Howling Hill Ranch ~THE GENETIC GIGOLOS~
"Success is in our DNA"
Alpaca Heritage Inca royalty were draping themselves in multicolored garments woven from luxurious alpaca fiber and the herds of these poetic animals became a cornerstone of the Incan empire. And so it remained for centuries until the Spanish conquistadors deliberately decimated huge herds of alpacas to make way for their sheep. The alpaca was merely a source of meat and soon the species became so rare it was bordering on extinction. In the mid 1800’s Sir Titus of London discovered the unique warmth and softness of the alpaca’s fiber and he began promoting its use in Europe’s most elite fashion and textile houses. But the alpaca remained relatively unknown in North America until 1983 when a small group of importers first brought them to the United States. Smallest Member of the Camel Family Weighing only about 150 pounds, alpacas are much smaller than llamas. While their soft sounds of “humming” and their graceful movement make abitat, South America’s Andes Mountains, is famous for its hot and dry summers and its cold and blustery winters. For centuries, they have survived with no shelter and sparse forage.
One of nature’s most wonderful gifts, the alpaca has a truly remarkable history. 5,000 years ago, the pre-Incan Peruvian culture held their alpaca herds in high esteem. The alpaca was treasured as a glorious gift from the gods and wealth was measured by the size of one’s herd.
Alpacas are related to all members of the “Camelid” species including Llamas, Vicunas, Guanacos and even their much larger cousins, the one-hump Dromedary and the two-hump Bactrian camels.
Two Alpaca Breeds: Huacaya & Suri
Both alpaca breeds produce one of the world’s finest, softest, warmest and lightweight natural fibers. The animal’s fleece is shorn or clipped from the animal without causing it harm.
The two breeds are very similar .jpg)
with the exception being the way their fiber (hair) grows. The most popular breed, the Huacayas (pronounced WA-KIE-YA) look like big teddy bears when they are in full fleece just before they are shorn.
The second breed is the Suri whose hair grows in dread-lock form giving them the appearance of a moppy-looking small llama.
Today’s Alpaca Industry ~ The Numbers & The Potential
1. Total Population
Approximately 3.3 million, with 98% of the world’s alpacas residing in Bolivia, Chile and Peru.
2. Alpacas in the North America
About 1% of the total population (37,000, mostly Huacaya), plus another 5,500 in Canada.
3. USA Breeders (those with at least 1 breeding male and 3 or more females) Approximately 1,200.
4. Full time USA Breeders with 100 or More Alpacas
Only 16. Most American breeders are raising alpacas for a supplemental income, managing relatively small herds of 10 to 20 animals.
5. Organizations and Memberships
AOBA (Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association)
3,000+ Alpaca Farms
ARI (Alpaca Registry International)
2,000+ Alpaca Farms
These two well-run organizations are key strengths of the industry. Both groups are experiencing dramatically increasing growth and protecting the integrity and the value of the species. More than 98% of the alpacas in the United States are registered with ARI and are highly valued. Those that are not registered have little value and questionable lineage.
6. Market Prices for Huacaya Alpacas (in US dollars)
An average, a young female who has delivered at least 1 healthy cria (baby) typically sells for about $17,000 to $22,000 and those with exceptionally high quality sell from $30,000 to $60,000. Young, proven herdsires (breeding males) usually sell from $15,000 to $50,000 and those in the top 10% have often sold above $100,000. Geldings or “pet quality males” (non-breeders) typically sell for about $1,500.
