Alpacas and Llamas - historically hailing from the mountain regions of Peru, Chili and Bolivia - are similar in a great number of ways, and yet also quite different from one another.
They are both two-toed, four-legged, long-necked, walking rugs, and each are members of the CAMELID family. That's right...they're basically little, humpless, charming and adorable, soft and fleecy, sweet and gentle, extra-valuable camels! That may be a slightly over-simplified explanation, but it's true!
Alpacas and Llamas can reside, side by side, harmoniously together, too. Sometimes llamas serve as 'guards' for the smaller, less bold alpacas. Alpacas stand between 30" and 36" at the withers (base of their necks), and typically weigh between 100 and 150 pounds; whereas Llamas are quite a bit bigger and weigh in around 400-500 pounds! They're bodies are bigger, their backs are stronger, and their fleece is not nearly as delicate and fine as the alpaca fleece. People are generally reluctant to pack a little alpaca and risk rubbing that valuable fleece the wrong way. No, alpacas are not utilized as, nor thought of as, "beasts of burden."
Alpacas are most prized for their amazing fleece, which is also known as FIBER, and even more general...WOOL. The demand for this fiber worldwide exceeds the current supply, so alpaca fiber is not inexpensive. Rivaling cashmere in the fashion department, alpaca fiber is being woven into a myriad of durable, silky-soft products. You can find alpaca scarves, sweaters, capes, socks, hats, shirts, skirts, finger-puppets, teddy bears and other alpaca toys and accessories available for sale. Textile artisans seek out the precious alpaca yarns, rovings and raw fleeces for their projects on a regular basis.
Since both alpacas and llamas are ruminant mammals, and have triple-chamber stomachs, they are grazers who quietly chew cud all day. They require mostly grasses, hay and most any other vegetation found growing along the trails they traverse. Alpacas and llamas bred and raised in captivity are also fed a modest ration of grain each day, along with fresh hay, free-choice minerals, and clean water.
Watch this informative 3 minute movie about Alpacas! (simply click on the link or copy and paste into your browser)
http://www.alpacasintheusa.com/movie/
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for a 3 minute movie about Alpacas!
In a Nutshell...
The following is used by permission:
- Alpacas are safe, they don't bite or butt. Even if they did, without incisors, horns, hoofs or claws, little harm can he done. · Alpacas are small and easy to handle. · Alpacas are useful: they produce fine and valuable fleece as well as make wonderful pets. · Alpacas are intelligent, which makes them pleasant to be around and easy to train. · Alpacas are beautiful; they come in over 22 colors, and are clean and pleasant to be near. · Alpacas do not require butchering in order to be profitable. · Alpacas do not require special shelter or care. · Alpacas are considered disease-resistant animals, which lowers insurance and veterinarian costs. · Alpacas are adaptable to varied habitat, successfully being raised from Australia to Alaska and from 15,000 feet to sea level. · Alpacas are rare outside of South America and cannot be mass-produced. · Alpacas require minimal fencing. · Alpacas can be pastured at 5-10 per acre. · Alpacas are easy to transport, which allows them to be traded across the country or around the world. · Alpacas have a relatively long and trouble-free reproductive life span. · Alpacas can be insured against loss.
(from AOBA - The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association)
