Are alpacas easy to work with?
Yes, alpacas are very intelligent animals that respond to a variety of training and handling techniques. They learn to halter and lead in just a few training sessions, and even children find most alpacas to be safe and easy to ahndle.

Is is OK to have just one alpaca?
As a general rule, the answer is no. Alpacas have very strong herding instincts and need the companionship of other alpacas to thrive. Gender-appropriate (or neutered) llama sometimes will successfully bond with an alpaca. Otherwise, it is best to provide each alpaca with a companion alpaca of the same gender.

Do I need a lot of land to raise alpacas?
No. the specific answer is quite variable, and is contingent on such factors as: type of terrain, amount of annual precipitations, seasonal factors, availability of pasture and/or hay, etc. For arid climates animals are usually fed on "dry lot," with little or no pasture feeding. In this instance, the number of animals that can be raised is generally between two to six per acre. In milder, wetter climates with abundant fresh pasture available, ten or more alpacas per acre might be the norm.

I live in a city; would it be possible for me to own an alpaca?
Absolutely. Urban dwellers can board (or "agist") their alpacas at nearby farms/ranches so that they can enjoy the benefits of ownership while living in a large city or suburb.

How much do alpacas cost?
The price of an alpaca will depend on its quality, especially conformation and fleece qualities; its bloodlines; positive traits proven to be heritable in its offspring; whether it is a male or female; age; breeding history; and a host of other traits and factors. We recommend talking to a variety of breeders before making a purchase decision. Also, please be sure and consult with your tax advisor about the effects of alpaca purchases on your specific tax situation. For most breeders, the purchase of alpaca breeding stock offers many favorable tax advantages, as well as the potential for significant income generation.

You can find out more by visiting the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association website.

 

Angus McColl of Yocum-McColl Testing Lab says there are three factors that have a primary impact on fiber diameter: age, sex, and level of nutrition. As an animal matures, its fiber tends to have a higher or coarser micron value. Males frequently possess a higher micron value than females. The level of nutrition affects fiber diameter because overfed animals produce higher micron values than those on a maintenance diet. Read more at the Yocum-McColl website.

 

The Ideal Alpaca Community is a group of like minded breeders who believe in the ultimate potential of the alpaca. We are joinged together by common principles and goals. Our collective purpose is to raise genetically superior alpacas that produce high volumes of fine fleece.
We share a believe in the Ideal Alpaca Breed Standards, Ideal Alpaca Type, and the use of progeny-tested, impact sires we call StudmasterTM males. More...

 

Yes. The ARI is the largest alpaca pedigree registry in the world. Created in 1988, the ARI database and methodology are some of the most sophisticated and accurate of any livestock industry in the world. More...

 

The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) is an agricultural cooperative formed and owned by alpaca producers in North America for the purpose of collecting and processing alpaca fiber and distributing alpaca fiber and realted products and the profit from them to its owners (members). Their goal is to maximize the long-term benefits to its members, the individual alpaca fiber producers, and the alpaca breeding industry as a whole. More...