Appearance and behaviour
Mature alpacas stand about 80 cm to 1m at shoulder height and weigh 50 to 80 kg. Alpacas are tall, graceful animals with a smoothly blended body and upright stance. They are strong boned and vigorous with long, slim legs. They hold their long necks high, and their relatively small, long head hosts big eyes and oval, upright ears. Like the camels of the Old World they have feet with two forward pointing toes, each carrying a long strong toenail. The soles of their feet are covered with a callused membrane, which allows the animal to climb very well. Their tails are short. Alpaca fleece is often black, dark brown or grey. Alpacas’ teeth grow constantly to counter the strong tooth abrasion by their meagre plant diet. This is unique among ungulates.
The lifespan of the alpaca is 20 to 25 years. The reproductive lifespan of females begins approximately at the age of 2 years. The average gestation period is 11.5 months and the young are called crias. Newborns weigh approximately 6 kg and can both stand up and feed from their mothers shortly after they are born. The birth usually takes place in daylight, usually in the morning, and under cover of the herd to allow the cria to dry and be warmed by the sun. After a female gives birth, she is generally receptive to breeding again after approximately 2-3 weeks; breeding can take place throughout the year. Healthy females can produce offspring at an average rate of one cria a year.
Alpacas are very gentle, well tempered, intelligent, inquisitive and affectionate. Children quickly take to them thanks to their gentle and calmative character, children will rapidly take to them. They are however protective. When they feel threatened by intruders such as poaching dogs or foxes, the flock unites and drives the invader away.
Alpacas are very frugal and feed upon plants of all kind. Although they chew their food repeatedly, they are not real ruminants.
Alpacas' fleece is very sought-after because it is of higher quality than sheep’s wool. Wool yield is currently about 3 to 6 kg per year.
Alpacas are particularly adaptive and robust animals. Despite their origin from the high Andes of South America, they acclimatise very well to the moderate climate of our region.
Alpacas are social herd animals and should always be kept with at least 2-3 others of their kind, or, at the very least, with other herd animals like horses, sheep or goats; when keeping Alpacas together with other species, you'll need to ensure that you provide enough feeding grounds and parasite prophylaxis. However, animals of foreign species don't replace the social contact between the alpacas. For this reason, it is essential that at least 2 alpacas be kept together with other species.
Alpacas need grazing land and exercise all year round. 10-15 alpacas can be kept on a pasture of 2.5 acres. The minimum pasture size for 2 animals is half an acre, plus about 1,000 square feet for each additional animal.