2025/2026 Alpaca Owners Guide

mohair, silk, bamboo, or angora can result in exceptionally beautiful and unique yarns. Q: What are alpacas used for? A: Alpacas are raised for their soft and luxurious fleece (fiber). Each shearing produces roughly five to ten pounds of fleece per animal, per year. This fleece, often compared to cashmere, can be turned into a wide array of products from yarn and apparel to tapestries and blankets. The fleece itself is recognized globally for its fineness, softness, light weight, durability, excellent thermal qualities, and luster. There are a number of business models that alpaca farmers have developed: • Breeding and selling seedstock: This requires excellent genetics and sound breeding programs that will result in breeding quality animals that can then be sold to new and existing alpaca farms. • Fiber-focused breeding programs: This model focuses on breeding and raising alpacas that can produce high quality fleece that can then be sold or processed into end product. • Artisans: Some alpaca farmers use the fleece to produce products by hand, through spinning, weaving, or

knitting. They may sell this work either on their farm, in retail stores, or online. • Agritourism: Various forms of agritourism have been successful for alpaca farmers, including overnight stays, day trips and tours, and special event venues. Most include an educational component to teach visitors about alpacas, their fiber, and potential for alpaca farming. Alpaca owners are encouraged to develop a business plan and revise it regularly. Q: Are alpacas easy to train? A: Alpacas are very intelligent and relatively easy to train. The best time to begin training is when they’re young, so they become comfortable wearing a halter and learn to follow on a lead. Many owners also enjoy teaching them to navigate obstacle courses. Some even compete in shows where alpacas walk over, through, and around obstacles — and jump small hurdles. It’s also helpful to train alpacas to ride in a trailer or van in case they need transportation to a show, another farm, or the vet. Alpacas typically travel well, as they naturally cush (lie down with their legs folded beneath them) during transport. However, never tie up an alpaca while it’s traveling. Q: Can I keep alpacas with other livestock? A: Alpacas can live alongside other livestock, but certain factors must be considered. First, determine whether other animals pose a physical threat to the alpacas. Then, consider whether emotional or physical stress could result from cohabitation. Lastly, be aware of any parasites or diseases that may be shared between alpacas and other livestock species. Thoughtful management can allow for successful mixed-species farming, but careful planning is essential.

20 | ALPACA OWNERS GUIDE 2025/2026