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ALPACAS - HISTORY & FACTS
There is evidence to suggest that alpacas were first created and domesticated in Northern Peru some 5,000 plus years ago by selective breeding practices of the Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna menalis). These alpacas were domesticated and bred for meat and fibre, the finest fibre being harvested for Incan royalty. Alpaca mummies from this time show alpaca breeders had achieved an enviable excellence of fibre quality and uniformity of fleece with consistent fibre diameters of around 17 to 20 microns (a micron is one-thousandth of a millimetre). Unfortunately this all changed with the Spanish Conquest of 1532, when Incan civilisation was devastated and the generations of carefully bred herds of alpacas were dispersed and destroyed, to be replaced by sheep.
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The alpaca is the most colour diverse fibre-producing animal in the world. There are 22 colours including shades of black, brown, grey, caramel, fawn and white. Alpacas produce a fleece each year that uniquely shares the characteristics of both hair and wool. The insulating qualities of the fleece are incomparable and protect them against the extremes of temperature found in the Andes. The huacaya fleece has additional insulating qualities to the suri, because of its fine, wool-like structure, which traps air amongst the wavy (crimped) fibres. Bunched together, the fibres support each other, standing out perpendicular to the skin, giving the fleece a bulky appearance. The suri alpaca fibre hangs from a central parting and is more hair-like - straight, long locks - like dreadlocks with no crimp, which means they do not have the same insulating qualities of the huacaya leaving them more vulnerable to cold and particularly extreme wet. With the exception of mohair, alpacas produce the strongest animal fibre in the world, coupled with a beautiful softness, it is no wonder that alpaca fibre is as desirable in the fashion industry as cashmere. In Victorian times there was a thriving industry in Yorkshire, manufacturing garments made of alpaca fibre and no Victorian gentleman would plan to travel abroad without his alpaca coat.
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Alpacas have a strong herding instinct, coupled with a designated pecking order and they become very stressed if kept alone. Females need the support structure of other females to be around at birthing and with cria (baby) care. This is not a marketing ploy but a sensible precaution to ensure alpacas feel relaxed and safe, and can concentrate on growing healthy, happy babies for you. Although they are excellent jumpers, they choose not to risk being separated from the rest of their herd. They communicate with each other by body posture and a variety of noises, mostly humming, but also high pitched squeals, Each noise conveys something, from a gentle humming between mother and cria to establish where everyone is, to a loud squeal/cry to intimidate others at the feed trough. Alpacas are gentle and non-aggressive to humans, although they can and do spit, this is usually reserved for settling 'pecking-order' disputes within the herd.
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Some alpacas can be flighty and they all require gentle and considerate handling. They are mostly placid, intelligent and inquisitive animals, but with an ability to protect themselves, as can be seen when a fox enters their territory. The adults use a shrill alarm call to alert the herd and the fox, the dominant ones then advance slowly without fuss, the cria behind them. If the fox doesn't get the message, they have very good acceleration and plenty of speed. They can and do use their teeth, feet, spit, verbal battering and body posturing (head snaking along the ground) against an aggressor but this is only when their message isn't getting through and in this country is less likely because of the absence of large prey animals. A fox is no match for a mother alpaca! Australians have recorded alpacas protecting sheep by killing dingoes and some alpacas are treated as guard animals for sheep in this country. If introduced with care, a household's cats and dogs will be well tolerated by an alpaca herd.
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Alpaca females are induced ovulators (ovulation occurs 24 - 36 hours after breeding). This means they can be bred at any time during the year, with gestation of around 11½ months. The female 'spits-off' the stud male when she knows she is pregnant and will not allow him near her. Alpacas are excellent and attentive mothers and usually give birth with ease during daylight hours - this is a legacy of cria having to be mobile and dry by nightfall, 12,000 feet up in the Andes of their homeland. While the mother takes a rest after birthing, the aunts, sisters and maidens come forward to inspect the new baby - literally clucking encouragement to it. Twins are very rare indeed. Cria are usually up and nursing within ninety minutes and weaned at about six months. The new mother is often rebred from three weeks after she gives birth.
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Alpacas live for between fifteen to twenty years, usually weigh between 60 – 80 kg and stand around 90cms at the shoulder. As with other camelids, alpacas have a soft pad with two toenails, which does minimum damage to grazing. Their droppings are situated in various communal sites throughout their field, which makes clearing up easier. Youngsters are easy to halter train for walking on a lead rein and showing.
Revered by the Incas and still a vital source of income and sustenance in Peru, Chile and Bolivia, it seems that there is now a growing following for these elegant, charming and intelligent animals in this country too.
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