- Where are alpacas from?
Alpacas are thought to be a cross between llamas and vicuñas. Stories of alpacas can be found dating back to Incan times. They originated in Bolivia, Peru and Chile. - How long do they live?
Alpacas live from 18-26 years. - Are there a lot of alpacas in the UK?
There are almost 50,000 alapacas in the UK. Most alpaca still live in South America. - How big do they get?
Alpaca grow to almost a metre to their wither (bottom of their neck) and can weigh as much as 90kg. They are usually only 6-8 kg when they are first born. - How much they eat?
One acre can sustain between 5 and 10 alpaca depending on how good the pasture is, how much land rotation is possible and how much additional hay you want to feed them. Supplements are needed in the winter or for females, when they are lactating or weaning or towards the end of their pregnancy. - How long are alpacas preganant for?
The normal gestation period is just under a year. With mating commencing just 2 weeks after giving birth. - How much fleece do they grow?
In the fist year, you can expect about 2kg of fleece but when fully mature females have around 3-4 kg but males can have as much as 8kg. - Will alpacas tolerate other animals?
Quite often you can find alpacas grazing with sheep, cows or horses. They will see off strange dogs but when they are happy and settled they get used to the dogs living on the farm.