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| Copyright All Text & Graphics © 2006 Sheffield Alpacas |
| Chris and Kaylen Cirillo 1232 Powell Taylor Road Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 502 . 517 . 9677 email@sheffieldalpacas.com |
| Visit my shop on Etsy |
About Alpacas
Alpacas are livestock that are raised for their fiber. There are two types of
alpacas - the Huacaya and the Suri. The suri has fiber that grows long and
forms silky, pencil-like locks. The huacaya has a shorter, dense, crimpy fleece,
giving it a very woolly appearance. Alpaca fleece is amazingly soft and luxurious
while still being very strong and warm. It is desired by fiber artists for spinning,
knitting, crocheting and felting and in the fashion industry for high-end
garments. Alpacas are shorn for their wonderful fleece each year.
Alpacas are a member of the camelid family, which also includes camels, llamas,
vicunas, and guanacos. They are a modified ruminant and chew their cud
similar to a cow, although they have three stomachs rather than the true
ruminant, which has four. Alpacas selectively graze, eating pasture grasses and
hay. Fresh, clean water and daily mineral supplements round out their diet.
The lifespan of the alpaca is about 15 - 20 years and gestation is approximately
11 months. A baby alpaca is called a cria. Adults are about 36” tall at the
withers and generally weigh between 100 and 175 pounds. Alpacas have
padded feet and are very gentle on their pastures and they have no top teeth in
the front. Alpacas are small and gentle enough to travel short distances in the
family minivan and are easily handled by most people.
Alpacas need basic, simple shelter to keep dry in rainy and cold weather and to
have shade in summer. In addition, they need a worming program that you can
work out with your vet appropriate to the area you live in. Alpacas require
shearing once each year and occasional toenail trimming. Males will need their
fighting teeth trimmed when they come in after the age of 2.
Peru, Bolivia, and Chile are still home to the largest percentage of alpacas.
They were first imported into the United States in 1984.
Please visit our Links page for more resources.
Alpacas are livestock that are raised for their fiber. There are two types of
alpacas - the Huacaya and the Suri. The suri has fiber that grows long and
forms silky, pencil-like locks. The huacaya has a shorter, dense, crimpy fleece,
giving it a very woolly appearance. Alpaca fleece is amazingly soft and luxurious
while still being very strong and warm. It is desired by fiber artists for spinning,
knitting, crocheting and felting and in the fashion industry for high-end
garments. Alpacas are shorn for their wonderful fleece each year.
Alpacas are a member of the camelid family, which also includes camels, llamas,
vicunas, and guanacos. They are a modified ruminant and chew their cud
similar to a cow, although they have three stomachs rather than the true
ruminant, which has four. Alpacas selectively graze, eating pasture grasses and
hay. Fresh, clean water and daily mineral supplements round out their diet.
The lifespan of the alpaca is about 15 - 20 years and gestation is approximately
11 months. A baby alpaca is called a cria. Adults are about 36” tall at the
withers and generally weigh between 100 and 175 pounds. Alpacas have
padded feet and are very gentle on their pastures and they have no top teeth in
the front. Alpacas are small and gentle enough to travel short distances in the
family minivan and are easily handled by most people.
Alpacas need basic, simple shelter to keep dry in rainy and cold weather and to
have shade in summer. In addition, they need a worming program that you can
work out with your vet appropriate to the area you live in. Alpacas require
shearing once each year and occasional toenail trimming. Males will need their
fighting teeth trimmed when they come in after the age of 2.
Peru, Bolivia, and Chile are still home to the largest percentage of alpacas.
They were first imported into the United States in 1984.
Please visit our Links page for more resources.