Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the commonly asked questions we have encountered.

What is an alpacas?
Why would I want one?
What do I need to have in place if I bring one home?
How much do they cost?
Are all alpacas equal?
What to look for when purchasing an alpaca?

Q: What is an Alpaca?
A: An Alpaca is a member of the Camelid family which includes camels, guanacos, vicunas and llamas. They are native to South America, primarily Bolivia, Peru and Chile. In Canada these bloodlines are largely mixed, however there are also many "Full-blooded" Peruvian, Bolivian and Chilean alpacas here.

Q: Why would I want to own alpacas?
A: The primary value of the alpaca is derived from its awesome fibre. The Alpaca's fleece is warmer, lighter and more comfortable to wear than most other naturally occurring fibres. It is also know for its vast range of naturally occurring colors. There are 22 recognized naturally occurring colors with a variety of shades that fall between.

There is also a wide variety of quality in the fleece produced by al[alpacas. The quality is based on a number of factors with the main factor being fineness. fineness is a measure of the micron or Average Fibre Diameter of the fleece. Based on the AFD, fleece is graded to determine how it will be used.

Alpaca owners shear their animals once a year, usually in spring and then do any number of things with the fibre. It can be sold raw. It can be hand spun into yarn by the owner or sent to a mill where it can be processed. There is a wide variety of processed products that include rovings, yarn, socks, mitts, toques, quilt batts, duvets, scarves, sweaters, blankets, rugs, material or felt.

Alpacas are very gentle. They make an excellent small acreage livestock and are easy to manage. They are also a very quite animal whose main source of vocalizing is humming.

Alpacas are clean. They use a common poop pile so clean up is easy.

They require very little maintenance (toenail trimming, basic vaccinations and de-worming, shearing one a year and occasionally tooth filing). Alpacas give birth to a single baby which is known as a cria. Twins are very rare. The average gestation period is 335 to 365 days.

They have a basic diet which consists of good quality hay as well as access to fresh water at all times. They also require a free-choice mineral supplement that can be either a loose powder or pellet or a combination of the two. Alpacas are very good at grazing down overgrown pens around you farm but prefer shorter plants(new growth) to the coarser older plants. They are grazers, not browsers so will eat "soft" palate plants (grasses) versus brush and trees.

Q: What do I need to have in place if I bring one home?

A: First of all, you can't just have one. Alpacas are communal animals and do not live solitary lives. Secondly, you will need to have some sort of penning. Alpacas are not prone to test a fence so expensive, high security fences are not necessary. However, you will want to keep predators out (including the neighbourhood dogs) as they can be a problem. Barb-wire is not recommended as they can catch their fleece in it as well as injure themselves on the barbs. Alpacas also need some type of shelter. A three sided shed will work well as long as they can get out of the wind and have protection from rain and snow storms. This will also give them a place for shade in the summer. They will also need clean water, good quality feed and mineral supplement of some type.

Q: How much do they cost?

A: There is a considerable range in the purchasing prices for alpacas. The average selling price for purebred, breeding, registered stock is around $5000.00-$10000.00 Unregistered or non-breeding alpacas will generally sell for $200.00 to $500.00. There are cases where some people who no longer want their animals will take them to a general livestock or odd and unusual auction where they can fetch as low as $25.00. At such sales the buyer has no idea as to health or registration status of the animals so it is "buyer beware". At the other end of the scale, purebred, registered alpacas have sold for $30,000.00 and up. Not all alpacas are of equal value, please refer to the following sections for more detail.

Q: Are all Alpacas equal?

A: When we entered the alpaca world in 2001, there was no distinction made between "single" registered and "double" registered alpacas by the farm that we purchased from . For the benefit of others entering this industry who may not know, we will include a brief explanation below.

A "single" registered alpaca is one that is registered in the Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association (CLAA) registry. A "double" registered alpaca is one that is registered in both the Canadian registry and the American Registry (ARI). If an alpaca is single registered and both of its parents are also single registered, then it cannot be registered with the ARI. Consequently, single registered alpacas are not in high demand in the USA.

To be eligible for registration in the CLAA, alpacas have to meet established breed standards. They must also have DNA testing to verify their parents. By following these practices, registered alpacas are viewed as "pure-bred" and free from undesirable disqualifying traits. At this time, our registry also allows "recorded" alpacas as part of a breed-up program. These are alpacas from another registry with verified parents that are recorded as 0% under the Canadian registry. When bred to a single registered alpaca, their offspring is considered 50% purebred. The be eligible for registration in the ARI, alpacas must have DNA testing done to verify their parents but they do not have to meet established breed standards. Both parents must be registered with ARI. Just because two alpacas are registered (either with CLAA or ARI) it does not mean that they are of equal quality or value.

The notation of "single" versus "double" registered should not be the only factor considered when purchasing alpacas. Registration status only means that the alpaca in question met the registration requirements of a particular registry, it does not mean that it is a superior quality alpaca. To determine the true quality or value of an alpaca, potential buyers need to look past the registration status and focus on the desirable characteristics of the alpaca. We have included many on the desirable characteristics to consider when purchasing an alpaca under What to look for when purchasing an alpaca?

Q: What to look for when purchasing an alpaca?

A: The two basic components that a potential purchaser needs to consider when buying an alpaca are fleece characteristics and body conformation. These two components are then broken down further into a number of categories.

The desirable alpaca fleece characteristics are discussed in detail in the Info on Fleece Section.

There are two different types of alpaca fleeces, Huacaya and Suri.

Huacaya fleeces are often described as fluffy or spongy in texture. this is due to the fibre growing perpendicular to the skin as well as the hair follicles being closer together which results in a denser fleece. Huacaya fleece also has fibres that bunch together which form defined locks and these locks are typically wavy or crimped.

Suri fleeces are often described as pencil locks as the fibre falls close to the body and forms ringlets that move freely down the animals sides. Suri fleece also has a much more lustrous appearance due to the different fibre structure.

Alpaca conformation qualities are broken down into the following categories:

Height and Weight - The average alpaca should be 32-38 inches tall and have an average weight of 102-180 pounds.

Head - The head should have a triangular shape with a square muzzle. The nose should be of medium length and the teeth should meet evenly with the upper dental pad. The ears should be erect and spear-shaped as well as medium length. There should be no evidence of blindness. Eyes should be clear and bright and not have evidence of cataracts or blindness.

Neck and Body - The neck should be straight but not completely upright and should equal the length of the legs and 2/3 the length of the body. The back should be straight and the tail should be set low on a sloping rump.

Front Legs - From the front view the legs should be straight from the shoulders to the knees and toes. The legs should be spaced to provide a stable base (neither too wide or too close together). There should only be two toes and they should point forward. From the side, the angle of the knees should be approximately 180 degrees and the angle of the fetlock should be approximately 190 degrees.

Rear Legs - From the rear view the legs should be straight from the hips to the hock, fetlock and between the toes. Again, the legs should be spaced to provide a stable base. The toes should point forward. From the side, the angle of the hock should be approximately 145 degrees and the angle of the fetlock approximately 190 degrees.

Movement - When alpacas move they should do so freely and evenly. They should travel in a straight line when moving forward with the feet falling in a width equal to that of the animal.

Reproductive Organs - The male should have two testicles that are equal in size and have a firm consistency. They should also have four teats. Females should have a vaginal opening that is vertical as well as having only four functional teats.

There are many factors to consider when purchasing alpacas. It is in the buyers best interest to visit as many farms as possible as well as attend shows in their area to gain more knowledge. By doing so, you will be better able to determine the quality of the alpacas that you are considering buying. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, alpaca owners love to share their knowledge so ask as many questions as you can.