Alpaca FAQ - Heart's Desire Farm LLC

Frequently Asked Alpaca Questions

Q.	What do you do with an alpaca?
A.	They provide an excellent investment opportunity, and are the source of luxurious fiber. The fleece, comparable to cashmere, is known for its fineness, light weight, and luster. Alpaca textile products are recognized worldwide. Everyone should own a soft, warm alpaca sweater.
Q.	What do alpacas do besides grow fiber?
A.	They make excellent companion animals and are also show animals with high aesthetic appeal. They have lovable dispositions. Alpacas are easily trained to lead and are gentle enough to be handled by children. They are always a hit in a parade.
Q.	What do alpacas eat?
A.	They are ruminants, which means they chew cud like a cow or deer. They survive well on different kinds of low protein hay or pasture grass, providing it has a balanced mineral content. Because alpacas evolved in harsh conditions, they utilize their food more efficiently than other ruminants. They cost about as much per month to feed as a dog.
Q.	Are alpacas smart?
A.	Yes, they are amazingly alert animals who quickly learn to halter and lead. They constantly communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements, and a variety of sounds. The sound heard most often is a soft humming, a mild expression befitting a gentle animal.
Q.	Do alpacas spit?
A.	They will spit on one another if sufficiently angered, but they rarely spit on people.
Q.	Are alpacas easy to care for?
A.	They are small and easy to maintain, rarely overeat and require no extraordinary care. They should have basic shelter for protection against heat and foul weather. A three-sided lean-to is sufficient. They do not challenge fences. They simply need shearing, worming and vaccinations.
Q.	How much acreage does it take to raise alpacas?
A.	They are an ideal small acreage livestock. You can comfortably stock between five and ten animals per acre. This makes the alpaca ideal for people who have only a few acres and who want the pleasure of a small herd and healthy investment return.
Q.	How do you transport alpacas?
A.	They are stress resistant, load and travel calmly and can be transported in the family mini van, station wagon, utility vehicle or horse trailer. Some breeders have been known to transport their alpacas in small planes. Once enroute, the alpaca lies down and enjoys the ride.
Q.	What do you call an alpaca?
A.	A baby is known as a cria. Weaned crias are known as weanlings or tuis. In Spanish, the adult males are known as Machos and the females are Hembras.
Q.	Are alpacas dangerous?
A.	Absolutely not! They are safe and pleasant to be around. They do not bite or butt, and they do not have the teeth, horns, hooves or claws to do serious injury.

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