Common Terms in the Alpaca Industry Alpaca Pictures Supporting Links Gateway Alpacas is committed to the long term health of the American alpaca industry. Our farm provides personal service and dedicated support. We practice timeless values worthy of the timeless treasures in our care. Alpaca, a natural elegance, a renewable luxury, a sustainable lifestyle... Common Terms Common terminology can be very confusing for those first entering the realm of alpacas, and even more so if they do not have experience with other types of livestock or companion animals. This list of terms is intended to be of assistance to those just entering the world of alpacas. Alarm Call - A sound which alpacas, usually the males, make when they feel that the herd is threatened in some way. It sounds similar to an engine trying to start or a turkey call or some combination of the two. Artificial Insemination (AI) - A process in which semen from a male alpaca is manually placed in the cervix or uterus of a female alpaca by a person. It has not been very successful in alpacas. Animals prodcued by AI can not be registered in the US alpaca registry (AI) at the time of this writing.

Banana Ears - A term used to refer to a particular ear set in llamas where the ears come up and curve inwards similar to the shape and size of a banana. This is considered a major conformational fault in alpacas. Berserk Male Syndrome - A condition where a male alpaca who has been improperly imprinted on humans becomes physically agressive towards people upon reaching puberty. This behavior is not easily alterable once it begins. BMS has largely been replaced with the term Aberrant Behavioral Syndrome (ABS). Body Score - A numerical value from 1 to 9 given to an animal based on how fat or thin they are. The optimal condition is assigned a 5, emaciated is assigned a 1 and obese is assigned a 9. Learn how to check your alpaca's body condition. Bone - Used to describe the skeletal frame size of a alpaca. A alpaca with "a lot of bone" has a substantial frame and thicker bones which are usually apparent by the thickness of the legs. Breeders may try to "put on more bone" in their herd. Colostrum - The first milk produced by a female alpaca around the time of parturition.

It is rich in immunoglobulins (antibodies) and other components needed for the neonatal period. More on colostrum. Concentrates - The component of the diet which is more energy dense with less fiber and given as supplemental feed. This includes many types of grains which can be mixed together to create a feed. Cria - The term for a young alpaca from birth until he/she is weaned. Dam - The female parent of a alpaca. Sometimes referred to as an hembra Dung Pile - A designated area (usually decided upon by the alpacas) where alpacas urinate and defecate. There are often several dung piles within any one field or pasture. Dust Pile - A bare area on the ground which alpacas use for rolling. Embryo Transfer (ET) - A process in which early embryos are removed from one female alpaca and placed into other female alpacas for gestation and rearing. Australian alpaca breeders claim major progress in using this procedure, but the US registry does not allow registration of animals so produced. Forage - The component of the diet which is less energy dense and contains more fiber.

This includes grasses, legumes and hays. Gait - A type of movement or locomotion. The gaits used by alpacas are walk, pace, trot, gallop and pronk. Most commonly used is a striding gait (see pace) where both legs on the same side of the body leave the ground simultaneously. Gallop - A three-beated gait in which all four feet are never on the ground together. This is the fastest camelid gait. See more information on gaits. Get of Sire - A class at a alpaca show where three alpacas with the same sire and at least two different dams are shown together as a group. The judge is looking for consistency in the influence of the sire. Going down - This is used in reference to a female's receptivity to a male. If she drops into the cushed position, then she is said to have "gone down" for him. Herdsire - A male alpaca who is used to breed female alpacas on a alpaca farm. He may also be called a stud or a macho.

Humming - The sounds that alpacas make when they are tired, stressed, hot, uncomfortable, curious or concerned. There are different types of hums for different causes. This is the most common vocalization heard from alpacas. Knock-kneed - A condition in alpacas where the knees on the front legs angle in towards each other. The medical term for this is carpal valgus. It is a conformational fault which will cause alpacas to move incorrectly and lead to degenerative joint disease in the future. The knock-kneed alpacas will 'wing' when they walk. See the definition of winging for a description. Cush - The term for the act of a alpaca laying down sternally or the actual position a alpaca is in when it is laying down. It may also be used as a command to get a alpaca to attain this position. Lama - A term used to include both alpacas and alpacas since they are both previously classified in the genus Lama (i.e. Lama llama and Lama pacos), although the alpaca is now classified in the genus Vicugna (i.e. Vicugna pacos).

People new to the alpaca and alpaca world often think this is the word llama misspelled. Maiden Female - A female who has not been bred to a male yet, usually because she is too young. Open Female - A female who is not pregnant. Overconditioned - The polite way of saying in the showring that a alpaca is overweight or fat. Learn how to check your alpaca's body condition. Pace - A two-beated gait in which the front and rear limbs on the same side move forward or back at the same time. It is a medium speed gait and is the least stable. This gait is unique to camelids, and is the source of the phrase "ship of the desert" since passengers of old world camels experience a gentle side to side swaying. Potty Pile - Another common term used for a dung pile. See the definition under dung pile. Produce of Dam - A class at a alpaca show where two alpacas with the same dam and two different sires are shown together as a pair. The judge is looking for consistency in the influence of the dam. Preemie - A term used to refer to a cria who was born prematurely.

Pronking - A stiff-legged bouncing up into the air that both adult and juvenile alpacas do to play with each other or find and elude predators. It is not performed often. Rolling - An activity which alpacas engage in regularly. Alpacas will lay on their side and roll half-way or completely over several times. Sickle-hocked - A conformational fault in a alpaca where the hind feet come too far forward. This creates a sickle shape to the hind end when viewed from the side. Sire - The male parent of a alpaca. Stud - A male alpaca who is used to breed females. He can also be called a herdsire, or, as a macho. Three-in-one - A common term used to refer to a pregnant female alpaca who is sold along with her unweaned cria. You are purchasing threee alpacas for one price: the female, the cria, and the unborn baby. Now sometimes referred to as Four-in-One if a breed back is included in the purchase price. Tipped ears - This is a term used to refer to alpacas with ears that are not completely erect.

Usually there is a small amount of cartilage at the tips of the ears which is not strong enough to stand up on its own. This can be genetic or it can be the result of prematurity or frostbite. It is not considered to be a major conformation fault. Topline - A common term used to refer to a alpaca's back, usually as viewed from the side. A level to slightly convex topline is desired from the whithers to the tail. Trot - A two-beated gait in which the diagonal front and rear limbs move forward or back at the same time. It is a medium speed gait which is more stable. See more information on gaits. Underconditioned - A term used to describe a alpaca who is underwieght or too thin. Learn how to check your alpaca's body condition. Walk - A four-beated gait which maintains three feet in contact with the ground at any one time. The slowest of the alpaca gaits. Weanling - A alpaca who has been weaned from the mother but is under one year of age. Sometimes referred to as a Tui Winging - The term used for a faulty movement of alpacas.

