Chesapeake Alpacas, Inc.

The Alpaca

There are two types of alpacas, as distinguished by fleece characteristics: the huacaya (shown below) and the suri (shown right).

The adorable huacaya has a very soft, wooly appearance. Huacaya fleece is light and fluffy and consists of fiber that exhibits crimp, in varying degrees, from the skin to the tip. Desirable fiber characteristics in huacayas include consistency of crimp throughout the body, density, sheen, and absence of guard hair.

The elegant suri has a silky fiber that hangs straight down in separate, distinct locks. There are five types of suri locks: twisted (pencils), straight, curled, fan, and flat. The type of lock is not as important as the consistency of the lock formation throughout the body. Luster is one of the most important characteristics of suri fiber -- the shinier, the better. Suri fiber should not exhibit crimp.

The fleece is harvested by shearing, usually once per year. Each alpaca yields between 5-10 pounds of raw fleece annually. The raw fleece is often sold directly to hand spinners and/or weavers many of whom place orders for specific fleeces in advance. Some farms send their raw fleece to a processing mill to be made into yarn and/or end products. Others may opt to co-op their fiber in one of the existing fiber co-ops.

Alpaca is one of the most luxurious of the natural fibers. It is as soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter, and stronger than wool. Twenty-two (22) standard natural colors from pure white to true black have been identified, with many variations within that spectrum.

History

Alpacas have flourished in the high Andean Plateau of South America for thousands of years. They have been domesticated for at least 5000 years and are still today a cherished and central element of Incan culture. Alpacas were revered by the ancient Incas and included in many of their religious ceremonies. The luxurious fleece of the alpaca was also treasured and reserved exclusively for members of Incan royalty who wore garments made from the fiber.

The alpaca population suffered in the 16th century when Spanish Conquistadors invaded Chile and Peru and replaced them with their own Merino sheep. It was not until the 1800s that alpaca fiber was again recognized for its exceptional qualities. It was rediscovered by Sir Titus Salt of London, under whose leadership it once again gained popularity and went on to play a major role in England's textile industry.

Alpacas in the U.S.

The first import of alpacas to the United States occurred in 1984 and consisted of huacayas only. The first suris were imported in 1991. As of October 2001 there are 32,893 alpacas registered in the U.S. of which 27,117 are huacaya and 5,776 are suri. Approximately 1000 alpacas live in Maryland. The most common color of both alpaca types, according to The Alpaca Registry, is white. The worldwide population is around 3 million with 99% living in South America.

The Alpaca Registry was established in late 1988 for the purpose of maintaining accurate records of genealogy, blood type, and ownership. The Registry mandates blood-typing as a requisite for registration and accepts only offspring of registered alpacas whose parentage can be verified by blood type. This "closed" registry ensures the integrity of the national herd by maintaining accurate pedigree information on all registered animals. The only exception to this rule is in the case of alpacas imported into North America. These animals must pass a rigorous screening process in South America. Crias imported in utero by screened and registered dams may also be registered. However, in 1999, in attempt to protect the national herd, the registry was closed to future imports and may only be reopened by a majority vote.

Health and Nutrition

Alpacas are generally very hardy and have relatively few health problems. They need access to ample pasture and/or hay, and clean water at all times. To avoid health problems, or catch them as early as possible, a schedule for routine health care should be developed with a veterinarian and include regular worming, vaccinations, trimming of toenails, weight monitoring and assessment of body condition.