| For those who don't know, alpacas are small-built | | | | than any other mammal, makes them even more |
| mammals standing about 5 feet tall and weighing 100 | | | | commercially viable. |
| to 200 pounds. They belong to the camel family, and | | | | They are present in more than 22 colors, with white, |
| are related to the Asian camel, the South American | | | | beige, fawn, brown, grey, and black being the main |
| llama and the vicuna. | | | | ones. Spots are also prevalent, similar to pinto and |
| They originally bred in Bolivia, Chile and Peru in South | | | | appaloosa horses, as also different color face and legs |
| America. When invading Spaniards brought European | | | | from the rest of the body. |
| cattle with them, alpacas were forced to migrate to | | | | Apart from having enough finances, you must also |
| the Andes mountains where they settled down and | | | | have the right aptitude to rear alpacas. You must love |
| bred. | | | | animals, and the outdoors, and be attuned to raising |
| These gentle and docile animals are mainly raised for | | | | pets. In other words, you must make sure you give |
| their luxurious fleece or fiber. Alpaca fiber is woven to | | | | them love and affection, and treat them as "family". |
| provide warm clothing that's considered superior to | | | | On their part, alpacas are ideal gentle pets. They don't |
| wool. | | | | bite like camels, but may spit at you if you confine |
| Fabrics made of alpaca wool are not only functional, | | | | them in a small area. They are extra caring with small |
| but have also been considered a luxury for centuries. | | | | children, and gregarious - they mix well with other |
| In the 1980's, these animals were exported from South | | | | animals and humans. |
| America, to other countries, including the US, which | | | | Alpacas are playful. They communicate with one |
| started maintaining their own herds. Of around 2 million | | | | another by humming. They emit a high pitched bray, or |
| alpacas, the US has only about 60,000, a mere fraction | | | | alarm call, when a stray dog or some other animal, |
| of its cattle population. | | | | enters their pasture. |
| The alpaca livestock in the US is mainly of 2 types. | | | | The young ones or crias gambol like lambs, possibly in |
| One is the huacaya, with a fuzzy, or teddy-bearish, | | | | order to build up body warmth, which is necessary in |
| coat. The other type - the suri - has a long coat of | | | | the cold nights of the mountain ranges. Alternatively, it |
| lustrous locks, that part down the alpaca's back and | | | | may just be a case of high spirits. |
| cascade down either side. | | | | Their small size is another point in favor of breeding |
| The small number of the existing animals, compared to | | | | alpacas. They can be transported easily. Even the |
| other grazing farm cattle, has helped keep the cost of | | | | elderly, children and petite women will find it easy to |
| alpaca fiber high. This has made Alpaca rearing | | | | lead these animals. |
| commercially viable. | | | | You can check out alpacas, live, at various shows, |
| Alpaca fiber can be used in its natural shade, or, in the | | | | where you can see for yourself what good breeding |
| case of the lighter tints, be dyed darker. This, combined | | | | can do. You can also experience the feel of genuine |
| with the fact that alpacas have more color variations | | | | luxurious alpacas fleece. |