As the alpaca moves a front foot forward, it will swing the front feet in towards the midline and then back out away from the body before placing it back down. This is usually associated with knock-kneed alpacas and will be more pronounced with severely knock-kneed alpacas. Yearling - A alpaca who is one year of age but not yet two years of age. Alpaca Facts (Alpacas de la Patagonia) Alpacas de la Patagonia ALPACAS ARE AMAZING ORIGIN Alpacas were domesticated from the vicuna by the Incas over 5000 years ago and are among the most ancient of the world's domestic animals. The majority of the 3 million alpacas found in the world today inhabit the high plains regions of Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. BEHAVIOR/INTELLIGENCE Alpacas are very social and intelligent creatures. Alpacas do spit, but normally just at each other. Rarely do alpacas spit at people. A female will spit off a male, refusing his advances if she is pregnant. Alpacas tend to be docile and easy-going creatures that get along with people and other livestock.

Young alpacas are readily halter trained. Alpacas are easily herded without a dog. FIBER The primary function of the alpaca is fiber production. This animal sports one of the most luxurious and valuable fibers that exists today. It is the combination of softness, tensile strength and variety of color that set alpaca apart from other luxury fibers. There is no need to dye the fiber in order to have a wide spectrum of color, as the alpaca is found naturally in a wide variety of hues and tones, including black, gray, brown, fawn, rose-gray, red, apricot and white. There are 22 internationally recognized colors of alpaca fiber, however approximately 95% of the worldwide alpaca population is white. The rarity of colored alpacas contributes to their value. Products created from alpaca fiber are comfortable to wear because of the lack of "prickle", due to the absence of guard hair. The fiber shaft is partly medullated. For this reason, garments made of alpaca are extremely lightweight, yet very warm. Once utilized by the Inca Royals, alpaca fiber today is a popular material for the works of top Italian designers.

ALPACA FIBER VS. SHEEP'S WOOL There are a number of factors that set alpaca fiber apart from sheep's wool. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the wide range of color naturally occurring in the alpaca population that is not found in sheep. A very important characteristic of alpaca fiber is the handle or the "feel". The pleasing softness felt when alpaca fiber is placed next to the skin can be attributed to a number of factors. The fineness of the fiber contributes to the luxurious silky feel. However, a very fine sheep fleece (i.e. Merino) may have a comparable fineness, but a more harsh handle. This is because handle is also related to additional factures such as scale structure. Alpaca fleeces tend to yield a higher percentage of clean fiber. Alpaca is lanolin-free and can be spun directly off of the animal. Sheep's wool requires cleaning prior to spinning. Alpaca fiber has a higher thermal capacity and is extremely light weight in comparison to sheep's wool. SHEARING Alpacas should be shorn once a year yielding 3-10 pounds of exquisite fleece.

The fiber, virtually grease-free, can be handspun directly off of the animal. Hugo shears all of the alpacas at Alpacas de la Patagonia, as well as those of some of our clients. BREEDING Females are induced ovulators and therefore are ready to breed at most any time of the year. She will ovulate in response to mating and will normally spit off an advancing male if she is pregnant. GESTATION The gestation period is approximately 335 days. BIRTHING Alpacas normally give birth during the day and do not usually require human intervention. Out of hundreds of births that we have attended, we have yet to see a night birth. Shortly following birth, the mother will hum to her baby. ALPACAS IN NORTH AMERICA Most alpaca herds in North America are very small, housing less than 20 animals. These hardy animals are very adaptive and at present can be found on small acreage farms from Alaska to Hawaii. CARE Alpacas are simple to care for. They require little beyond regular worming and vaccinations, in addition to occasional trimming of their nails and teeth. They should be shorn annually.

FEED Alpacas are modified ruminants. For thousands of years, alpacas have lived where grass grows sparsely. They require low amounts of protein in their feed to produce a high quality and healthy fleece. A good quality grass hay and/or pasture are optimum. Because 6-8 alpacas require only 1 acre of pasture, they are ideal for small acreage farms. Alpacas will not normally overeat. Unlike hoofed animals, their softly padded feet are extremely easy on pasture. SHELTER Alpacas originate in the high mountain areas of South America where they do not have any sort of protection from the harsh weather conditions. They are most content when they are outside. However some form of protection from the elements should be provided such as a 3-sided building. Alpacas will not normally challenge a fence. MANURE Conveniently, alpacas deposit their pellet-like manure in common dung piles, allowing for easy clean-up and natural protection against the spread of parasites. This low nitrogen fertilizer is a must for the garden. LIFESPAN Average lifespan is 20 years. Unlike most other types of livestock, alpacas are profitable without going to the slaughterhouse.

SIZE Adult alpacas stand approximately 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 100 - 150 pounds. TERMINOLOGY A baby alpaca is called a "cria". A female is called a "hembra" and a male is called a "macho". TRAVEL In our experience, alpacas travel very well. Upon sensing motion, they usually "kush" or lie down. We have extensive experience in transporting alpacas. ALPACA REGISTRY Virtually all of the alpacas in North American are registered. Parentage is confirmed through DNA testing. INVESTMENT Alpacas are not only enjoyable, but also profitable. Investing in alpacas is a good way to diversify any financial portfolio. Livestock has long been a traditional representation of wealth. Today wealth as a result of livestock ownership is not as common as it once was, but opportunities still exist. Raising alpacas can be a rewarding way to earn a source of revenue and live a satisfying lifestyle. There are many tax advantage of alpaca ownership including the employment of depreciation, capital gains treatment, and the benefit of offsetting ordinary income from other sources with expenses from the ranching business.

Alpaca breeding allows for tax-deferred wealth building. A breeder can purchase alpacas and then allow the herd to grow over time without paying income tax on it's increased size and value. If the same amount of money was invested in a CD, any interest earned would be currently taxable. In addition, the CD could not be depreciated. Alpacas in which you have a cost basis can be written off over a 5-year period if they are being held as breeding stock. Capital improvements to the active or hands-on alpaca breeder's ranch can also be written off against income. Barns, fences, pond construction, driveways, and parking lots can be expensed over their useful life. Equipment such as tractors, pickups, trailers, etc. each have an appropriate schedule for write-off. The sale of breeding stock qualifies for capital gains treatment. Ordinary income is taxed at a maximum rate of up to 31% and capital gains are taxed at rates of up to 20%. The potential profit and tax advantages available to alpaca breeders are important, as is the lifestyle that raising these curious creatures brings to the whole family.

About Alpacas 0 Items ($0.00) View Order About Alpacas The Alpaca (vicugña pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. What is an alpaca? Alpacas are members of the camelid family. The camels that most people are familiar with are the ones with humps; the dromedary of Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia, and the Bactrian camel of China and Tibet. However, there are four other camelids (without humps) that are indigenous to South America: two of them, llamas and alpacas, have been domesticated for thousands of years; whereas the other two varieties, guanacos and vicunas, continue to roam in wild herds today. The alpaca comes in two breed-types: huacaya (pronounced wah‑KI‑ah) and suri (SOO‑ree). Huacayas, the more common type, account for about 90% of all alpacas, and have fluffy, crimpy fleece that gives the animals a teddy bear-like appearance.

