Alpaca Terminology

• Alpaca - a member of the camelid family.
• Huacaya alpaca - Is an alpaca with a teddy bear like appearance. Huacayas make up approximately 80% of the North American alpaca herd.
• Suri alpaca - an alpaca with ringlette-like fiber that drapes down it’s side.
• Cria - a baby alpaca
• Sire (herdsire) - the father
• Dam - the mother
• Fiber - industry term for the hair
• Crimp - the zig-zag like pattern usually found in huacaya fiber.
• Density - the amount of fibers in a given area.
• Orgling - the sound a male alpaca makes before and during the reproduction process.
• Kush - term used to describe an alpaca that is laying down.

Alpaca Facts

• Dam is the mother
• Sire is the father
• Cria is the baby
• Average adult temperature is 99.5-101.5
• Average Cria temperature is 100-102.2
• Life span of an alpaca is 15-20 years plus. Height is 30” to 38” at the shoulder. Adult weight is 100-200 lbs. Birth weight is 15-20 lbs.
• Male alpacas reach sexual maturity at about 2 ½ to 3 years of age. Females at about 18-24 month of age.
• An average gestation period is 335 to 360 days & produces a single baby (cria).
• Babies are usually weaned between 5 & 6 months.
• Alpacas eat a low protein forage and hays. Occasional supplemental feed, vitamins and minerals are provided when needed. An alpaca costs far less to feed than most traditional domestic animals.
• Alpacas are registered at the ARI http://www.alpacaregistry.net