All About Alpacas
Alpacas are members of the South American Camelid family. They are a domesticated animal, most likely descended from the vicuna, a wild , now protected animal living in the high Andes and possessing the most luxurious fibre. The llama also domesticated and the wild guanaco are Camelids also.
Alpacas have a lifespan of around 15 years, but with better conditions in NZ, it is probably a few years more. They usually weigh between 50kg-80kg and are about 1 metre at the shoulder.
Alpaca is highly sort by craft people, because of the range of fleece colours. They come in 22 natural colours, white through grey to black and many shades of fawns, red brown, roan to dark brown. It is said it is the only animal to produce a true black fleece. They also come in multi colours or "fancies" as they are called.
They have a soft padded foot with 2 toe nails, making them gentle on the ground.
Where Alpacas come from
Alpacas are members of the Camelid family from South America where they are farmed, mainly in Peru, Chile and Bolivia. They have been domesticated for over 5,000 years and were highly prized by the Incas. Their fleece was known as the "other gold" and provided luxurious clothing reserved for royalty. Originally alpacas were grazed on the lowlands in well organised breeding regimes, but during the Spanish conquest, they were displaced by sheep and cattle and driven with the peasants to the high altitude of the Altiplano of the Andes.
The strict breeding regimes were then lost and alpacas were free to roam at will which caused the decline in the quality. However they were able to survive the extreme conditions where other domesticated animals would perish.
It was not until the 20th Century that alpacas would again be farmed within controlled breeding programs.
Alpacas worldwide
Alpaca fibre remains rare and valuable, with Peru producing the biggest clip in the world Outside South America there is a steady, but slow increase in numbers of alpacas farmed. The biggest numbers are in Australia, USA and now NZ where selective programs are continuing to improve the quality and quantity of fibre production. Much has been gained in a relatively short time.
Alpacas in New Zealand
Because of limiting factors of farming in South America expansion is difficult. With farming expertise already established, NZ is well placed to become an important alpaca producing country. With selective breeding programs, we have the ability to produce high quality fibre, destined for the top end of the world market.
New Zealand has approximately 4000 alpacas [2003] and with a number of recent imports, has greatly improved the availability of quality breeding stock. Although still a young industry, there is increasing awareness of alpacas and the exquisite fibre it produces.
Several alpaca breeders are now successfully producing their own line of garments. Investigation into commercial fibre processing is underway And there is still the increasing craft market, which continues to absorb much of the coloured fleece.
New Zealand is fortunate in that it is able to acquire knowledge and expertise from research and development that has already taken place in established alpaca industries particularly from across the Tasman. We can benefit from the experiences of others, and whilst the industry today is a breeding based one, in the medium to long-term future there will be a greater emphasis on the production of fibre. Due to the slow reproduction rate of alpacas this is still a number of years away.
Alpaca breeds
There are two types of alpaca, the Huacaya and the Suri. These are distinguished by their fleece.
Suri
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Huacaya
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Huacaya are the most common type, making up approximately 95% of the world's alpaca population. Huacaya have fleece that stands out from the body giving a fluffy appearance. The fleece has a crimp or wave similar to sheep wool. It has little or no lanolin or grease, but should exhibit some lustre.
Suri have a highly lustrous, silky fibre, with an almost sensuous feel. Suri fleece falls in long, pencil fine locks, often referred to as "curtains of silk. In New Zealand there are just over 200 suri alpacas [2003].
Looking after alpacas
Alpacas are superb animals to farm as they are intelligent, easy to handle and very hardy. They also possess a very appealing and calming presence. Compared with most other livestock they need little routine maintenance. They are not dangerous and are often handled by children.
For this reason they make an excellent choice of livestock for lifestyle block owners., They do not get footrot or flystrike [lack of lanolin] commonly associated with sheep farming. There is no need for crutching, tail docking, or dipping. No dehorning either.
A vaccination program should include the common Five in One to prevent clostridial diseases. Cria receive their first vaccine at a few weeks of age and adults are usually injected every six months to ensure maximum coverage. As they dung in communal sites and they don't usually eat around them, they have a natural ability to keep internal parasites at low levels. Regular worming every twelve months is usually sufficient unless running alpacas with other livestock such as sheep, then they should be on the same regime. There is no 'pour on' drench yet registered for alpacas.
Like other camelids, alpacas have a soft padded foot, which makes very little impact on the land. Their toenails may need to be clipped as needed, some less than others.
Teeth can be checked at shearing when the animal is restrained and trimmed as necessary.
Supplementary feeding may be necessary in the winter months and for lactating females or newly weaned cria. Grass, good quality hay and alpaca pellets [as treats] constitute the diet of a typical New Zealand Alpaca.