Suris, on the other hand, grow silky, lustrous fleece that drapes gracefully in beautiful pencil-locks How long do alpacas live? Generally, around 15 to 20 years. The longest documented lifespan of an alpaca is 27 years. How are alpacas different from llamas? People often confuse alpacas with llamas. While closely related, llamas and alpacas are distinctly different animals. First, llamas are much larger, about twice the size of an alpaca, with an average weight of about 250 to 450 pounds, compared to an alpaca whose weight averages 100 to 200 pounds. Llamas are primarily used for packing or for guarding herds of sheep or alpacas, whereas alpacas are primarily raised for their soft and luxurious fleece. Are alpacas an "exotic species," or are they considered simply "livestock?" Alpacas have been raised as domestic livestock for thousands of years and since the end-product of alpacas is their fleece, like sheep, they are classified as livestock by both the United States and Canadian federal governments. Do alpacas spit?

All members of the camel family use spitting as a means of negative communication. They do get possessive around food, and thus may express annoyance by spitting at other alpacas that they perceive are encroaching on "their" food. Also, they often spit at one another during squabbles within the herd (usually involving two or more males). From time to time alpacas do spit at people on purpose, but it is more common that humans get caught in the cross-fire between alpacas, so it’s best to study their behavior and learn to avoid the most vulnerable situations. Do alpacas make noise? Alpacas are very quiet, docile animals that generally make a minimal amount of sound. They generally make only a pleasant humming sound as a means of communication or to express concern or stress. Occasionally you will hear a shrill sound, called an "alarm call," which usually means they are frightened or angry with another alpaca. Male alpacas also "serenade" females during breeding with a guttural, throaty sound called "orgling." Are alpacas dangerous? No — they are safe and pleasant to be around.

They do not bite or butt and do not have sharp teeth, horns, hooves, or claws as other types of livestock do. They move gracefully and adroitly about the field and are therefore unlikely to run into or over anyone, even small children. Occasionally, an alpaca will reflexively kick with its hind legs, especially if touched from the rear, but the soft padded feet usually do little more than just "get your attention." Is it OK to have just one alpaca? As a general rule, the answer is no. Alpacas have very strong herding instincts and need the companionship of other alpacas to thrive. Gender-appropriate (or neutered) llamas sometimes will successfully bond with an alpaca. Otherwise, it is best to provide each alpaca with a companion alpaca of the same gender. Are alpacas easy to care for? They are a small and relatively easy livestock to maintain. They stand about 36' high at the withers (where the neck and spine come together); weigh between 100 to 200 pounds; and establish easy-to-manage, communal dung piles.

The alpacas need basic shelter and protection from heat and foul weather, just like other types of livestock, and they also require certain vaccinations and anti-parasitic medicines. Their fleece is sheared once a year to keep them cool in summer. Additionally, their toenails need to be trimmed on an as-needed basis to ensure proper foot alignment and comfort. Interestingly, alpacas do not have hooves — instead, they have two toes, with hard toenails on top and a soft pad on the bottom of their feet, which minimizes their effect on pastures and makes them an "environmentally friendly" animal. How much space does it take to raise an alpaca? Because these animals are environmentally friendly and require so little pasture and food, you can usually raise from two to eight alpacas on an acre of land, depending on terrain, rain/snowfall amounts, availability of pasture, access to fresh water, etc. They can also be raised on a dry lot and fed grass hay. Consult with your local USDA office for specific local recommendations. Are alpacas clean animals? Yes, they are much cleaner than most livestock. Alpacas have minimal aroma and tend to attract less flies in the summertime than other forms of livestock.

Furthermore, alpacas often defecate in communal dung piles. There may be three or four of these areas in a pasture, spread throughout about 10% to 20% of the pasture. This makes for easy clean-up, reduced opportunity for parasites, and better overall hygiene in the herd. What do I need by way of shelter and fencing? While the shelter requirements vary depending on weather and predators, as a general rule alpacas need at least a three-sided, open shelter, where they can escape from the heat of the sun in summer and from icy wind and snow in winter. If predators (dogs, coyotes, bears, etc.) are present in your neighborhood, then a minimum of five-foot-high, 2' x 4' no-climb fencing is strongly recommended. Traditional horse fencing with 6' x 6' openings is not recommended, as curious alpacas have been harmed by putting their heads or legs through the openings. What do alpacas eat? Alpacas mainly eat grass or hay, and not much—approximately two pounds per 125 pounds of body weight per day.

The general rule of thumb is 1.5% of the animal’s body weight daily in hay or fresh pasture. A single, 60 pound bale of hay can generally feed a group of about 20 alpacas for one day. Grass hay is recommended, while alfalfa should be fed sparingly, due to its overly rich protein content. Alpacas are pseudo-ruminants, with a single stomach divided into three compartments. They produce rumen and chew cud, thus they are able to process this modest amount of food very efficiently. Many alpacas (especially pregnant and lactating females) will benefit from nutritional and mineral supplements, depending on local conditions. There are several manufactured alpaca and llama feeds and mineral mixes readily available; consult with your local veterinarian to ensure you are feeding the appropriate diet for your area. Alpacas also require access to plenty of fresh water to drink. Alpacas have two sets of teeth for processing food. They have molars in the back of the jaw for chewing cud. But in the front, the alpaca has teeth only on the bottom and a hard gum (known as a dental pad) on the top for crushing grain, grass, or hay.

Unlike goats and sheep that have long tongues which they sometimes use to rip plants out of the ground, alpacas have short tongues and nibble only the tops of grasses and other plants, resulting in less disturbance of the vegetation. However, alpacas are also browsers and will often eat shrubs or the leaves from trees if given the opportunity. This requires monitoring to ensure they do not consume harmful products. Can alpacas thrive in locations with very hot or very cold climates? Generally, yes. Alpacas are amazingly resilient animals and have adapted successfully to the extremes of both very hot and very cold climates. In hot, humid climates, alpaca owners need to take extra precautions to make sure that the alpacas do not suffer from heat stress. These include: shearing fleeces early in the year, providing fans and ventilation in the barn, offering cool fresh water for drinking, and hosing off their bellies (where heat is dissipated) on very hot days. Does the birthing require human assistance? In most cases, cria are born without intervention, and usually during daylight hours. A cria normally weighs between 15 and 19 pounds and is usually standing and nursing within 90 minutes of birth.

