Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you raise Alpacas?
There are many reasons why people raise Alpacas. For some, they offer the promise of a better life or a chance to feel closer to the land. Others would like to live or raise a family in a healthier environment away from some of the stresses of urban life. For many, alpacas are a wonderful investment with many tax advantages. For us, it is a combination of investment and lifestyle opportunities. We did not want to sacrifice one for the other and by raising Alpacas, we don't have to.

What makes one alpaca more valuable than another?
There are many factors-conformation, fiber quality, color and pedigree. Certain colors are less common and, therefore, more valuable than others, but an Alpaca should never be chosen on the basis of color over conformation.

How do you chose one Alpaca over another?
We believe that Alpacas should first be chosen first on conformation, then on fiber quality and finally, on color. Fiber quality can be easily improved through careful breeding but conformational defects are much more difficult to correct.

How can you tell if a baby will produce a good Suri or Huacaya fleece?
Before you look further, always be sure the Alpaca exhibits good conformation. Once that is established, then part the fleece and check in the blanket, neck, rump, and top knot. In the case of suris, note the degree of luster. Then check to see that the locks start close to the skin and fall close to the body in straight lines. There are different types of locks but the lock structure and handle should be consistent throughout the fleece. Density is also important. When checking Huacayas, part the fleece and note the presence of a brightness, which is one indicator of a healthy and well nourished fleece. Note the degree of crimp along the entire staple length. Good crimp is instantly noticeable. Superior Huacayas will also exhibit bundling into distinct fingerlike sections. As with all Alpacas, 'hand' or feel of the fiber is always important, as is density. Many people consider the histogram while others rely exclusively on 'handle'. A histogram is useful if taken on a mature alpaca or throughout a lifetime. For those who don't have enough experience to determine fineness and consistency based on 'handle', a histogram provides a safe objective measurement. Be sure to ask for the age of the alpaca at the time of the histogram and look at all factors, not just AFD (Average Fiber Diameter). Be sure to consider % of fibers above 30, CV (coefficient of variation) and SD (Standard Deviation). Other characteristics for which the fleece is valued include:
• Hand-the softness and quality of texture throughout
• Luster/Brightness-the shine and brilliance of the fibers
• Consistency and uniformity of lock formation and fineness throughout
• Degree and type of crimp
• Absence of guard hair

What is the optimum micron count?
In general, babies are between 21-22 microns; 25-26 microns in adults is considered Fine; above 31 microns would be considered coarse. It should be noted, however, that micron diameter will change with age and nutrition. There are some farms who use nutrient starvation to attain low microns. While starvation will produce a finer fleece, it will also become brittle and of less commercial value.

What information does a histogram contain?
There are many variables to be taken into account and if a breeder is promoting solely on the basis of microns, you should ask to see the histogram and inquire as to what age the measurement was taken. The histogram will show average fiber diameter, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and the % of fibers greater than 30 microns. The standard deviation indicates the amount of variation in the sample and the coefficient of variation is simply an expression of deviation as a percentage. The lower the deviation and coefficient of variation, the more uniform the fiber and lower the 'prickle factor'.

How do you protect your farm from losses?
Alpacas are fully insurable. The cost of insurance is around 3.25%. For more information contact Wilkins Livestock Insurance or Prarie States. Both companies insure Alpacas.

What do Alpacas Eat?
Alpacas thrive on many types of hay or pasture grass, provided it has a balanced mineral content, is about 12% protein with a TDN between 57-62. Hay testing is a must. We offer our Alpacas free choice hay and minerals in addition to pasture and a supplement formulated by Dr. Norm Evans. Please take the time to test your hay!

How much time do Alpacas take to care for? After raising horses, we were pleasantly surprised at how little time Alpacas require. Once you have provided for their fencing and shelter, Alpacas are very easy to maintain. We feed twice each day, but this is because we like spending time with them. Many people, either because of other responsibilities or personal preference, only feed once during the day. We also pick up their manure once each day but because of their fastidious bathroom habits, this takes no time at all. Alpacas will choose a communal dung pile, making clean-up fast and easy.

Are Alpacas expensive to maintain? Not at all. Alpacas eat surprisingly little. An adult Alpaca only requires about 2-1/2 pounds of hay or grass per day. Most bales of hay are 50-60 pounds each so you can see how long one will last, depending on the number of Alpacas eating from it. Some animals are also given a supplement. Ours eat about 1 pound of Mazuri Growth and Repro or Alpaca Chews each day. Again, depending on the number of animals, a 40 pound bag can last quite a while. The largest expense would be veterinary care. Fortunately, Alpacas are generally hardy and it is not often that a vet must be called in. After proper instruction, vaccines and wormers can be obtained and administered yourself. Owners should be able to cover most, if not all, of these expenses through fiber sales.

Do you have to have a large farm to take care of Alpacas?
No. It is estimated that you can stock between 5-8 Alpacas on one acre. If you do not own any land, you can still invest in alpacas and simply board them at another farm.
What type of fencing is required? Alpacas will generally not challenge a fence but predator control is key when deciding what type of fence to erect. Here at Dos Doñas, we use no-climb wire to ensure that neighborhood dogs and coyotes will not be able to enter our pastures. Many farms also have Livestock Guardian Dogs to keep predators out.

How do you transport Alpacas?
Alpacas are far easier to transport than ordinary livestock. Besides a horse or stock trailer, Alpacas can be transported in the enclosed back of a truck, sports utility vehicle, mini van, or even a station wagon for short distances.

Do Alpacas spit?
They will spit on one another when annoyed but will rarely spit on people. Ours will sometimes engage in spit offs with each other when jostling for a place at the feed trough but we are rarely spit on, even when we harass them with shots and wormers. Some protective mothers will spit if they feel their baby is threatened.

Do you have to kill them to obtain an end product?
No. Alpacas are sheared like sheep and there is no meat market for them in the U.S. This is a great advantage of owning Alpacas over traditional livestock.

How often do you shear?
We shear once each spring with the dual purpose of harvesting the fiber and protecting our Alpacas from heat-stress during the hot and humid Missouri summers.
Where do you sell the fiber? The fiber can be sold to hand spinners, artists guilds, or fiber cooperatives.

How long do Alpacas Live?
15-25 years.

What is the average gestation time for Alpacas?
About 345 days.

What do you call a baby Alpaca?
Cria is a Spanish word used to describe many baby animals and is the word for baby Alpacas.

How many crias do they have each year?
One. Twins are extremely rare.

How much do Alpacas weigh?
At birth, alpacas weigh between 15-19 pounds. The average weight of an adult can vary from 120-190 pounds. They are about one-half to one-third the size of a Llama.

How tall are Alpacas?
About 36 inches at the shoulder.

How many colors do Alpacas come in?
Alpacas come in 22 basic colors and there are many variations and blends. This is more than any other fiber bearing animal on earth.