Our two alpacas really take their job of protecting the four sheep seriously. The sheep wander around the property during the day if we are home. The alpacas never let the sheep out of their sight. You can't work with the sheep unless the alpacas are locked up. They will get right in your face and want to know what you are doing to their sheep. The rest of the time, the alpacas are absolutely gentle creatures and quite curious. Our brown alpaca will play in the sprinkler. He gets a little aggrivated at the sprinkler when it moves and doesn't seem to understand why it won't hold still.
ALPACA INFORMATION: The Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of the South American Camelid. There are basically two types of alpacas. One type is the Huacaya (wah-KI'-ya) and the other is the Suri (surrey). The Huacaya Alpaca's fiber is short, dense, crimpy, and 'teddy bear like'. They should be shorn yearly. Suris have longer hair that looks like ringlets. Our two alpacas are Huacayas.
Alpacas are mainly raised for their wool, which comes in more than 22 colors and is valued like cashmere. Alpacas need to be shaved once a year in the spring. .
Alpacas were originally from the heights of the Andes of Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile. They were bred for altitudes of 11,483 ft to 16,404 ft .