The cria continues to nurse for about six months until it is weaned. Are alpacas easy to train? Alpacas are very smart animals and are fairly easy to train. It is best to start training them when they are young so that they will accept a halter and learn to follow on a lead. Many owners also enjoy training them to walk through obstacles; some even compete with their alpacas at shows where they walk over, through, and around objects and also jump over small hurdles. Also, it is helpful to train alpacas to ride in a trailer or van if they ever need to be transported to a show or another farm. Alpacas are easy to transport, as they normally cush (lay down with their legs folded under them) when traveling. So what do you DO with these animals? Alpacas are raised for their soft and luxurious fleece (sometimes called fiber). Each shearing produces roughly five to ten pounds of fleece per animal, per year. This fleece, often compared to cashmere, can be turned into a wide array of products from yarn and apparel to tapestries and blankets. The fleece itself is recognized globally for its fineness, softness, light-weight, durability, excellent thermal qualities, and luster.

In addition to selling the fleece and the animals, many alpaca owners operate a retail store selling alpaca end-products—either on or off their farms. Products are sold directly to consumers at their store or over the Internet. Many also sell alpaca products through craft fairs, farmers markets, and retail sites. Sales of these end-products can provide considerable supplemental income to alpaca owners. What about the fleece? Let’s start by comparing alpaca fleece with wool from most breeds of sheep. In general, alpaca fleece is stronger, lighter, warmer, and more resilient. Finer grades of alpaca fleece (known commercially as "Baby Alpaca") are believed to be hypo-allergenic, meaning it does not irritate your skin as sheep’s wool sometimes does. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca fleece contains no lanolin and is therefore ready to spin after only nominal cleaning. Prized for its unique silky feel and superb "handle," alpaca fleece is highly sought-after by both cottage-industry artists (hand spinners, knitters, weavers, etc.) as well as the commercial fashion industry.

Alpaca fleece has a great variety of natural colors, making it very much in vogue: 16 official colors (white; beige; and shades of fawn, brown, black, and grey) with many other subtle shades and hues. White, light fawn, and light grey can be readily dyed, thus offering a rainbow of colors for the fiber artist. Alpaca fleece can also be combined with other fine fibers such as merino wool, cashmere, mohair, silk, and angora to attain incredibly interesting blends. Do I need to purchase a registered alpaca? Simple answer—yes. Anytime you are investing money, you need to take all the necessary steps to help assure that your investment maintains its value and registered alpacas do just that. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) is the largest alpaca pedigree registry in the world. While AOA provides services to alpaca owners all over the world, they primarily provide pedigree registration and member services to the United States and Canada. AOA is one of the few livestock registries of any kind that requires that every animal be DNA tested back to its parents before being registered.

As a result, AOA registered alpacas are highly desired. Are there organized exhibitions and competitions for alpacas? Yes, there are many alpaca shows (both show ring and fleece judging competitions) held throughout North America where owners can showcase their animals and fleeces. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) certifies regional shows and fairs all over the United States. AOA administers the show rules, trains the judges, and offers other assistance to these certified shows. AOA also hosts the National Alpaca Show & Auction and National Fleece Show each year. South American Alpacas Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile. Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike llamas, alpacas are not used as beasts of burden but are valued only for their fiber. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, much as sheep's wool is.

These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in other parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia and 16 as classified in the United States. Alpacas and llamas differ in that alpacas have straight ears and llamas have banana-shaped ears. Aside from these differences, llamas are on average 1–2 feet taller and proportionally bigger than alpacas. Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years. In fact, the Moche people of Northern Peru often used Alpaca images in their art. There are no wild alpacas. The closest living species are the wild Vicuña, also native to South America. Along with Camels and Llamas, the Alpaca are classified as camelids. The Alpaca is larger than the Vicuña but smaller than the other camelid species.

Of the various camelid species, the Alpaca and Vicuña are the most valuable fiber-bearing animals: the alpaca because of the quality and quantity of its fiber, and the vicuña because of the softness, fineness and quality of its coat. Alpacas are too small to be used as pack animals. Instead, they were bred exclusively for their fiber and meat. Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups consisting of a territorial alpha male, females and their young. They are gentle, elegant, inquisitive, intelligent and observant. As they are a prey animal, they are cautious and nervous if they feel threatened. They like having their own space and may not like an unfamiliar alpaca or human getting close, especially from behind. They warn the herd about intruders by making sharp, noisy inhalations that sound like a high pitch burro bray. The herd may attack smaller predators with their front feet, and can spit and kick. Due to the soft pads on their feet, the impact of a kick is not as dangerous as that of a hoofed animal, yet it still can give quite a bruise, and the pointed nails can inflict cuts.

In the United State and Canada alpaca herds range in size from just a few alpacas all the way up to a few thousand. Common Llama Terminology Common Llama Terminology A sound which llamas, usually the males, make when they feel that the herd is threatened in some way. It sounds similar to an engine trying to start or a turkey call or some combination of the two. Artificial Insemination (AI) A process in which semen from a male llama is manually placed in the cervix or uterus of a female llama by a person. It has not been very successful in llamas. Banana Ears A term used to refer to a particular ear set in llamas where the ears come up and curve inwards similar to the shape and size of a banana. Berserk Male Syndrome A condition where a male llama who has been improperly imprinted on humans becomes physically agressive towards people upon reaching puberty. This behavior is usually not alterable once it begins. Body Score A numerical value from 1 to 9 given to an animal based on how fat or thin they are. The optimal condition is assigned a 5, emaciated is assigned a 1 and obese is assigned a 9.

Bone Used to describe the skeletal frame size of a llama. A llama who with "a lot of bone" has a large frame and thicker bones which are usually apparent by the thickness of the legs. Breeders may try to "put on more bone" in their herd. Colostrum The first milk produced by a female llama around the time of parturition. It is rich in immunoglobulins (antibodies) and other components needed for the neonatal period. Concentrates The component of the diet which is more energy dense with less fiber and given as supplemental feed. This includes many types of grains which can be mixed together to create a feed. Cria The term for a young llama from birth until he/she is weaned. Dam The female parent of a llama. Dung Pile A designated area (usually decided upon by the llamas) where llamas urinate and defecate. There are usually several dung piles within any one field or pasture. Dust Pile A bare area on the ground which llamas use for rolling. Embryo Transfer (ET) A process in which early embryos are removed from one female llama and placed into other female llamas for gestation and rearing.

It has not been very successful in llamas. Forage The component of the diet which is less energy dense and contains more fiber. This includes grasses, legumes and hays. Gait A type of movement or locomotion. The gaits used by llamas are walk, pace, trot, gallop and pronk. See pictures and videos of the different gaits. Gallop A three-beated gait in which all four feet are never on the ground together. This is the fastest camelid gait. See more information on gaits. Get of Sire A class at a llama show where three llamas with the same sire and at least two different dams are shown together as a group. The judge is looking for consistency in the influence of the sire. Going down This is used in reference to a female's receptivity to a male. If she drops into the kushed position, then she is said to have "gone down" for him. Herdsire A male llama who is used to breed female llamas on a llama farm. He may also be called a stud. Humming The sounds that llamas make when they are tired, stressed, hot, uncomfortable, curious or concerned.

