Alpacas

Alpacas

Huacaya

Other names- none.

Use- high quality fiber.

Best known for- high quality fiber, looks.

Physical description- a lot like a llama but smaller with a slight teddy bear

appearance.

Color- white, off white,  black, tan, grey, brown, red or spotted.

Weight- 100-200 pounds.

Temperament- varies, usually very gentle, but can be quite skittish.

History- they come from Peru, Bolivia, and Chile; where they are prized for

their wool. The Huacaya was brought to North America in the 1980's.

Climate-they are adaptive.

Health/care- in the U.S.A. they live 15-25 years.

Reproduction- a female alpaca will have one cria after an 11 month

gestation, twins are very rare.

Production- an adult alpaca gives 5-10 pounds of fiber a year. Their wool

has no lanolin so it is hypoallergenic and not very water proof. The

Huacaya’s wool is soft and easy to spin. The alpaca's manure does not need

to be composted before being put in a garden.

Notes-it (may be) pronounced whu-kay-yu.

Availability- they are growing in number but are still very expensive.

Suri

Other names-none.

Use-wool.

Best known for-high quality fiber, looks.

Physical description-corded/silky looking wool but otherwise like the

Huacaya.

Color-white, off white, spotted, black, tan, grey, brown, or red.

Weight-Suris may weigh slightly more on average

Temperament- varies, usually very gentle, but can be quite skittish.

History-like llamas they are native to South America. 100 white Suris where

imported to North America in 1991.

Climate-very adaptive.

Health/care- in the U.S.A. they live 15-25 years.

Reproduction- a female alpaca will have one cria after an 11 month gestation, twins are very rare.

Production-very expensive wool, fiber is very soft and may be hard to spin

but the end product is softer than Huacaya fiber. The alpaca's manure does

not need to be composted before being put in a garden.

Notes-

Availability-extremely rare.  

                                                            Liz