Alpacas are gentle and easy to handle – they have no horns, hoofs, claws or incisors.

Curious, alert and predictable, they are quick to learn to halter and lead.

Their lifespan on a North American farm is 15 – 20 years.

Alpacas stand about 36” tall at the withers, and weigh from 150 to 200 pounds.

There are two types of Alpacas: Huacaya (wa-kie-ya) and Suri (sir-ee).

An adult alpaca yields 6 to 10 pounds of fiber annually with no harm to the animal.

Gestation is 11.5 months, yielding 1 baby, called a “cria” (twins are rare).

Most alpacas give birth during the day, and usually unassisted. Newborns weigh
between 12 and 20 pounds.

Males reach sexual maturity at about age 2; females are ready to be bred  between 1 and 2 years of age.

Females do not have heat cycles, and are receptive throughout the year.

Alpacas are herd animals and cannot live alone.

They communicate with body language and with sounds such as humming, clicking and occasional screaming (for danger).

Generally they do not spit at humans, but at each other to say “do not bother me”.

Alpacas are ruminants, and spend a good deal of their day grazing. When resting, they fold their legs under them and "cush".