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ALPACA FACTS AND INFORMATION

Alpacas walk lightly on the earth!

Alpacas are a true "Incan Gold." From the high mountain plateaus of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, for the past 6,000 years they have been and remain treasured by the local peoples. There are two types: Huacaya and Suri. The difference is in the fleece.

Alpacas are camelids, related to the even rarer vicuna, the llama and the camel. They are modified ruminants. They come in 22 natural colors.

Alpacas are one of the oldest domesticated breeds of animals. Tended for their luxurious fiber, they played a central role in the Inca civilization of South America. Nearly driven to extinction by the Spanish conquerors, small herds survived in the high Andes mountains, one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

Today, alpacas are found on almost every continent. They still produce an incomparably soft fleece which is used in clothing designed in high end fashion houses in Europe, Japan and around the world.

• Their feet are padded and do no damage to the soil.
• They are low maintenance livestock.
• They eat less than other livestock.
• They drink less than other livestock.
• They require less room than other livestock. (3 to 10 alpacas per acre depending on where you live)
• They nibble gently at native grasses and do no harm. (and aspen branches and pine boughs but that's another story)
• They are clean and cleanup is easy.
• They make communal "poop piles," choosing favorite locations which they all use. (Of course, my guys haven't read this chapter yet but my Spice Girls have!)
• They produce a sustainable luxury product: fiber!
• They even produce a useful by-product!
• "Paca Beans" make Instant Compost! All free!
• They are smart and trainable and funny.
• They have a gentle nature and a permanent little smile.

The United States is home to a growing herd tended by people that have fallen in love with their gentle nature, and that have the vision to foresee a sustainable agricultural industry based on their fleece. Supported by an effective national breed organization, a state of the art registry, and a national alpaca fiber cooperative, alpacas are a golden opportunity for anyone seeking a more relaxed life that is closer to the earth.

Alpacas are the environmentally-friendly livestock investment you don't have to kill for income. But they ARE livestock, not pets! Although some are quite "huggable." They come with the tax benefits of other livestock. (They are considered to be one-sixth of an "animal unit" under USDA guidelines.)