White River Alpacas, LLC

The River Delivers

Huacaya Alpaca

 

MFI Peruvian Clancey

About Alpacas

Phone:417-859-5046

E-mail: stacy@whiteriveralpacas.com

General Alpaca Facts

 

Physical Characteristics:

· Two kinds of Alpacas: Huacaya (wah-KI-ya) and Suri (surrey)

· Huacaya fiber is short, dense, crimpy and gives a wooly appearance

· Suri fiber is silky and resembles pencil-like locks

· Short and low set tail

· Soft padded feet with two toes

· No horns, hooves, claws or incisors

· Eat grass and chew cud

· Adult alpacas generally weigh between 150 and 200 lbs

· Average height is 36 inches at the withers

· Have three stomachs

· Adaptable to any climate

To contact us:

History:

· Members of Camelid family

· Native to Andean Mountain range of South America

· Primarily found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile

· Provided clothing and transportation to the Incas

· First commercially imported into the United States in 1984

· Current figures note over 100,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.

 

General Alpaca Facts

 

Reproduction

· Average lifespan is about 20 years

· Gestation is 11.5 months

· Baby alpacas are called crias

· Female alpaca normally gives birth, without assistance, in the daylight hours

· Have single births.   Twins are extremely rare.  Most recent futures not 1 in 2000 is a twin.

 

History:

· Members of Camelid family

· Native to Andean Mountain range of South America

· Primarily found in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile

· Provided clothing and transportation to the Incas

· First commercially imported into the United States in 1984

· Current figures note over 100,000 registered alpacas in the U.S.

 

Behavior:

· Alert, intelligent, curious, and predictable

· Social animals that seek companionship

· Communicate by softly humming

· Also communicate with neck posturing, ear and tail positioning and head tilt

· Deposit their odorless bean-like pellets in concentrated areas

 

 

Maintenance/Care:

· Sheared without harm every 12 to 18 months

· Require minimal fencing.  They can be pastured at 4-10 per acre

· Virtually disease-resistant animals

· Require annual vaccinations with tetanus and other locally appropriate vaccines

· Need routine parasite control

· Need occasional nail and/or teeth trimming

 

Fiber:

· In ancient times, alpaca fiber was known as the “Fiber of Gods”

· Compared to cashmere

· Stronger, lighter yet warmer than wool

· Hypo-allergenic and contains no lanolin

· Naturally fire-retardant

· Comes in 22 natural colors

 

Contact us for your personal farm visit. 

 

417-859-5046