Alpaca, Alpaca Breeders, Flowerdale Estate Alpacas, Alpaca farming and alpaca investment opportunities

ALPACA RESOURCE CENTRE FLOWERDALE ESTATE ALPACAS

Alpaca Facts

Countries of Origin - Peru , Bolivia , and Chile ; first imported into Australia in 1858.

Population - Approximately three million worldwide, with over 90 percent still living in South America . Approximately 90 percent of all alpacas are huacaya and ten percent are suri.

Size - A mature alpaca weighs 60 to100 kg and is 85 to 95cm tall at withers (top of the front shoulder). Crias normally weigh 6 to 8kg kg at birth.

Lifespan – 15 to 20 years, with some living to 25 years of age.

Reproductive lifespan of female – from approximately 2 to17 years.

Reproductive lifespan of herdsire - from approximately 3 to16 years.

Gestation period – 11 to 12 months. (Average on our farm is 11.3months). Healthy females can produce cria approximately once each year. Single births are the norm with twins reported once in 50,000 births.

Colors - There are more than 22 natural shades of alpaca fleece ranging from white to black.

Annual Growth rate of fleece – 80 to 150 mm.

Weight of fleece – A junior (first fleece) is often about 1.5kg. Some m ature individuals can yield up to 8kg.