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Alpaca Facts
(Voir cette page en français)
A baby is called a cria. Weaned crias are known as weanlings or tuis. In Spanish, the adult males are known as machos and the females are called hembras.
They have an average lifespan of 15 to 25 years.
They stand about 32 to 39 inches tall at the withers (the point where the neck and spine come together) and the average weight of an adult is between 125 to 190 lbs.
Females alpacas are first bred around 18 months. They are induced ovulators. They do not have a heat cycle so they can be bred anytime thus making breeder's decisions as to when to have their "future babies" much easier. They are capable of producing one offspring a year for as many as 20 years. The new alpaca mothers are often rebred 2-3 weeks after giving birth.
Their gestation period has an average of 340 days.
They usually have a single cria, normally delivered without assistance during the daylight hours. Twins are rare, occuring once in about every 2,000 births. The cria will be 15 to 20 lbs at birth and can usually stand to nurse within the hour. Babies are weaned at 5-6 months.
Male alpacas reach breeding age at about 3 years.
Alpacas are quiet, peaceful animals and make soft humming sounds to communicate. They are safe and gentle to be around as well as being intelligent, alert, curious, clean and predictable.
Alpacas are extremely hardy and adaptable to most climates, elevations and conditions. They are relatively disease resistant. They are very earth friendly and treats the land gently. Alpacas are ideal for hobby farms and small acreages since 1 acre of productive pasture can sustain 5 to 8 animals. They do not challenge fences and require little space. They will eat less than most livestock and they do not tear the roots of the plants they chew.
Alpacas make cleaning an easy task, as they "go" mostly in only a few spots. Their droppings are practically odourless and are excellent for enriching soil.
They produce fibre that is as fine as cashmere, soft, silky and much warmer and stronger than sheep's wool. Alpaca fiber is hypo-allergenic and contains no lanolin. They come in variety of colors, including white, black, brown, grey, fawn and any combination of these colors. The widest assortment of colors of any fibre bearing animal.
Alpacas are easily transported in a pick-up, van or trailer. They usually lie down in transit.
Alpacas will amuse, amaze and capture your heart.
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