There are different types of hums for different causes. Knock-kneed A condition in llamas where the knees on the front legs angle in towards each other. The medical term for this is carpal valgus. It is a conformational fault which will cause llamas to move incorrectly and lead to degenerative joint disease in the future. The knock-kneed llamas will 'wing' when they walk. See the definition of winging for a description. Kush The term for the act of a llama laying down sternally or the actual position a llama is in when it is laying down. It may also be used as a command to get a llama to attain this position. Lama A term used to include both llamas and alpacas since they are both in the genus Lama. People new to the llama and alpaca world often think this is the word llama misspelled. More on classification. Maiden Female A female who has not been bred to a male yet, usually because she is too young. Open Female A female who is not pregnant. Overconditioned The polite way of saying in the showring that a llama is overweight or fat. Learn how to check your llama's body condition.

Pace A two-beated gait in which the front and rear limbs on the same side move forward or back at the same time. It is a medium speed gait and is the least stable. See more information on gaits. Packer A llama who packs seriously with large loads for longer distances. These llamas usually have light wool coverage and are bigger in size. Paddling The term for a faulty movement of llamas. The llama will swing their front feet out away from thier body as they move their leg forward. It is similar to the way a Bulldog might walk and is usually caused by a chest which is too wide. This can be genetic structure or more commonly from a llama who is overweight and has a wide chest from excess fat present there. Potty Pile Another common term used for a dung pile. See the definition under dung pile. Produce of Dam A class at a llama show where two llamas with the same dam and two different sires are shown together as a pair. The judge is looking for consistency in the influence of the dam. Preemie A term used to refer to a cria who was born prematurely.

Pronking A stiff-legged bouncing up into the air that both adult and juvenile llamas do to play with each other or find and elude predators. It is not performed often. See more information on gaits. Rolling An activity which llamas engage in regularly. Llamas lay on their side and roll half-way or completely over several times. It is a way of keeping their fiber open enough to create air pockets for insulation. More about rolling. Sickle-hocked A conformational fault in a llama where the hind feet come too far forward. This creates a sickle shape to the hind end when viewed from the side. Sire The male parent of a llama. Stud A male llama who is used to breed females. He can also be called a herdsire. Three-in-one A common term used to refer to a pregnant female llama who is sold along with her unweaned cria. You are purchasing threee llamas for one price: the female, the cria, and the unborn baby. Tipped ears This is a term used to refer to llamas with ears that are not completely erect. Usually there is a small amount of cartilage at the tips of the ears which is not strong enough to stand up on its own.

This can be genetic or it can be the result of prematurity or frostbite. It is not considered to be a major conformation fault. Topline A common term used to refer to a llama's back, usually as viewed from the side. A level topline is desired from the whithers to the tail. Trot A two-beated gait in which the diagonal front and rear limbs move forward or back at the same time. It is a medium speed gait which is more stable. See more information on gaits . Underconditioned A term used to describe a llama who is underwieght or too thin. Learn how to check your llama's body condition. Walk A four-beated gait which maintains three feet in contact with the ground at any one time. The slowest of the llama gaits. See more information on gaits. Weanling A llama who has been weaned from the mother but is under one year of age. Winging The term used for a faulty movement of llamas. As the llama moves a front foot forward, it will swing the front feet in towards the midline and then back out away from the body before placing it back down.

This is usually associated with knock-kneed llamas and will be more pronounced with severely knock-kneed llamas. Woolies A term sometimes used to refer to llamas who have heavy wool coverage. Yearling 11 Lesser-Known Names for Baby Animals | Mental Floss 11 Lesser-Known Names for Baby Animals ThinkStock Like us on Facebook We know that infant chickens are called chicks and baby ducks are called ducklings. But how do we appropriately refer to the newborn offspring of animals that don’t often get cooed over in their early developmental stages? Here are 11 of some of the more offbeat and uncommon names for baby animals. 1. Baby alpaca/llama: cria Wikimedia Commons Despite the subtle distinctions between llamas and alpacas with regards to size, strength, and quality/quantity of wool fiber produced from their respective fleeces, both animals can interbreed and successfully produce offspring. Both genetically pure llamas/alpacas and their mixed progeny are called cria in the singular, crias in the plural. 2. Baby clam: larva That steaming helping of seafood stew will look much less appetizing with the word “larva” stuck in your head. I’m sorry. 3.

Baby hare: leveret TrekNature.com A curious fact about hares: Rather than sheltering their newborn young from potential dangers in their environment, a mother hare will leave her offspring behind for long periods of time within an hour of their birth in order to avoid attracting predators to them, returning to provide food at night. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton, hoping to curb instances of well-intentioned but ill-informed citizens spontaneously adopting baby hares found in fields, promotes a catchy slogan : "If you see a baby hare, leave it right there!" They may know the correct term is leveret, but it's much harder to rhyme with it. 4. Baby fish: fry, fingerling The names for baby fish are memorable for their irony: fry, a common method of preparing the edible varieties for consumption, and fingerling, a type of potato that pairs well as a side. Not suitable for vegetarians. 5. Baby fox: kit Born blind, deaf, and toothless, fox kits mature quickly. Around 4-5 weeks, their blue eyes darken to amber; within the first month, they develop their trademark white face patches; and they reach adult proportions in as little as six months. 6.

Baby hawk: eyas Thinkstock In general, a fledgling hawk taken from its nest within its first year of life, specifically for the purposes of falconry, is called an eyas. In particular, the two baby hawks born in Washington Square Park under the watchful eye of the New York Times HawkCam in 2012 are called Boo and Scout . 7. Baby pig: shoat/farrow Thinkstock In addition to the more obvious "boarlet" and "piglet," baby hogs and boars may also correctly be referred to as shoats (newly weaned pigs) or a farrow (a collective term for a group of young pigs). For the purposes of a nursery rhyme, however, "this little piggy" is an appropriate substitute. 8. Baby jellyfish: ephyra And the term for a group of jellyfish traveling together: a “smack.” 9. Baby beaver: pup, kit, kitten With names borrowed from both cats and dogs but none truly of their own, it's not hard to imagine a baby beaver might have some identity struggles growing up. 10.

