Could alpacas be a good fit for your property?

13| BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS FALL 2019 | 13 photo: Wendy Townrow, Shutterstock Alpacas, which are closely Huacaya are more common in United big an investment and have a similar related to llamas but much smaller, States, with a crimpy and fluffy income potential as a 300-cow ranch. are gaining popularity with youth and fleece giving the appearance of a rural residents. teddy bear. Tough constitution, gentle If managed well, they can Alpaca fiber is lighter, stronger, demeanor generate significant income with warmer, more resilient and gentler Alpacas developed at high very little natural resource impact. on skin than most other species. elevations and cold temperatures. A little bit of research can help The fiber blends well with other They are well-adapted to cold you determine if this tough animal animal specie’s fiber and is usually temperatures but need to be sheared from the high Andes is a good fit for considered hypoallergenic. Alpaca early in the year if living in hot and your place. fibers contain no lanolin. This means humid conditions. Shade and shelter they do not have to be de-greased allow animals to adjust for hot Prized for fiber like traditional wool before spinning. temperatures. Alpacas were bred specifically All of this and the silky feel make If handled correctly, alpaca for fiber production and not intended alpaca fiber more valuable by about become very attached to their to be pack animals as much as 200 percent compared to fine sheep managers and are easy to work llamas. Mature alpacas are usually wool. Alpacas usually live 15-20 with. If encountering strangers or about 36 inches tall at the withers years, which can make them a good risk, they tend to lay their ears back, and weigh 100-175 pounds. Suri and investment. tense their jaw, and mew while Huacaya are the two most common Alpacas can cost from $400- stomping their front feet. When breeds. Both originated in the high $100,000 per adult depending on stressed, their nose and lips also elevations of South America. Suri origin, registry, age, and breeding. crinkle up. These warning actions have silky, graceful fleece that Managing 20-40 alpacas on 40-80 may precede them spitting at you. drapes down their bodies, while acres of rough ground can be just as These usually quiet animals can issue a call when distressed. There is an exception: the males often “orgle” with a throat noise to attract females during breeding.

Forage preferences Alpacas most often consume forbs and low quality grasses. Their ability to travel across rough ground lets them utilize rocky and marginal pastures more effectively than cattle or sheep. They only eat about 1.5 percent of their body weight each day. This means a 150-pound adult will only consume 2.25 pounds of forage each day. In cow terms, each 1,200-pound cow equals the grazing of 16 alpacas. Grass hay is better for the species than alfalfa. An alpaca has one multi-compartment stomach. photo: J. Lekavicius, Shutterstock By feeding grass hay similar to An alpaca, prior to shearing, investigates natural-colored alpaca wool yarn.

14| BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS their evolutionary forage, the Predators a challenge producers in the Rocky Mountain animals stay on a level nutritional Since alpacas are not native to Region extensively on predator plain for fiber continuity and avoid the region, both the predators and management and plant poisonings. chances of bloat and excess protein poisonous plants are significant Mountain lions will return intake. In addition, the high levels management challenges. Alpacas repeatedly to areas near manure of phosphorus in alfalfa can bind are very agile, intelligent, and clean. piles, and the alpaca are easy prey as up calcium in the dietary system, They prefer to live in herds and can they drift in daily. Hunting, fencing, inhibiting young animal growth and be trained for agility courses like and closing animals up during weakening bones in older animals. sporting dogs. Their cleanliness risk periods are some of the only They have a short tongue, front leads to another trait. They usually effective options. top incisor teeth for gripping feed, deposit their feces in one or more For more information, contact and molars in the back for chewing. locations in each pasture. This makes your local UW Extension office, the They will eat and then rest to chew it easy to manage, but the smell and Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies cud similar to cows. Their short the fact these long-necked livestock (https://alpacabreeders.org/), or me. tongue and limited front teeth also return to the pile at regular intervals My contact information is below. I limit the amount of damage they can generates a “predator magnet.” had the opportunity to work with do to a landscape. Alpacas require Alpacas are prey for coyotes, wolves, alpaca producers for more than clean water at all times. dogs, bears, and mountain lions. a decade. Alpaca offspring, called “cria,” Some threats by predators are are usually born at 15-19 pounds governed by their nature: bears are Scott Cotton is a University of Wyoming during daylight. They will nurse for not a problem during most winter Extension educator serving Converse, about six months until weaned. months due to hibernation, but Natrona, and Niobrara counties. He Alpacas come in 16 colors with cougars are a threat year-round. can be reached at (307) 235-9400 or different hues and markings. Extension has worked with alpaca [email protected].

FALL 2019 | 15 photo: Martin Charles Hatch, Shutterstock Hatch, Martin Charles photo: