The time taken to breed up numbers will allow marketing of product to keep ahead of the increase in supply well into the 21st. The developing market for alpacas has been mainly restricted by the lack of supply. There are only a few thousand Alpacas in the U.S. and Canada, and about the same number in Australia. There has been little if any aggressive marketing of the animal, very few auctions, and very little national media attention for the alpaca. Yet both countries have experienced exceptional demand at very high prices.
Many breeders retain their offspring to build their herds.
The importation of alpacas from South America to North America has been stopped. The limited size of the national herds in each country outside of South America will restrain growth for some time to come. Demand for alpacas has increased dramatically every year since their introduction outside of South America. The American and Canadian breed associations have over one thousand members, while only a few short years ago there were none. Alpaca breeders come from many walks of life.