Alpacaworks' F.A.Q.

On this page, you will find lots of information about alpacas and the business of alpaca breeding. We've tried to include many of the questions that need to be answered before you make your decisions. (We wish we had this list when we went "shopping.") Also see the about page for more info.

All the questions are listed on the top. Just click the link for a specific questions, or scroll down the page. If there is anything you don't understand, or if you'd like more information, use the email link on the very bottom of the page to write to us, or use the link to our Contact Us form. We'd be happy to set up a phone conversation with you.

Can you give me some basic information about alpacas?
How much care and attention do alpacas need?
I'd like to get started, but I don't have any place to keep alpacas right now. What can I do?
What other costs are involved in breeding alpacas?
How many animals do I need to start a business?
Where does the profit come from?
What do I have to do to sell alpacas?
I just love alpacas and want to get started. What should I do first?

Q. Can you give me some basic information about alpacas?

Here are the basics:

Alpacas are animals in the camelid family and are related to vicunas and llamas.
When full grown, they weigh between 100 and 185 pounds. (The males are often on the heavy end).
Their lifespan is 15 to 25 years and you can start breeding your females at about 12 to 18 months.
Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. There are about 40,000 alpacas in North America today.
Alpacas have padded toes, not hooves, which is better for the land on which they graze. They just nibble on the leaves rather than uproot the plant.
There are 22 different alpaca colors. Alpaca fiber is in great demand. It is soft and luxurious and can be worn by people who are allergic to wool because it doesn't have any lanolin.
Alpacas are intelligent, clean and quiet animals. The only sound they make is a lovely hum. They do spit, but only at each other. They don't bite or butt and love to play
Shelter needs are minimal -- a three-sided shelter to provide shielding from wind is all that is required. Alpacas are easy to transport, and you can have five to ten animals per acre. Alpacas are generally resistant to diseases.
Alpacas are able to adapt to many different environments. There are alpaca breeders in such varied places as Australia and Alaska and from sea level to 15,000 feet.
There are two different kinds of alpacas. The fluffy, round-looking huacayas (wa-ka-ya) and the suris, which have sleek smooth curls that look like neat dread locks.
The average gestation is 11.5 months with single births. Births usually take place during the day.
Alpacas are shorn once a year. The average yield is 5 to 6 pounds of fleece, although it can be as high as 14.
The alpacas food requirements are quite low. One 60 pound bale of hay feeds the average alpaca for one month. Hay costs $2 to $10 a bale, depending on your location

How much care and attention do alpacas need?

Obviously, in the wild they can take care of themselves. So they don't need a lot of human attention. If they aren't roaming free on a ranch, their enclosure needs to be cleaned regularly. However, they usually have a communal pooping area, away from their grazing or feeding areas, which helps to prevent infestations and facilitate easy cleanup. Alpacas are shorn yearly. This can be done by someone who specializes in sheering for about $30 to $35 per animal. The smaller size of the alpaca makes it a business many women enjoy. There are lots of women breeders.

Alpacas do need routine vet care such as worming and vaccinations. Overall the cost to feed and care for an average alpaca is on the order of $300 per year, much less than for other larger livestock (such as horses).

I'd like to get started, but I don't have any place to keep alpacas right now. What can I do?

It is easy and economical to board your animals on someone else's ranch. This is called agisting. The cost is about $50 to $75 per animal per month and usually includes boarding, feed, and some routine worming and vaccinations.

What other costs are involved in breeding alpacas?

The only other costs that you have to concern yourself with, after your purchase your animals, are insurance, vaccinations, breeding fees, transportation (if you show your animals) and marketing costs. We will talk about marketing costs in a moment.

Keep in mind that the harvesting and selling of the fleece can pay for the cost of food and occasional veterinary bills for each animal. Although once you sheer the fleece, there are processing costs, you will still make enough profit to pay for the basic care of the animal. Today, spun fiber can sell for $5-7 per ounce.

You will also need to provide fencing, water troughs, secure gates, and other facilities on the land where you are keeping the animals if you are not agisting.

If you are starting with females, then you will need to pay for stud services, unless you negotiate free breedings with your purchase of females. This is common. (Even if you have your own male, you may want to vary your gene pool by breeding with other sires.)

How many animals do I need to start a business?

You can start with two adults, or, perhaps a female with a cria at her side. Many new breeders start with pregnant or proven females. Before choosing the animals you need to develop your goals or objectives for type of animals and fleece. Your goals will help determine the types of animals you will initially purchase. Most new breeders develop a business plan to help with their business goals and objectives.

For example, you can have a number of inexpensive geldings if you just want to use the fleece for your personal use. Or, you can have females that are known to produce good babies and/or an excellent herdsire that you hire for stud. There are many possible combinations.

A top-of-the-line proven herdsire can be valued at well over $100,000, however, if you are lucky enough to purchase this jewel as a young cria, he may cost as little as $5,000 to 10,000. Stud fees range from $1,500 to 5,000 each. So you can see the cost of breeding to someone else's stud and also the potential income from a top herd sire that will command dozens of breedings per year.

Where does the profit come from?

The profit comes from selling your animals. There is a large and growing demand for alpaca fiber, which is why there is a need to increase the size of the alpaca population in North America. By breeding alpacas, you increase your herd size without any major investment in new animals.

There is also a tremendous tax advantage that you will realize by being an alpaca breeder. Be sure to read our information on Investing Basics and talk to a tax accountant familiar with ranch and farm tax. (There's a link on the bottom of this page.)

What do I have to do to sell alpacas?

Remember we said that you need a marketing budget. That's the money you will invest in the actual marketing of the animals and promotion of your ranch. Many breeders travel to shows in their area where they meet people who are interested in buying, so there are traveling and transportation costs. Others get leads through advertising, a website, and association with other websites, Alpaca Associations, and then just word of mouth. Open ranch days bring may new visitors to your ranch. Whichever way you choose, if you are diligent, you can realize a wonderful return.

You can decide how much effort you want to put into your business. One of our associates is happy if he sells just one animal a year. Another New Mexico breeder sells as many as 30 animals in a year. She sells both her own and brokers for other people.

There are a lot of possibilities. You have to choose what is best for you and meets your objectives.

I just love alpacas and want to get started. What should I do first?

It is important not to jump in without doing some research. Even though you are anxious to get started, it is important that you understand the business and where you may fit in with the established alpaca community.

Read publications such as Alpaca Magazine. There are many ads for farms and you will learn the lingo of the business. Back issues are available at alpacainfo.com

Visit a number of farms and talk to as many breeders as possible. Keep records of what you see and learn and compare services offered. Observe the structure of the various ranches and ask a lot of questions.

Attend shows and look at a lot of animals and their fleeces. If you are seriously looking at a specific female, ask for a history of her offspring. Ask about their birth weight, the age they started reproducing, what kind of fleece they had, etc.

You also want to see a graph of the alpaca's fleece analysis called a histogram. Before purchasing an animal, you might want to have an independent person read the histogram for you. The quality of the fleece is important.

Also important is the animal's "conformation." This concerns the animals proportions, how it carries itself, etc. Make sure you choose a breeder who will walk you through the process of getting started and will patiently answer your questions. Be sure that they offer post-purchase support and full disclosure about their animals. You also need to obtain a full reproductive guarantee with non-proven females. (We provide all of these services.)