Alpacas are a livestock animal so is raised like goats and sheep. They are a herd animal so they will thrive better within a herd. Each will have its own personality and treated gentle will become very friendly. They are one of the easiest livestock animals to raise. They are safe to have around children because they don’t have the teeth, horns, or claws to do damage. Most alpacas are timid and gentle and they don’t usually challenge fences. They are from the Andes mountains so they can withstand harsh winter climates. It falls below freezing 300 days a year in the Andes. They have a community dung pile so it is easy to keep the barnyard clean.
Alpacas are a good investment. A breeding female produces one cria a year so your herd will increase rapidly. In today’s market you can purchase a good breeding female with good bloodlines for $10,000. Watch for a good package deal for the best prices. A nice herdsire can be purchased for $3,000 to $10,000. After you purchase your first alpacas you may want to grow your herd for 3-5 years before you start marketing. This gives you time to grow and develop your herd, get experience in the show ring, join alpaca organizations, volunteer at the shows, get established in the alpaca community and learn all you can from other alpaca breeders.
Adult alpacas weigh from 150-200 lbs, adult llamas weigh from 300-400 lbs. Alpacas are bred for their superior fiber and llamas are bred to be used as a guard or pack animal, they can carry 70-100 lbs along mountain trails. Llamas sell for $200-$20,000 and alpacas sell for $500-$500,000.
Alpacas eat a fraction of what a horse will eat. I am feeding 20 alpacas right now. Sixteen are adult or young adult and four are under six months old and I am feeding about a bail a day.
Alpacas are very smart and easy to care for. Once you establish a schedule of chores, they go with the flow and cooperate well. They are very alert and aware of everything going on around them. They are easy to halter train and learn quickly. They communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements, and different sounds. Their most common sound is a soft humming noise.
It is a good idea to have a good guard dog for your alpacas. They seem to be less nervous when they have a guard watching out for them and you will sleep better at night.
You can enjoy a small alpaca herd with less than two acres of land. A three sided loafing shed for shelter and shade is all they need for housing.
Alpacas are a good investment. A breeding female produces one cria a year so your herd will increase rapidly. In today’s market you can purchase a good breeding female with good bloodlines for $10,000. Watch for a good package deal for the best prices. A nice herdsire can be purchased for $3,000 to $10,000. After you purchase your first alpacas you may want to grow your herd for 3-5 years before you start marketing. This gives you time to grow and develop your herd, get experience in the show ring, join alpaca organizations, volunteer at the shows, get established in the alpaca community and learn all you can from other alpaca breeders.
Adult alpacas weigh from 150-200 lbs, adult llamas weigh from 300-400 lbs. Alpacas are bred for their superior fiber and llamas are bred to be used as a guard or pack animal, they can carry 70-100 lbs along mountain trails. Llamas sell for $200-$20,000 and alpacas sell for $500-$500,000.
Alpacas eat a fraction of what a horse will eat. I am feeding 20 alpacas right now. Sixteen are adult or young adult and four are under six months old and I am feeding about a bail a day.
Alpacas are very smart and easy to care for. Once you establish a schedule of chores, they go with the flow and cooperate well. They are very alert and aware of everything going on around them. They are easy to halter train and learn quickly. They communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements, and different sounds. Their most common sound is a soft humming noise.
It is a good idea to have a good guard dog for your alpacas. They seem to be less nervous when they have a guard watching out for them and you will sleep better at night.
You can enjoy a small alpaca herd with less than two acres of land. A three sided loafing shed for shelter and shade is all they need for housing.
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