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Q: How
are alpacas different than llamas?
Q: Can you pack with an
alpaca?
Q: Are alpacas
dangerous?
Q: How do you transport
an alpaca?
Q: So what do you do with
these animals?
Q: How much acreage does
it take to raise alpacas?
Q: Are alpacas easy to
care for?
Q: What do alpacas eat?
Q: Do alpacas spit?
Q: How long do they live?
Q: What are the
veterinary costs?
Q: ARI registration fees?
Q: What is involved
in shearing?
Q: What is the best age
to adopt an alpaca?
Q: Do they get lonely
for their own kind?
Q: How is their stress
level?
Q: What are the laws for
alpacas?
Q: How strong is the
market for alpacas?
Q: Marketing Venues?
Q: What is the average
return on investment?
Q: What
is included in the business plan?
Q:
What is the name of a
good book on alpacas?
Q:
Where do I get
supplies for my alpaca?
Q:
What is the Veterinary Care
Required?
While both are members of the camel (or camelid) family, they are distinctly different animals. They are cousins of the llama. They are about one-third the size of a llama. Alpacas weight in the range of 125 to 145lbs. Some animals may reach 170lbs. Their ears and muzzle are shorter. Alpacas have more fleece coverage, especially on their legs.
Generally, no. The alpacas lacks the bone structure to support weights much greater than their own natural body weight. A well-tempered alpaca might tolerate a small day-pack on its back for a short time, but this might damage the animal's fiber. For back-packing, their much larger cousin, the llama, would be much better suited.
Absolutely not! They are safe and pleasant to be around. They do not bite or butt, and do not have the teeth, horns, hooves, or claws to do serious injury. Occasionally, an alpaca will kick with its hind legs (especially if approached or touched from the rear), but the soft, padded feet usually do little more than just "get your attention."
How do you transport an alpaca?
If traveling for short distances, they can be transported inside a mini-van. The animals usually will "cush" (sit down) and very rarely have "accidents" inside the vehicle. Longer distances generally require transport in a horse or livestock trailer.
So what do you do with these animals?
They produce a soft and luxurious fleece, comparable to cashmere, that is turned into a wide array of products from teddy bears to garments to felt. The fleece itself is known globally for its fineness, softness, light weight, durability, excellent thermal qualities, and luster. Additionally, alpacas represent an excellent investment and income-generating potential. Many alpaca breeders rely on the sale of their animals and finished goods for a large part (or sole source) of their income.
How much acreage does it take to raise alpacas?
Because the animals are so environmentally-friendly, you can usually raise about five to ten alpacas per acre, depending on terrain, rain/snowfall amounts, availability of pasture, etc. They can also be raised on dry lot, if desired. In Weld county, Colorado, the county animal equivalency ratio is 13 alpacas is equal to 1 horse, which allows 4 horses per acre or a total of 52 alpacas per acre (http://www.co.weld.co.us/policies-ordinances/ord2001-1.html).
They are small and easy livestock to maintain. They should have basic shelter and protection from heat and fowl weather. They do not challenge fences. Being livestock, however, they do require certain vaccinations and must be on an anti-parasitic control program. Additionally, their toenails need to be trimmed every couple of months and their fleeces sheared off once a year.
The primary thing alpacas eat is just plain grass or hay. Alfalfa is discourage or fed only sparingly, as it has a high protein content that can be unhealthy for the alpacas. One to one-and-a-half, 60-pound bales of hay will usually feed between 20 to 25 alpacas each day. Most alpaca owners give their animals some type of supplemental grain, especially in the winter. Some owners also give their animals food pellets as a nutritional supplement or training reward. Additionally, all alpacas require access to free-choice salts and trace minerals.
All members of the camel family use spitting as a means of communication. The main time you'll see this around the feeding trough, when the animals become very possessive about what they consider to be "their food." It is also an aggressive behavior that you may observe if two alpacas are fighting. Bit it is rare that an alpaca would spit on a human on purpose (although humans sometimes get caught in the cross-fire!).
Truth is, we're not really sure. In South America, they can live for about 15-20 years. But the alpacas was only recently brought to North America (significant numbers were first imported in 1984), so we don't have enough data yet to know how long they will live under the conditions found here. We hope they will live at least twenty years and perhaps significantly longer.
What are the veterinary costs?
All of the following costs are from my own animal experiences using my local veterinarian. Your costs will differ depending on the area, numbers of medication, and your specific veterinarian. Use these numbers as a reference only. We also give the shots ourselves as most alpaca owners do. If you are uncomfortable, please have your vet provide professional assistance, most vets are glad to show you how to give shots. Our farm visit cost is $33.00 per trip, yours will very depending on the vet and reference to the veterinarian clinic. A large animal veterinarian will be providing this service.
All alpacas need a yearly CD/T shot and multiple de-worming shots. The CD/T shot per animal costs $5.00 plus the farm call if you have a vet do it for you. You can purchase the CD/T from the vet hospital store along with needles and syringes or have the vet dispense them for you to pickup. The de-worming shots consist of injection (IM) Ivomectin or Dectomax once per year and an oral dose of Panacur. The Ivomec costs $2.00 dispensed by the veterinarian.
If you have investment animals you will have Ultrasounds to confirm pregnancies and blood drawn for blood typing tests (DNA analysis). Ultrasounds will cost $25 per animal and possibly a one-time equipment fee of $15. The blood draw will be $10 per animal. See ARI questions for registration costs.
If you maintain a clean farm you will have minimal veterinarian costs. In three years, we have never had any wounds or accidents to deal with.
