Keeping Alpacas as Pets

Alpacas are domesticated members of the camelid family others are camels llamas, guanacos, and vicunas. They're native to South America residing in the higher altitudes of The Andes, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

Alpacas have been farmed for centuries and are kept for their fleece. There are two breeds of Alpaca that the Huacaya (pronounced wakaya) and Suri. The Suri is not common in the UK and has a fleece which can be compared to dreadlocks which are loose and long. The Huacaya makes up 95% of the world's Alpaca inventory and has a denser and fiber coat. Alpacas grow to around 3 feet high (90cm) measured at the shoulder and adults weigh between 50 to 80kg.

At birth, an alpaca will weigh around 8 kilos. Baby alpaca is known as castrated and cria males are usually referred to as wethers. Alpacas are long-lived averaging between 15 to 20 years, and females may breed for about 12 years with an 11 to 12 months period. There are 22 fleece colors from white to black with some to browns and fawn greys and rose greys.

Alpacas as Pets - You need a herd! Alpacas are herd animals and should not be kept that you will need room for 3 or 4 as a minimum and should be stocked at a rate of 4 to 6 per acre so. Compact acreages are sufficient to keep alpacas although you'll need land. They are hardy animals and but its great to provide an open fronted shelter for them especially for the summer shade. There's no need for fencing as alpacas jumps fencing that is very rare. Sheep fencing of 4 ft high is advocated as the most appropriate and avoid barbed wire or electric fencing as this gets caught in their fleece. They are semi-ruminants and consume grass. Hay should be provided when the grass has become especially in winter.

Alpaca food mixes that are special are available that assist the alpacas to get vital vitamins and minerals. They require a small amount each day, and you could feed this when alpacas as pets to keep them tame. As with all livestock you need a supply of fresh, clean water. Alpacas don't create a lot of mess as they use dung piles so that your animals will go from where this can clear and use as manure.

Looking after your Alpacas as Pets

Alpacas very rarely get health problems making maintaining alpacas less expensive than other animals. They ought to be wormed and vaccinated twice a year against clostridial diseases (soil born bacterial disease such as Black Leg and Tetanus that may prove fatal). Every 2 to 6 months, toenails will have to be trimmed, and light colored alpacas need theirs clipped. They want to shear once a year, and the fleece can be marketed to Alpaca wool users. So keeping alpacas as pets may have a financial benefit. We here in Penrose Products would like to hear from you in case you have fiber.

Classes are available to help you both learn how to train and care for them with patience alpacas can be trained and reasonably priced. You can teach them to walk on a halter. They're animals that do not like too much handling and do not like their heads or necks to be touched. Do keep this in mind especially when you have children that want animals to cuddle and stroke when you are thinking of maintaining alpacas. Alpacas will offer protection so blending them can do the job. If you have enough land available keeping alpacas as pets can be fun and rewarding but as with all animals make certain that you can care for them before you take ownership.