Alpacas

Today we stopped by the local alpaca farm to check out these adorable creatures.  They were having a sort of visit the alpacas day.  Alpacas are seriously cute!!!  They are also very gentle by nature.  For me, their most striking feature is their eyes.  Big, dark, brown eyes that show you into their souls in a way.  We had a personalized tour around the farm by the owner who was happy to share his knowledge of alpacas with us.  The girls even were allowed to go in the fence with a mother and baby, Gloria and Periwinkle.

Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a species of South America.  Alpacas are bread for their fiber also called fleece.  Alpaca fleece is soft beyond compare.  You can make all sorts of goodies with alpaca fleece, sweaters, socks, gloves, scarves, etc.  Alpaca fleece is also very expensive.  They had alpaca fleece for sale today at the farm that came from their alpacas.  The farmer shears the alpacas and has their fleece turned into the softest knitting material you will ever feel.  Let me tell you, it is very expensive as well.  We will not be knitting anything from alpaca fleece any time in the near future.  One skein, which is not even 1/3 of the size of regular yarn from a store, was over $22.  

Did you know alpacas are members of the camel family?  Alpacas live between 18 to 25 years.  Alpacas have a gestational period of approximately 11.5 months, and the babies are called crias.  Babies weigh between 16 to 20 pounds and adults can weigh anywhere from 150 to 185 pounds.  The farm we visited today had 5 babies which they keep with their mothers in a separate section of the pasture than the other alpacas.  All of his alpacas had registration papers.  The farmer told us that alpacas can cost anywhere from $100 to $625,000.  ((((((((((((WHAT))))))))))))))))) $625,000!  He actually told us that 2 of the babies he currently has are from the most expensive male alpaca in the world.  Their dad is the $625,000 alpaca.  All of the babies he has now will go to auction soon.  He said if he does not sell them at auction, they will all be pets.  He actually asked me if we were currently looking to have an alpaca as a pet but I think we will just stick to the 10+? pets we have now.    

Alpacas are very social/herd animals.  They have a "community poop pile" or "dung pile."  They all use the same spot where they do not graze.  Alpacas are ruminants (cud-chewers).  Did you know that alpacas do not have upper teeth?  They also have 2 large, strong, sharp toenails on each foot.  We were told that they have very soft pads on the bottoms of their feet so they do not damage the pastures.  The farmer also told us that alpacas do not generally spit at people unless they have been abused by people.  They do spit, however, but it is generally at each other.  The males may spit at each other when they are scared, mad, or want to show displeasure with one another.  A female may spit to let a male know that she is not interested.

The alpaca farm we visited today also had several imported items from Peru made with alpaca fleece for sale.  All very expensive but you will not find a softer feeling material anywhere.

They were very knowledgeable and very happy to share all they know about alpacas with everyone.  I really enjoyed listening to the information about the alpacas and having the tour.  I am sure we will go for another visit soon.

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