Keeping Alpacas

Alpacas are domesticated animals & are members of the Camelid family, along with the llama and the still wild guanaco & vicuna; there are two types - the dense, crimpy fleeced Huacaya and the elegant, silky fleeced Suri which is rarer and accounts for only about 5% of the alpaca population. They have a lifespan of 15-20 years so will give their owners much pleasure and an annual fleece crop for many years.

Alpacas originate in South America, with the majority of animals coming from Peru, a significant number from Chile and a few from Bolivia; the UK herd is relatively small at approaching 15,000 animals and this, thanks in the most part, to large imports from Australia and Peru by big breeders.

Because of the small national herd, the UK fleece industry is still in its infancy; however, there is real innovation in the development of markets for this wonderful fibre and many opportunities for the enterprising breeder to contribute to the growth of the industry – after all, producing exceptional fibre is what the alpaca does best!