The Alpaca Registry has been established to help ensure accurate records and has a state-of-the-art system to document bloodlines. Alpacas must be blood typed in order to be registered. Virtually every alpaca in the U.S. is registered. See the ARI web site for more Alpaca Registry Costs is $15 plus $39 for DNA testing per animal.
The main goal in shearing is to minimize stress. This process will put some stress on animals of all types. You also want to avoid second cuts. There are two basic methods for shearing alpacas: lying down or prostrate position using restraints or on a shearing table, or standing position. Use the standing position only when the alpaca is halter-trained. We hire someone to shear our animals; use the lying position with electric shears. The cost is $25 per animal.
What is the best age to adopt an alpaca?
Alpacas can be sold at any age, but little ones are not separated until they have been weaned which is around five to six months of age.
Do they get lonely for their own kind?
Yes they do, always have more than one, at least two. They are herd animals and feel safe in numbers. Consider purchasing a gelded male for companion if you only have one animal.
You want to minimize their stress. Stress can possibly effect their fiber by making it brittle. They do handle stress very well. Situations to avoid is stray dogs, fence to keep strays out. They do well in the city. There are many farms in the city limits.
What are the laws for alpacas?
Every city and county has different zoning laws regarding animals. Check with your city planning department or county commissioners for your specific regulations. Typically, if your property is zoned agricultural or estate, you are allowed to have animals. The question will be what kind and how many of each. Alpacas are typically grouped with horses and cattle, so those regulations may apply. In Weld County, Colorado, the commissioners have changed the regulations as far as number of alpacas equivalent to horse, 13 alpacas are equivalent to one horse, and an acre of AG zone property can have 4 horses (http://www.co.weld.co.us/policies-ordinances/ord2001-1.html).
How strong is the market for alpacas?
Currently the market is strong, there are many new breeders in the industry. There are alpacas in all fifty states. You can get the growth data per state, from the AOBA web site. As you understand the many different aspects in owning alpacas, hopefully that will help understand the market. The market has been restricted by lack of supply and it will continue because alpacas reproduce slowly, many breeders retain their offspring to build their herds, embryo transplant is not feasible, the U.S. alpaca registry is closed to further importations.
Marketing alpacas for the small breeder can be challenging because they do not have the selection as the larger farms. To be successful, you must collaborate with other breeders to maximize the exposure and minimize the costs. Many small breeders will host activities together, such as shearing dates, farm open houses, or sponsor activities together. There are "loosely knit" groups throughout the country that organize activities together.
In northern Colorado, there is a group called ABANC (Alpaca Breeders Alliance of Northern Colorado) which is made up of around 25 farms that together host events.
Nationally, AOBA sponsors events around the country as well as the national event held every year. Join AOBA and regional organizations to help market your alpacas.
What is the average return on investment?
The return rates very depending on quality of animals, sex of offspring, price of fleece and whether you grow your herd or keep it flat. A good starting point will be to review the "Financial aspects of Alpaca ownership" brochure.
Getting realistic numbers from experienced breeders will be difficult because they will be required to disclose financial records. They may also not do detailed financial analysis of their revenues and expenses on a regular bases. I can not stress how important this is in order to be a successful business owner.
Here's some simple numbers to work with. For fiber animals, your revenue will be the wool that is sold. If you purchase the animal for $1,500 and sell the fiber for $500 for 33% annual return, you would also figure in the expense of hay and vaccinations which would be $60 per animal per year. You could expect a annual return of around 30% that just for a fiber or pet quality animal.
For investment livestock with the expectations of selling the offspring, a $20,000 pregnant female will have the cria within a year, if it is a female, you will sell it for $20,000 at two years of age, which will also be breed, that's 50% annual return. If it's a male and you did not initially buy quality animals, then you sell it for $1,500 for 8% return which is not bad. If it's a quality male sold as a herdsire for $15,000 then it's 35% return over a two year period.
The best part about any of these financial scenarios is that you can enjoy your investment while it's making you money. That's why alpacas are called the huggable investment.
What is included in the business plan?
The business plan will be one of the most important references and documents to maintain a successful business. I have a sample 10-step business plan on this web site, review it and use it as a reference. The two most important steps are the goals and five year objectives as well as the financial analysis over that period of time. You need clear objectives and a strategy for achieving success. You may experience uncontrollable results such as having males when you want to grow your herd, this will require a change in strategy, buy more females. The financial analysis will help you in calculating returns and financial success. Review the business plan annually to make adjust strategy.
What is the name of a good book on alpacas?
There are several good books written about alpacas. The one I would recommend for beginners is Caring for Llamas and Alpacas - A Health and Management Guide. Check Amazon.com and Stevens Llama Tique (1-800-469-5262) for availability and price. The complete list is below.
Where do I get supplies for my alpaca?
Locate a good farm store in your area for general supplies such as buckets, feed (12% calf mixture), and the various items to get your facilities in order. Order a catalog from Stevens Llama Tique & Suri Alpacas (1-800-469-5262). They have halters, toenails clippers, books, blankets, almost everything you will need for managing your animals. We purchase our Llama Supreme Nibblets (Bluebonnet Feeds) from Johnstown Feed and Seed in Johnstown, Colorado. The rest from the Big-R farm store in Greeley, Colorado.
What is the Veterinary Care Required?
See my Alpaca Health Record Sample worksheet to track vaccinations.
Last update: March 6, 2002
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Homestead Alpacas, 7880 W 20th St,
Greeley, CO 80634, (970) 506-0799,