- Quick Answers to Quick Questions continued
ARE ALPACAS DESTRUCTIVE TO PASTURE?
No. Alpacas have several unique features which make them a very environmentally friendly livestock. Unlike horses and cows, Camelids don’t have hooves. They have soft pads on their feet with two toenails on each foot. This foot structure makes the animals very easy on pasture since they don’t cut deep tracks or destroy tender grasses when walking on them. When they graze, they nibble on only the tops of the grass so they do not clear pastures so much as trim them. Alpacas are also neat. They use communal dung piles and choose one or two areas in each pasture for use. This makes clean-up very easy and cuts down on possible parasite problems from dung left to decay in the field.
ARE ALPACAS AT RISK FROM PREDATORS?
In the wild, Alpacas are at risk from all large predators. Their only defense is to run away. In North America, Alpacas can be protected from predators such as dog packs, bobcats and coyotes with adequate perimeter fencing, livestock protection dogs and even Llamas. Yes, Llamas. Llamas have the size necessary to take on most predators and will bond with the alpaca herd and protect them when necessary. A combination of good fences and protective animals should keep your Alpaca herd safe and happy.
ARE ALPACAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANY DISEASES?
Alpacas have not been found to be susceptible to most large livestock diseases. They receive yearly inoculations against tetanus. Because the alpaca has been in North America for such a relatively short period of time, 20 years, the research community is continually working to discover anything that might be a threat to our precious animals. They are vigilant in bringing updated information to alpaca breeders.
TELL ME ABOUT BIRTHING?
Alpacas have a gestation period of between 335 and 365 days. It is a long wait for any owner but it is worth it. A female Alpaca will give birth to one baby, called a cria, with very little help from human friends. The cria will come out nose and front legs first followed quickly by the rest of the body. The placenta will come out anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours later. When the cria arrives, it is usually in the morning hours before noon so it has plenty of time to dry and practice on its new legs before nightfall. The cria usually weighs between 14 and 20 pounds at birth and will nurse for between 4 to 6 months before being weaned from the mother, called a Dam.
WHY DO WE RAISE THEM?
Like sheep, we raise them for breeding stock and FIBER. And what fiber it is. With all its unique thermal properties, the lightness of weight and the softness of cashmere, Alpaca fiber is a natural luxury fiber. Our task now is to produce enough quality animals to develop a full fiber industry in this country. We breed for the best qualities and continue to insure the health and well being of this fabulous animal for ourselves and future generations.
With a gestation period of 11 months and only one cria delivered at a time, the Alpaca reproduce very slowly in comparison to many other livestock animals a fact that only increases their value. Alpaca prices have been stable for the past 19 years and we will be in a breeding market for years to come. It is estimated that we will need 200,000 fiber producing Alpacas before we can develop a commercial fiber industry in the United States. We currently have 42,000 Alpacas in this country. Say, for the sake of base calculation, that 25,000 of those are breeding females. If they give birth to one healthy cria per year and they produce 50% female cria we have a minimum of 10 years before we have enough Alpacas in this country to support a commercial fiber industry. New breeders are an essential element in the success of this future fiber industry.
WHAT IS AGISTING?
Agist is just another word for boarding. People who want to start their investment in alpacas right away, but don’t currently have any land of their own, will agist their animals with another ranch until they procure land.
WHY CAN’T I PURCHASE JUST ONE ALPACA TO BEGIN MY HERD?
Alpacas are herd animals. If they are kept alone, without other alpacas, they get lonely. They feel like they have been separated from the herd and are much more vulnerable. They can become depressed and worry themselves into an ulcer. Ulcers are very dangerous for alpacas and can cause death so you want to be sure that any alpaca has a buddy in the pasture. If finances are limited and you want to start your breeding program, purchase a single, bred female and then buy an inexpensive gelding to keep her company. Another option would be to agist your female with a ranch that has multiple animals. They can take care of all the management of the animal while you enjoy the financial benefits.
HOW AND WHEN DO I INSURE MY ALPACAS?
One of the best protections of your alpaca investment is that you can insure an animal for its full value against death or theft. There are several agencies that will insure livestock such as alpacas including Wilkins Livestock Insurers . You should insure the animals s soon as you sign the contract of purchase. Be sure to check with the person selling the alpaca to coordinate their closure of insurance to overlap with your new policy. When you have your first cria they can be insured at 6 months of age without an IGG count or 3 months of age with an IGG count.
HOW AND WHEN DO I REGISTER MY ALPACAS?
The Alpaca Registry is continuously improving its processes. Registering an alpaca that you own completely is as easy as submitting a blood sample and ARI numbers on the Dam and Sire. If you are buying an alpaca on time, then you need to transfer the certificate once the animal has been completely paid off. Instructions on registration are available from the Alpaca Registry Inc. (see our links page for a link to their website).