Baby platypus: puggle Baby Animalz Although there’s some controversy over its unofficial status as a legitimate term for baby platypuses, “puggle” is a term borrowed from baby echidnas and applied to its fellow egg-laying mammale. There is no officially recognized label for platypus babies, but in recent years “platypup” has emerged as a more logical but less memorable alternative. And yes, I used “platypuses” as a plural for platypus, and I’m sticking to my guns here. 11. Baby swan: cygnet, flapper Thinkstock The “ugly duckling” may have outgrown his awkward phase and blossomed into a beautiful swan, but I speak from experience: those things are mean. Frequently Asked Questions - The Alpaca Place Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between alpacas and llamas? Llamas are much bigger than alpacas, and have “banana” shaped ears. They are primarily used as a pack animal. An alpaca is principally used for fleece production, they are not suitable physically or temperamentally for freight carriage. They have a much better fleece quality than llamas, with a lot less guard hair.

In New Zealand, alpacas are in more demand than llamas due to their beautiful fleece – call us to find out how you can benefit by owning these beautiful animals! In the silhouette below, the llama is on the left, the alpaca on the right. What do you do with an alpaca? That depends on personal choice! Alpacas are probably the optimum livestock investment in the world. Even small herds can be financially viable, making them ideal for hobby farmers or those with limited land space. Wethers make great pets for people who prefer the livestyle option and have no desire to commercially farm or breed their animals. They can be readily halter trained, and reward their owners with an annual fleece. Alpacas produce a luxurious fibre which can be shorn on an annual basis, and sold as either raw fleece, or manufactured in yarn or fabric. Alpaca textiles are recognised by fashion houses world-wide. Why is buying alpacas a good use of my money? Alpacas are easy to farm and care for. Alpaca farming is a developing industry, the future is bright! How many alpacas can be kept per acre?

Stocking rate is normally quoted as being similar to sheep (around 4-5 per acre) despite the size differential. Most owners are finding however, that alpacas eclectic diet and excellent food conversion means that stocking rates are 50% or more higher than for sheep (ie 6-9 per acre in New Zealand). Stocking rate can in any case be increased by good pasture management and fertilisation, and increased hay feeding of the alpacas. You can keep a pair of wethers on as little as half acre. We started our alpaca farm on just over 2 acres, which enabled us to keep around 12 alpacas. We chose to move to a bigger property, and continue to expand, but this is not everyone’s choice! What do alpacas eat? Alpacas are browsers who eat most varieties of plant life, including grass, foliage and palatable herbs. They have a split upper lip (like a rabbit) which enables them to cleverly nibble around long and sharp thorns. Their diet is similar to a goat, although they chew their cud like a cow, and their digestive system is somewhere between a horse and a cow.

In addition to green plants and grass, they enjoy meadow and lucerne hay, and also concentrates in the form of alpaca nuts, now available commercially (but which should be limited to 1/2 a cup per day). Do not feed alpacas any form of grain or grain based foods including multi nuts, horse nuts, pig nuts or bread – eating grain based foods can lead to ulcers and possible death. Because they have developed in harsh Andean conditions, they do make excellent use of their feed, and can thrive on poorer pasture than most farm stock. Do alpacas require special fencing? No. Normal farm fencing, whether wire-and-batten or sheep mesh is fine. Deer fencing is often used, but is not necessary – alpacas can jump, but not that high! Studs (machos) sometimes need slightly higher fencing to deter them from attempting to get to the object of their desire, but nothing like the height of a deer fence! There is now camelid mesh fencing available – higher than standard fencing and lower than deer fencing, however most alpaca farms still use standard height sheep fencing.

Alpacas do not lean or push on fences as do other animals, nor do they tend to put their heads through fencing in search of greener grass! Electric fencing and barbed wire is not required, and not recommended because both can cause injury to your alpacas. In particular, electrified tape has caused a number of deaths in alpaca: they reach a long way under the tape with their long necks, then lift their head and turn: next thing the tape is wound right around their neck and they are repeatedly shocked until they die. This is an horrific death, and totally needless as alpacas will not challenge the poorest of fences. Are alpacas easy to care for? Very! Compared to other stock species, alpacas are very low maintenance. Basic care includes annual shearing, toenail trimming 3-4 times annually, annual vaccination, worming, and bi-monthly drenching with vitamins A,D&E.. They should have a daily visual check, periodic body scoring and need supplementary hay feeding in winter. These are maintenance issues common to all farm stock.

Also in common with other stock species, they are prone to Rye Grass Staggers (which is preventable), and Facial Eczema (the risk can be reduced). They are do not suffer from bloat, footrot or flystrike. TB testing is not compulsory in New Zealand. They do not need tail docking or crutching. They are not large, strong, heavy, dangerous or difficult to herd and control. How do you transport alpacas? In a horse truck or float, or a covered trailer. Alpaca trailers have now been designed for alpacas, ideal but expensive. Open stock crates are unsuitable – alpacas do not tolerate cold winds or draughts well, and the wind effect created by a moving open trailer is freezing! Alpacas almost always “cush” (sit down) when in a moving vehicle, so they are very stable to tow. You can also transport alpacas in vans that have been adapted for that purpose. Are alpacas intelligent? Yes. Alpacas learn very quickly, and have long memories. They recognise other alpacas they have been close to, even if they have been separated for several years. They seldom forget something they have learnt, either!

They are intensely curious animals, and take a lot of interest in the actions of other animals and people. What sound does an alpaca make? A gentle hum that can be used to express a variety of emotions, from curiosity to interest to anxiety. They have a piercing alarm whistle that is quite distinctive, but seldom heard. The boys have their own unique ‘love song’ – an orgle – when they are wooing their girl. And the wee cria click their tongue when talking to their Mum – its very cute! Generally alpacas are very quiet animals! Are alpacas dangerous? No. Alpacas are very gentle creatures. Their first form of defence is to spit. This is unpleasant, but hardly dangerous! They will kick, but with a soft foot pad, and lacking substantial muscular development, this also is more likely to be unpleasant rather than painful. The only exception to this is an” over-humanised ” alpaca that is unable to distinguish the normal boundaries that exist between species resulting in aggression by the alpaca. This is not a naturally occurring syndrome, but one which is created by inappropriate handling by owners. Correct handling as a cria will prevent this. It is impossible to cure. How many alpacas do I need?

A minimum of two adults – although three is preferable. Alpacas are highly socialised and suffer mental and emotional – even physical – deprivation if kept in solitary confinement. The company of other animal species is not sufficient, they need other alpacas. A reputable and caring breeder should refuse to sell you less than two alpacas as a starting herd. Call us to find out some of the options for a starter herd. What use is a wether? Wethers make great pets! They can be taught to lead and there are even pet alpaca performance classes at some A&P shows. If you want to own alpacas, but have either time, space or budget restrictions, wethers are a low-cost option that lets you have all the pleasures of owning alpacas without the responsibilities of being a breeder. If you have only a small acreage, having two or three wethers means you don’t have to worry about running out of grazing or space, nor have the emotional anguish of having to sell animals you are fond of, just because you have run out of space.

