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Q.
They’re really expensive, aren’t they?
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A.
At this stage of the industry’s development, price is directly
related to the individual breeding potential and the potential
quality of the offspring.
For example, a gelding (castrated male) has no breeding
potential and is therefore the cheapest alpaca to buy (around
$500 to $1,000). On the other hand, a high quality male with
many good progeny on the ground has a very high breeding
potential and can be worth many thousands of dollars. He can
also command a high income from the stud services he provides.
Female prices are a reflection of quality, age, breeding history
and to which stud male she is mated. Females can be worth
anything from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of
dollars.
Income from females is derived from selling the offspring.
However, breeding plans should be made so that long term
depreciation of the older breeders and increases in quality of
offspring are taken into account.
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Q.
What do you do with an alpaca?
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A.
They provide an excellent investment opportunity and are the
source of luxurious fiber. The fleece, comparable to cashmere,
is known for its fineness, light weight, and luster. Alpaca
textile products are recognized world-wide. Everyone should own
a soft, warm alpaca sweater.
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Q.
What do alpacas do besides grow fiber?
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A.
They make excellent companion animals and are also show animals
with high aesthetic appeal. They have lovable dispositions.
Alpacas are easily trained to lead and are gentle enough to be
handled by children. They are always a hit in a parade.
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Q.
What do you call an alpaca?
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A.
A baby is known as a cria. Weaned crias are known as weanlings
or tuis. In Spanish, the adult males are known as machos and the
females are hembras.
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Q.
Can you pack with an alpaca?
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A.
They can carry a small child or a light backpack on summer
outings, but for heavier loads the larger llama is more
appropriate.
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Q.
Are alpacas related to llamas?
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A.
Alpacas are very closely related to llamas. They are both from a
group of four species known as South American Camelids. The
llama is approximately twice the size of an alpaca with banana
shaped ears and is principally used as a pack animal. Alpacas
are exclusively bred as fleece animals.
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Q.
Can I have an alpaca as a pet?
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A.
Most alpacas make very good pets if they are treated well and
the owners are realistic in their expectations. Like any
livestock, the more handling they receive as youngsters, the
quieter they are as adults. Given time, most alpacas will eat
out of your hand and training them to lead by a halter is a
straightforward process.
Alpacas generally don’t like being held and are particularly
sensitive to being touched on the head. They are naturally
curious and intelligent and if you let them approach you, rather
than rush at them and expect an affectionate response, the
interactions can be very rewarding.
It is possible to have a single alpaca, but it is not a pleasant
existence for the animal. Alpacas are herd animals and are
instinctively gregarious, as are other domestic livestock. They
obtain security and contentment from having at least one other
alpaca for company.
For this reason, it is usually recommended that two alpacas is
the desirable minimum.
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Q.
Are alpacas dangerous?
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A.
Absolutely not! They are safe and pleasant to be around. They do
not bite or butt, and they do not have the teeth, horns, hooves,
or claws to do serious injury.
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Q.
Are alpacas smart?
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A.
Yes, they are amazingly alert animals who quickly learn to
halter and lead. They constantly communicate with each other
through body posture, tail and ear movements, and a variety of
sounds. The sound heard most often is a soft humming, a mild
expression befitting a gentle animal.
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Q.
Alpacas spit, don’t they?
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A.
Spitting is perhaps the least endearing feature of alpacas. It
is one of the few defense mechanisms an alpaca has and is quite
an effective deterrent. The material is basically regurgitated
or recently chewed grass and it brushes off when dry. It does
have a distinctive and somewhat offensive odor and it is best to
avoid being a target.
However, it is quite rare that alpacas spit at people. It is
normally used as a pecking order mechanism with other alpacas.
If a human hit occurs, it is usually because the person has not
read the signs properly when stepping between two squabbling
alpacas.
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Q.
Do alpacas kick and bite?
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A.
When interacting with humans, kicking and biting is highly
individualistic. Alpacas are usually sensitive around the hind
legs and will instinctively kick backwards if they sense a
threat from the rear.
Most alpacas do not kick at humans, but there are individuals
that can be quickly identified as being prone to kicking. This
is more evident in a pregnant female that wants to deter the
advances of an amorous male.
Fortunately, because the foot is a soft pad, injuries to humans
are minimal. Most alpacas respond very well to desensitization
of the hind legs if they receive good handling as youngsters.
Alpacas that bite people are extremely rare and it is not a
general problem. If it does occur it tends to be an attention
seeking behavior by spoilt pets rather than an attack.
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Q.
Can I run alpacas with other livestock?
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A.
Alpacas can bond well with other types of animals. Naturally,
alpacas and large aggressive dogs are not a good combination,
but there are many cases of quiet dogs mixing well with alpacas.
Individual alpacas have been very successfully run with sheep
and goats to act as fox guards. The alpacas tend to bond with
the foster herd and they are naturally aggressive toward foxes.
If running with different livestock, alpacas will pick up the
internal parasites associated with the other animals and should
be put on the same worming regime.
Because of the risk of the alpacas being kicked, caution should
be used if running them with cattle or horses.
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