Alpaca lifespan: 15-25 years

Average height: 36" at the withers

Average weight: females 100 to 140, males 135 to 175 pounds

Average gestation: 335 days

Birthing: birth weight is often between 15 and 19 pounds. Babies (called cria) can often stand and nurse within 30-60 minutes. Infant mortality is very low and females have only one cria at a time - twins are extremely rare.

Color: Alpacas come in 22 solid colors with many variations and blends.

Alpaca habitat: The natural habitat of the Alpaca is in the high Andes of South America at altitudes of 12,000 to 16,000 feet, however Alpacas have proven to be extremely adaptable. They flourish on farms around the United States in every climate zone.

Alpaca importation: The first Alpacas were imported into the U.S. in 1984, the last import arrived in 1998, prior to the closing of the domestic Alpaca Registry (or ARI).

Alpaca population: Alpacas are a rare animal - 2004 worldwide Alpaca population estimates are 3.5 million (compared to 7.7 million head of sheep in the United States alone). 85% to 95% of all the world's alpacas reside in the small Indian herds, both Quechua and Aymara of the Andean regions of Peru, Chile and Boliva.

Approximate (12/31/04) United States Alpaca population estimate: 61,879 total or 11,337 Suri Alpacas (18%) and 50,542 Huacaya Alpacas (82%).

Alpaca breeds: There are two different kinds of Alpacas - the Suri Alpaca which has fiber that appears to be in the form of dreadlocks and is very silky, and the Huacaya (pronounced wa-ki-a) Alpaca which has fiber that is extremely fine and gives the alpaca a woolly and round appearance. Suri fiber is used in producing outerwear garments, due to its natural luster and shine. Huacaya fiber is extremely soft, durable, hypo-allergenic and very comparable to cashmere.





































Owners: Jim & Jason Hughes

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