• Alpacas are members of the camelid family like llamas & camels
• Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains, Peru, Bolivia, Chile
• Alpacas were first imported to the US in 1983-1984
• Approximately 100,000 alpacas are currently registered in the US
• Alpacas are found in all 50 states from Alaska to Florida

There are two types of alpacas

• Huacaya (wah-ki-ya) – dense fiber with a crimp or wavy quality,Teddy Bear like appearance
• Suri (sir-ree) – silky lustrous fine fiber that clings to itself, forming “pencil-locks” that hang

• Gentle and easy to halter train and handle
• Social animals that seek companionship
• Communicate by softly humming, neck posturing, ear & tail positioning, and head tilting

• 80% of alpaca breeders have less than 20 alpacas
• One alpaca eats the equivalent of one flake of hay per day if not grazing
• There are many tax advantages to raising alpacas
• Alpacas are raised for income, as pets, for fiber products, and 4-H animals
• Alpacas are social animals and will not survive without a companion
• Alpacas rarely spit – but if they do its usually at another alpaca
• Breeding quality alpacas sell for $10,000 to $30,000 or more
• Fiber quality animals sell for $1000-$3000