Award-winning Alpacas • Breeding Stock • Pet Males • Ranch Store
Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, specifically the countries of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. They have been livestock animals for centuries and there are no know alpacas in the wild today.
Alpacas
were a cherished treasure of the ancient Inca civilization.
Clothing made from their fiber was once reserved for Incan royalty.
Alpacas
belong to the camelid family, which includes camels, llamas, and vicunas.
Alpacas
were first imported to the United States and Canada in 1984.
There
are two types of Alpacas. The
HUACAYA (wa kí ya) has a crimpy (wavy) quality that is similar to sheep’s
wool; and the SURI (siŕ ee), which has a fine, lustrous fiber that hangs in
dreadlocks next to their body similar to hair.
Alpacas
produce a cashmere-like fleece. It
is considered one of the finest and most luxurious fibers in the world.
The fiber is known for its fineness, light weight, softness, and luster.
Alpaca
fiber is more resilient and much stronger than merino sheep wool.
Alpacas
come in many natural colors including white, brown, maroon, gray, and black,
with many colors in between. The
Alpaca Registry has 16 colors available for registration, however, there are
many variations of these basic colors.
Shearing
is done annually in the spring, in Alpine we shear in early May.
Fiber yield for a female is around five pounds and more than eight pounds
for a male. The average growth rate
is five or more inches per year.
The
average life span of an alpaca is 20 years.
Alpacas
are herd animals and will not survive without a companion.
Female
alpacas weigh an average of 125 pounds and larger males weigh up to 175 pounds.
Babies
are called crias and weigh between 14 and 20 pounds at birth.
Gestation
is normally 11 months, with most crias born during the daylight hours.
Alpacas
communicate by humming softly and live peacefully in herds.
They are good-natured and rarely spit – but when they do it is usually
at another alpaca.
Alpacas are intelligent, easy to train, gentle, and safe for children to handle.
Alpacas
require minimal acreage and are easy on the environment.
FIBER
Alpaca fiber is measured in microns - a micron is a thousandth of a millimeter. The lower the micron number, the finer the fiber. A uniform fleece is desirable and is measured by the standard deviation associated with the micron count. A low standard deviation indicates the fiber characteristics measured are very consistent.
Some other aspects of alpaca fiber are crimp, density, and staple length. Crimp is the "s" wave and a tight, uniform crimp is very desirable. Density is the fiber's volume. Staple length can vary, but an average growth rate between shearing is about five inches. It is important to consider all aspects when evaluating fiber.
Small mills and local spinners and weavers process alpaca fiber in the United States. There are also co-ops that pool fiber and create finished products. Many of the garments and other items made with alpaca are hand-crafted. You will find alpaca fiber knit into sweaters, woven into blankets and scarves, and made into wonderful pillows and rugs.
Alpaca Country Ranch
Karen and Rich Gribi
2909 North Victoria Drive
Alpine, CA 91901-3672
619-659-5782
This page was last updated on 08/15/07