Handling alpacas is not difficult, they are naturally submissive. Placing an arm around the neck and the other hand on the animal's back holds them.
Alpaca stock tasks are not hard to learn. Our on going support system includes advice over the phone on all aspects of health and care for your alpacas and we also provide a husbandry service for our clients including worming, shearing and vaccinations.
Alpaca requirements
In NZ alpacas are farmed from Northland to Southland, they are hardy and adaptable. There is no need for any special shelter, however shade in summer is desirable. Alpacas rarely jump, so no special fencing is required. Barbed wire and electric fences should be avoided.
Because alpacas are a herd animal and are stressed when separated from the herd, you need to have at least two for company. We do not sell one alpaca to anyone, unless they already have some.
Stocking rates of 4-5 to the acre seems to be a good guide. In NZ conditions the problem of over feeding on high protein pasture is more likely.
Alpaca reproduction
Gestation is usually between 11 to 12 months and females are commonly mated around 14 days after giving birth. Alpacas are induced ovulators and so do not produce an egg until stimulated by mating, meaning they can be bred at any time of the year. Females are usually mated for the first time according to weight and age. In New Zealand with good management females will start breeding at around one year of age.
Pen mating is the most common and successful method of mating alpacas. Mating may be observed for effectiveness and dates recorded. Paddock mating is sometimes used when mating on larger properties saving time, but birth dates become less reliable.
An open female will accept the male's advances by sitting down in the kush position. When a female thinks she is pregnant she will then reject the male by refusing to sit, spitting or kicking him away. Commonly referred to as 'sit or spit'.
Ultrasound scanning is one of the most effective methods of determining pregnancy as the operator can see the foetus. Regular monitoring of the pregnancy throughout gestation enables the owner to re-mate any female who does not carry the cria to full term, without losing valuable time.
Alpacas usually give birth during daylight hours and seldom need assistance. Within an hour or so the cria (baby alpaca) will be up and walking, looking to mum for it's first feed.
Stud services
When buying alpacas for the first time, many breeders choose to forgo the expense of purchasing a breeding male.
Surico Alpaca Estate in conjunction with NZ Alpacas provides owners with a wide selection of proven males to breed with. Females are easily transported and outside stud servicing gives new owners opportunity to choose from the best quality males, to improve the standard of offspring and maintain genetic diversity in their herd.
Shearing
Alpacas are generally shorn annually in springtime when the weather is warm and before seed heads develop. We organise a shearing day for our clients when they are able to bring their alpacas to be shorn. They may be shorn with conventional sheep shearing equipment. At Surico Alpaca Estate we use a specialised alpaca lifter to leave a good coverage on the animal. Alpaca fibre is non - greasy so great care must be taken to ensure that the handpiece is kept well oiled to avoid overheating.
Most alpacas are shorn by lying them down on the shearing board or a specialised shearing table and restraining them in a rope harness. This ensures that the animal is kept as still as possible, to be shorn with the minimum of fuss and without undue stress.
Alpaca fibre
Alpaca is a rare, speciality fibre, warm, lightweight and incredibly soft. Surprisingly tough and hardwearing it is ideal for processing. The structure of alpaca fibre gives products made from pure alpaca amazing thermal and water-resistant properties. It's superb handle, lustre and silky feel ensures it is much sought after in Europe, Asia and the USA for use in high quality knitwear and textiles.
Occurring in a large range of natural colours, from pure white, through shades of fawn to dark brown, the most exquisite blends of rose and blue grey and a pure jet black. It can be blended to produce more subtle shades and when desired can be dyed or mixed with sheep wool, mohair, silk or other fibres. Trend back to "natural" colours, means that little of the clip needs to be dyed, limiting the need for using harsh chemical dyes that may be hazardous to the environment.
Having little or no natural grease, alpaca is a handspinners delight, and may be spun with little preparation from the raw fleece.
Alpacas produce approximately 3-5kg of fleece per year. Selective breeding will see fleece weights increase. Baby Alpaca (the first clip from a young alpaca) is the finest fleece and commands a price premium. High Fashion garments are manufactured from this wonderfully soft fibre. The clip is sorted and graded according to fineness, vegetable contamination or staining. The prime quality fleece comes from the saddle of the animal. Belly, leg and the fibre from the front of the chest is of poorer quality and may contain coarser guard hairs that itch or prickle when worn next to the skin. This coarse fibre however retains it's wonderful thermal qualities and makes superb filling for duvets and can be made into rugs, or garments that are lined with another material.
Insurance
Alpacas can be insured against mortality and theft. Premiums differ from company to company but do not usually exceed 4% pa of the animals' value. All alpacas registered with the International Alpaca Registry are easily identified, and the need for registration documents to pass on at the point of sale acts as a disincentive to would-be thieves.
