdings, and are occasionally available through rescue or rehoming schemes for animals that need new homes. Buy from a source that keeps healthy, well-handled animals, is happy to let you see the herd, and can advise on care. As alpacas need company, plan to acquire more than one at the same time.