Huacaya Alpaca Breed Guide

Alpacas are camelid meaning they are related to camels and hence share many of the same characteristics. The Huacaya Alpaca has a fleece which has a fine crimp, or wavy quality. The average height of a Huacaya Alpaca is 1 metre to their shoulder, 1.5 metres to their head and they can weigh up to 80kg full grown. Alpacas come in 22 natural colours from white through fawns, greys and brown to black; there are many variations and distinctive markings.

Huacaya Alpacas are amazingly alert and will quickly learn to halter and lead. Huacaya Alpacas constantly communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements and a variety of sounds. The most common sound from a Huacaya Alpaca is a soft humming. Huacaya Alpacas may spit at one another, if sufficiently angered, but very rarely spit at human beings. Alpacas are herd animals, your Suri Alpaca should not live alone - you need two or preferably three fellow Alpacas.

Your Huacaya Alpaca must have a large grazing area in which they can exercise freely.

Alpacas are ruminant, which means they chew cud and survive well on different kinds of low protein hay or poor pasture, provided there is a balanced mineral content including a small amount of suitable camelid mix. Huacaya Alpacas need clean fresh water daily, as they would rather dehydrate than drink stagnant water.

Alpacas have similar housing requirements to that of horses; they need a large outdoor grazing space along with a sheltered area for poor weather conditions. The grazing space needs to be securely fenced so your Huacaya Alpacas can’t escape. Trees and shade are good for an Alpaca’s environment. Their shelter does not need to be warm or airtight just dry, a stable like enclosure with individual stalls is ideal.

Alpacas are robust however, they need water, shelter and like all livestock, you need to always keep an eye on their health. Depending on your pasture and stocking rates, your Huacaya Alpacas will need regular worming and vaccinations to prevent Clostridial and other diseases. Their coat should be sheared once a year around May/June time and your Huacaya Alpacas’ toenails will need to be trimmed 3 to 4 times a year.

15-25 Years

South America