How long do alpacas live?
Alpacas have a lifespan of about 20 years.

How big are they?
Alpacas weigh about 45 to 50 kg and stand about 36'' tall at the withers. Cria babies weigh about 6 to 8 kg at birth.

Do they get many illnesses?
Alpacas are extremely hardy. They get very few diseases but do need vaccinations every 6 months. Insurance is relatively cheap because they are hardy and vet bills are low.

What do they eat?
They graze and have hay in the winter. They also have a feed supplement once a day which gives them a correct balance of minerals and vitamins. About 5 to 10 alpacas can be kept per acre depending on the quality of the grass and the time of the year.

How long is their gestation?
Alpacas have a gestation of about 11 months. They give birth to a cria which weighs about 6 to 8 kg. They tend to be born in day light in the late morning. They very rarely have twins but they do not usually survive. The cria is weaned at about 5-6 months.

Are they difficult to breed?
The females are first bred at about 18 months of age. They are induced ovulators and therefore can be bred at any time. The females are generally remated 2 to 6 weeks after the birth. Males become fertile at about 1.5 to 3 years. Only about 3% of males are good enough for stud but most of the females can be used for breeding.

Do they need special shelter or fencing?
Alpacas need a field shelter to allow them to get out of the rain and the sun but they do not need to be brought in during bad weather and they do not need stabling. Alpacas do not challenge fences and so a 4 foot fence is adequate. Barbed wire should be removed as their wool can get tangled in it and they can get trapped.

Do they affect the pasture?
Alpacas are very gentle on the land because they have padded feet and therefore do not churn up the ground. They deposit their droppings in piles in only a few sites and therefore cleaning up is easier.

How are alpacas transported?
Alpacas are easy to transport in any covered trailer, horse box or even a van. They tend to sit down on the journey.

Can alpacas be kept on their own?
No, alpacas are a herd animal and will become very stressed if kept alone even for short periods. They should be kept in groups of 3 or more. Alpacas can be run with other animals such as goats and sheep and provide good protection from foxes for these animals.

Are alpacas easy to handle?
Alpacas are very gentle and easy to handle. They can be harness trained very easily especially when young. They occasionally spit but only when provoked e.g. when being vaccinated. Some will kick when being touched on their back legs but if handled when young, they can be desensitised in this area. Alpacas have only lower teeth which meet on a hard upper pad. They don't tend to bite, but sometimes pull at clothing to attract attention!

How often do they need shearing?
Alpacas need shearing once a year although suris are sometimes sheared every 2 years. A sheep shearer would be able to shear an alpaca using electric sheep shears. On average a fleece will weigh about 4kg but some high density stud males have fleece weights much higher than this.

What colours can alpacas be?
There are 22 fleece colours ranging from white to fawns to browns to black, there are also greys and rose greys. They stay the colour they are at birth throughout life except that amniotic fluid stains the fleece slightly.

Do alpacas make good pets?
Alpacas make excellent pets. They are intelligent, easily trained and are very gentle with children. They are inquisitive, approaching people who stand and watch them. They will eat out of the hand if time is spent and training to lead by a halter is straightforward.