If your interest is in fibre, rather than breeding, having a wether herd gives you an annual supply of fleece for your own use , plus the pleasure of owning these sweet and attractive animals. When buying a starter flock for breeding, buying a wether for company for a breeding female keeps down the initial cost of starting up your new business. Even when you have an established herd, having a wether is still useful – he can be used as a Public Relations animal (intact males have their minds on other matters, and females can become stressed if taken away from familiar surroundings with a cria, or when heavily pregnant). If you need to separate one animal from the herd or to transport a female for breeding take your wether along also! Pop a wether in with young stock at weaning time – babies like the reassuring company of adults. Wethers can safely be kept in with your breeding females without any risk of an undesirable pregnancy. Whatever way you look, wethers are a good investment choice! Wethers will provide you with a fleece every year, some of very high quality. If you are a hand-spinner, spinning alpaca fibre will give you a luxurious yarn, and it is no harder to spin than sheep’s wool.

Light coloured alpaca can be readily dyed, or if you prefer natural colours, buy a coloured alpaca! If you are not interested in spinning your own, there are commercial spinners who can turn your fibre into yarn ready for you to knit or spin, or you can simply sell the unprocessed fleece. When you buy your alpaca from The Alpaca Place, we will make sure you are aware of your options. Why should I buy alpacas? There are alpacas to suit every dream – whether as gentle and attractive pets, or as fibre producers, or for hobby breeders who love having alpaca babies around, or for serious farmers and investors. If you have a lifestyle block or small farm, alpacas have to be the livestock of choice – they are easy to care for, have minimal health care, are easy on pasture and fencing, produce fleece annually, sale of surplus animals provides a lucrative return on investment, are gentle, physically unimposing, non-aggressive animals that are ideal for the novice animal handler, and they are viable to keep even on small acreage.

When you purchase from The Alpaca Place, we will train you how to handle these gentle animals in a manner that keeps them easy to catch and handle. Book your farm visit today to see for yourself how owning alpacas will improve your lifestyle choice! What sort of land is best for an alpaca? Alpacas can thrive on all types of land. They are very good converters of food to energy, and do not require lush pastures or fertile soils. They enjoy running on hills, but can be equally at home on flat pasture. Alpacas are being successfully farmed in New Zealand from the far North to Southland. Their versatility also see them flourishing internationally in lands as diverse as Australia, Japan, the UK, and USA and Europe What is the negative side of owning alpacas? The high cost of purchasing your initial breeding stock. However, once you have overcome this hurdle, it becomes much easier to obtain subsequent females, as you will breed some of your own, or be able, over time, to sell a few wethers which will give you a substantial part of a purchase price for another female. Do alpacas have any other uses besides fibre?

In South America, alpacas are used for meat, as well as shorn for fibre. However, in the Western world, alpacas are not routinely slaughtered for human consumption. Alpacas have proven, that with appropriate care, they can continue to produce cria right up to their late teens, or early twenties, making breeding females far too valuable to eat. The high return available by breeding alpacas makes reproduction the major use of alpacas at this time. For owners of small blocks of land who require some form of livestock to keep vegetation under control, the alpaca has no peer! They are gentle and easy to handle, their care is largely trouble-free, they are not hard on pasture, nor are they rough on fencing. The value of alpacas as pets should also not be under-rated. They can be readily tamed and trained to become personable pets that owners can be proud of, and are exotic enough to provide you with a pet that will be the envy of your friends and neighbours! Are there any special terms for alpacas? Males are termed machos, females are called hembra, unweaned babies are known as cria and yearlings are known as tui.

A castrated, or gelded, male is a wether. In fact, only the terms “cria” and “wether” are in common usage in New Zealand, males are more often called studs, and hembras generally termed females. As tui is the name of a native bird in New Zealand this term is not used for yearling alpacas here. How long do alpacas live for? Alpacas can live well past 20 years of age, and will breed for most of those! Most females can produce 10 – 12 cria in a lifetime, repaying your investment over and over again. At what age do alpacas start breeding? It used to be common for females to be mated at just 12 months, although experience has proved that 18 – 24 months is a better age when the females are more mature. Males generally do not start breeding until they are 2-3 years old. How long are females pregnant for? Around 11 ½ months, although it is not uncommon for birth to occur a few weeks early, or to be 4-6 weeks overdue! How do you shear alpacas?

Alpacas are shorn restrained in a prone position on the ground, or on a specially designed “shearing table”. Once one side has been shorn, they are rolled over and the other side is shorn. The same shearing equipment is used as for sheep, and they can be either blade (manually) shorn, or electric shears can be used. Can you run alpacas with other animals? Alpaca are gentle and non-aggressive. They are never a threat to other pastoral species. However, because of their relative lack of strength and defensive ability, care should be taken when stocking them in the same pasture as other animals. Sheep are fine, but cattle tend to be too big and boisterous, and even a quiet horse can deliver a powerful kick when startled. We have no personal experience with goats and deer, however feel that a good rule of thumb when considering cross grazing alpacas with other species, is to keep your alpacas in a separate paddock to the others. Do alpacas have twins? Twins are occasionally conceived, but only rarely survive. A foetus usually develops in the larger of two uterine horns.

When twins are conceived the second foetus will usually develop in the smaller uterine horn, but in many cases there simply isn’t room for two developing foetuses, which will abort prematurely. When do alpacas have their cria? Normally late morning to mid afternoon, and most often on a warm, sunny day. However, on occasion, alpacas will be born on a cold or rainy day, or outside the mid-day time window, so always keep a close eye on your alpaca. An alpaca who is still in labour late afternoon or evening is often in trouble – be prepared to call your vet! How do you round alpacas up? If you have properly handled alpacas you should be able to call them into a catch pen, or new field. Leading a well-trained animal on a halter is much easier than attempting to push or pull your alpaca around! However, sometimes you will need to herd alpacas, and this is best achieved by two or three people. Simply walk behind the animals in the direction you wish them to move, preferably using a training wand or similar. A rope held between two people is very effective!

Shepherd dogs cannot be used for herding as alpacas do not respond to these as sheep and cattle do. Training in how to herd your alpacas is part of the on-going support offered by The Alpaca Place to its customers. Can you keep male and female alpacas together? No. You can keep most males together, females together, wethers together or in company with females and most males. However, a pregnant female wants nothing to do with an entire male, who will pester them in the hopes they might be receptive. Do you need to keep alpacas indoors in winter? Not in New Zealand! If you live in area prone to snow, you may need to build a shelter shed, but be prepared to lock your alpacas in as they seldom seek this type of protection! An alpaca’s natural environment is very harsh, and they can cope with most cold and wet conditions. They are susceptible to cold winds, so windbreaks are essential. They suffer more from heat in summer than cold in winter, so shade from the sun is also essential. How easy is it to find a Vet who is experienced in the care of alpacas? Its becoming easier!

