RD Reef

the breeding girls

ALPACA FACTS

 

  • * Alpacas are descendants of camels. They are part of the group South American Camelids which includes; vicuna, llama, and guanaco.
  • * There are 2 types of alpaca; huacaya & suri. 90% of alpacas in NZ are huacaya, which have the dense crimpy fleece, whereas suri have silky locks that hang down.
  • * Alpacas were first commercially imported into NZ in the late 1980's.
  • * There are currently approx. 30,000 registered alpacas in NZ.
  • * Alpaca come in a range of colours with various shades from white through fawn, through brown, through black, including grey and roan.
  • * Alpaca are modified runinants having 3 stomachs and are very efficient converters of food to energy.
  • * Alpacas feet are padded.
  • * The life span of an alpaca is 15-20 years.
  • * A baby alpaca is called a cria.
  • * Alpacas can successfully have healthy cria up to 15 years of age and beyond.
  • * The gestation period of an alpaca is generally 11-11.5 months.
  • * Alpaca usually only have 1 cria at a time, twins are rare.
  • * Alpacas usually give birth to their cria between the hours of 7am and 3pm.
  • * Alpaca fibre is fine, soft, warm and strong.

  • *** Alpacas are intelligent, inquisitive, cute, and addictive! ***