email: info@blueriveralpacas.com - phone: 812-883-5689 - address: 2314 S. Brown Lane, Salem, Indiana 47167
Web site created and maintained by Trina Brown.
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The Alpaca
What are alpacas?
Alpacas are members of the camelid family, which also includes llamas and camels. They are about 4.5 feet tall, have a lifespan of approximately 20 years, and were first imported into the US in the mid-1980s. They weigh from 100 to 175 pounds. Their fiber is warmer, stronger, and lighter than sheep's wool, and it is as soft as cashmere.
Alpacas originated from Peru, Chile and Bolivia, and were domesticated up to 7,000 years ago. They are extremely gentle animals and the most common sound they make reflects their sweet disposition - they hum. Click the play button below to hear what an alpaca hum sounds like.
Why invest in alpacas?
Trina's reasoning: Alpacas are sweet, soft, gentle and unbelievably cute. They are easy to handle. There's absolutely no butchering involved since alpacas are raised in this country solely for their extremely fine fleece, and for breeding stock. Cleanup is easy since they all tend to use the same spots for elimination, and their droppings are almost oderless. Because they have padded feet, they do not harm the ground. Because imports are no longer allowed, they're in extremely short supply in the US, which keeps demand for them high.
Wendell's reasoning: Alpacas don't challenge fences like cows do. They don't require a lot of acreage. Feed costs are low. They do well on pasture and hay, and a small amount of supplementation. Alpacas are extremely easy to work with, and don't require a lot of expensive equipment. They are depreciable assets when utilized as breeding animals. Alpacas are relatively maintenance free, and routine vaccinations and toe-trimming are easily accomplished. Click here to read Wendell's article, Alpacas and Taxes (in PDF).
Alpaca care
Here at Blue River Alpacas, we use 5-foot, no-climb horse fence. Alpacas cannot get tangled in this type of fence, predators cannot climb it, and it is pleasing in appearance.
Our alpacas eat mostly hay and fresh orchard grass, a small amount of feed, and free-choice mineral supplement. We provide them with fresh water and clean up after them regularly. The occasional vaccinations and dewormers keep them happy and healthy. Click here to read Wendell's article on selecting good quality hay (in PDF).
Our alpacas spend cold and wet days inside our large, 3-sided pole barn. We placed gates within the barn so that we can easily move our alpacas into pens. We used crushed limestone over a dirt base, and the alpacas love to roll in it.
Breeding
Female alpacas are induced ovulators, which means that artificial insemination is extremely difficult. The gestation period for an alpaca is 11 months, and twins are extremely rare.