Many vets have minimal experience with camelids, but more and more are taking an interest in camelids. However, finding a vet who is ready to admit their lack of experience and then do research, consult other veterinary professionals, and listen to you as the person with “hands on” experience, and you will probably receive very good care for your alpaca. By the very nature of the profession they have chosen, most vets are interested in animals and more than happy to increase their knowledge base. Beware the vet who will not listen to you, who assumes you know nothing because you are not qualified, or who tries to give the impression they are more experienced than they actually are – find another vet! If you can, talk to other alpaca owners in your area, and see if they will recommend a vet. It may be worth paying a little extra in travel costs to obtain the services of a competent and interested vet. New Zealand’s Massey University has increased the camelid training veterinary students receive, so finding vets experienced in alpaca care is becoming easier. What are the Veterinary & Medical costs associated with alpacas?

Very low – most owners can learn to do basic medical care such as drenching, vaccinations and toenail trimming themselves – and this training is included in the support package offered by The Alpaca Place. Most cria are born without assistance on sunny days. Wethers must be castrated by a vet under either general or local anaesthetic. In fact, many veterinary costs are incurred voluntarily by the owner, if they do not want to undertake basic care themselves, or want a pregnancy confirmed by bloodtest or ultrascan. Alpacas are very healthy animals, and many problems can be averted by proper care – see our “ Health and Welfare ” pages. Are alpacas prone to any diseases? Facial eczema, rye grass staggers, phosphate and vitamin D deficiency, are conditions that alpacas have been identified as being susceptible to. These are conditions or syndromes that are common to all livestock species, and the risk can be reduced or controlled by proper management and care. See “ Health and Welfare ” How can I make money out of alpacas?

Selling their fleece (they are shorn annually) Selling products made from alpaca fibre Selling alpaca related products Selling stock you have bred Selling the stud services of your macho Agisting animals for other owners Composting alpaca dung and selling as fertiliser Learning to shear, and selling your services as an alpaca shearer Charging the public to visit your alpaca farm Long Neck Acres: Frequently Asked Questions about Alpacas Long Neck Acres: Frequently Asked Questions about Alpacas Featured Items Frequently Asked Questions about Alpacas 1. What is an Alpaca? Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, along with llamas, camels, guanacos, and vicuñas. 2. Are there different types? Yes. There are two types. The suri (sir-e) has long fibers that resemble strands of rope. The huacaya (wa-ki-a) has a more fluffy fiber with a lot of crimp. All of the alpacas at Long Neck Acres are huacayas. 3. How do you call the members of an Alpaca Family? The baby is called a cria(cre-a), the father a sire, and the mother a dam. 4.

How big are Alpacas? Baby alpacas weigh 10-20 pounds at birth. In adulthood, they weigh between 100 and 175 pounds. Adults are about as tall as your hip, or 36 inches tall. 5. Do they spit? Not very often. When they do, it's usually when their food or young is threatened. As a general rule alpacas are very social and each has a distinct personality. They are gentle and non-aggressive and will halter train and even perform on an obstacle course or dress in costume for parades. They have no upper teeth, will not bite, and children are always attracted to alpacas as alpacas are to them. 6. How long do they live? Alpacas live around 20-25 years. 7. What do you feed an Alpaca? Alpacas graze, as well as eat low protein hay with a grain supplement. The cost to feed an alpaca should not exceed $7 or $8 a month if they are 100% hay fed and even less if they are able to graze 8. Do we need a big ranch? No.

Alpacas do very well on small acreage. 8 to 10 alpaca can graze on 1 acre quite easily. Many people purchase alpacas and board them with another alpaca owner. The cost for boarding is $2 to $3 per day per alpaca. This would include feed, immunizations, and routine care. 9. Are they messy? No. Alpacas do not spread manure around like horses do. They will establish an area to use and then deposit their virtually odorless droppings in the same area each time, so cleanup is easy. The waste can be placed in a compost pile and makes excellent fertilizer. 10. Do we need a barn? No. The only requirement is shade and a windbreak. Alpacas are accustomed to the cold weather of the Andes Mountains. Their fiber provides excellent insulation and protection from the cold. As for heat protection, they should be shorn in spring or early summer allowing them to remain cool during the hot summer months, and shade is a must. 11. Do we need elaborate fences? Fences are erected not as much to keep alpacas in (they will rarely challenge a fence), but more to keep predators out.

Dogs and coyotes are the predators we worry about the most. Breeders will commonly use a 5 to 6 foot perimeter fence made of welded wire or non-climb mesh. 12. What about breeding? Alpacas are mature enough to breed around 12 to 16 months old. They have no season, or menstrual cycle, as many other animals do. Rather, they are induced ovulators, meaning the eggs of the female are released in response to mating. Gestation lasts about 11 months and they are usually rebred 2 weeks after delivery. Crias are weaned between 5 to 6 months of age. The females breeding years are limited to about 15. Males develop more slowly and are ready to breed between 2 to 3 years old. 13. Do they require special veterinary care? Not really. Most of the health care that alpacas require can be done by the owner. They need an immunization injection once a year, deworming medication several times a year, and toe nails trimmed on occasion. Under 5% of births are complicated and require veterinary intervention. 14. Do you shear Aplacas?

Yes, alpacas are usually shorn once a year in the spring or early summer. The fleece from shearing one year's growth will weigh about 5 pounds per alpaca, enough to make 6 or 7 sweaters. Their fiber is an incredible commodity. It is soft like cashmere and strong like mohair. Alpaca fleece is very warm and is an exceptional insulator, because the fibers are medullated (hollow). Alpacas rarely have guard hairs like sheep (guard hairs give wool its scratchy feel) so alpaca products feel very soft and comfortable. 15. Who do you sell the fiber to? There are 2 main outlets to market your fiber. Weavers and hand spinners love to work with alpaca fiber. The price is influenced by the color and the quality of the fleece with the average price being $3 to $5 per ounce. The second outlet is the commercial market. The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association is working with The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America to further develop the commercial market. As the total amount of fiber in the US increases, the commercial market may become a preferred option. 16. Are Alpacas expensive? Yes!

A bred female will command a price between $5,000 and $30,000. Males have an even greater price range. A male with herdsire qualities will go for between $5,000 and $226,000. Pet or companion males (non-breeding) can be purchased for $300 to $3,000. 17. Why are they so expensive? High demand and limited supply. Alpacas were first imported into the United States in 1985, and importation is now closed. Herd growth is slow, (because alpacas can only have one cria per year). Both of these factors mean that supply is low. Demand has increase over the last few years as people learn more about alpaca fleece quality as well as investment potential. Updated May 29, 2013 Its young are called crias | Crossword Puzzle Clue | CrosswordGiant.com Its young are called crias Its young are called crias Clue: Its young are called crias We have 1 possible answer for the clue Its young are called crias which appears 1 time in our database.

Question: What is a young alpaca called?
Answer: Cria