The Mist Alpacas

Alpacas originate from the Andean Mountains in South America and the alpaca is a member of the South American Camelid family which also includes the Llama, Vicuna and Guanaco.

There are two types of alpacas bred in Australia – the Suri (pronounced soo-ree) and the Huacaya (pronounced woo-cay-a). The Suri fleece is a lustrous, fine fibre that hangs in a pencilled lock structure and has a silky feel. The Huacaya has a crimpy fleece that grows in dense staples and exhibits unique fibre qualities.

Alpacas have an amicable temperament, are low maintenance and suitable to Australian farming conditions.

Alpacas have an average of 11.5 month gestation period. Alpacas are induced ovulators which means that they ovulate from mating.

Once a female alpaca is pregnant, she will not tolerate a male being close to her and will spit at him if he shows any interest. “Spitting off” is a way of checking the females have ovulated and is a good indicator that the female is pregnant.

Females are usually ready to mate between 12 to 18 months (depending on growth) and the males are usually ready to service females at 2 to 3 years of age. Baby alpacas (called crias) are normally weaned between 4 and 6 months.

• * As a type, the suri (soo'ree) is very much less common than the huacaya, and in Australia Alpacas must be shorn each year except for the Suri alpaca which can keep its fleece on up to two years.
• * Alpacas are easy on fencing with sheep fencing being adequate.
• * Alpacas do not need high quality pastures however breeding and lactating females, working males and cria may need increased nutrients. Supplementary feeding may be required when paddock feed is in short supply.
• * Stocking rates are similar to sheep – one alpaca wether is equivalent to one DSE.
• * Alpacas require annual vaccinations and many breeders provide vitamin and mineral supplements.
• * Toenails and teeth trimming are usually performed at shearing time.
• * Non stud quality males should be castrated from 15 months of age (wethers).

• * Alpacas have soft padded feet and apply low impact pressures on the soil, less than a kangaroo.
• * Alpacas can survive on a low protein diet and they prefer to eat grasses and forbs
• * Alpacas generally soil in the same place and their habits are friendly to native trees, streams and the environment (their faeces also make good fertiliser for the garden).
• * Alpaca wethers make good livestock guardians and can reduce the need for poison baits for foxes.
• * The inherent natural properties of alpacas lead to reduced use of chemical treatments.

Alpaca fleece comes in 22 recognised natural colours – pure white, fawns through to chocolate brown, grey tones from silver to warm rose grey and jet black. Alpaca fleece has a high tensile strength making it resilient, durable and hardwearing. It blends well with and enhances other fibres such as wool, silk and cashmere producing a superior final product.

Australian alpaca fleece is being used in products such as men’s and women’s high fashion garments, quality bedding, fine knitting yarns and even luxurious highly resilient carpet.

In both Australia and overseas demand for Alpaca fleece is exceeding supply.