Origin and Background

 

Alpaca are a member of the camel (camelidae) family which got its start in North America between 9 and 11 million years ago. The North American Camelidae eventually died, but not before spreading to Asia, Africa and South America, where they evolved into the Asian Bactrian (2 hump) and the Dromedary (1 hump) camels and the South American guanacos, vicurias, llamas and alpacas.

 

Archaeologists have dated alpaca origins to 6,000 years ago. Alpacas were domesticated by the ancient Inca civilization which was located on the high Andean plateau and mountains of South America.

 

 

Alpacas were revered by the Incas for its luxurious fiber, one of the finest in the world.

 

Alpaca fiber has a cellular structure similar to hair and comes in an extraordinary variety of colors. The 2 types of alpaca are huacaya with crimpy fleece and suri with silky fleece.

 

 Little as 3% of course fiber (itchy feel) in fleece area

 

No lanolin

 

Does not shed needs to be harvested

 

Contains microscopic air pickets, fiber is lightweight and has a high insulation value.

 

Very small scale height and more scales per inch creates softness

 

Resists soiling and static electricity

 

Long lasting

 

Allows both woolen (bulky tweed) or worsted (gabardine) method

 

 

Life Span 15 to 25 years

 

Average Height 36 inches at the withers

 

Average weight 130 to 175 pounds

 

Average Gestation 335 days

 

 

Birth Weight is usually 15 to 19 pounds. Babies are called crias and can stand and nurse within 30 to 60 minutes of birth. Infant mortality is low.

 

Alpacas come in many colors. The basic colors are: black, white, grey, coffee, rose grey, fawn, and pinto. The worldwide fiber market recognizes 22 natural colors.

 

 

The alpaca is a ruminant with 3 stomachs. It converts grass and hay to energy very efficiently, eating less than other farm animals.

Adapt to various climates altitudes and conditions

A herd animal which consolidates its feces to a few spots making clean up easy.

 

An alpaca produces 4 to 8 pounds of fiber each year enough fleece to create 4 to 6 soft, warm sweaters.

 

 

 

Blow alpaca clean to clear dirt and hay from fleece

 

Shear and collect fleece

 

Skirting and sort

 

Clean and card (at this point you can use for felting)

 

Spin into yarn

 

Can be used for weaving or knitting