By Roelof Bezuidenhout
When it comes to farm animals, few are as versatile as the alpaca. You’ll find them grazing on guest lodge lawns, where they are admired for their charm. They are increasingly popular as livestock guardians, often protecting sheep flocks from predators. And then there’s their fleece, which is fine, soft and available in a wide range of natural shades, making it ideal for organic textiles and cottage crafts, from high-end knitwear to baby clothes.
The alpaca industry has also brought jobs to rural communities, with training in skills such as spinning, weaving and felting, as well as opportunities in milling and, of course, animal husbandry. Alpacas require no special fencing and are generally considered pleasant animals to have around.
Like people, alpacas have individual expressions – some appear to be smiling, others look a little grumpy – and each has a unique personality. They’re highly social animals, communicating through humming sounds, body language and head movements.
Alpacas originate from the high Andean Plateau – the Altiplano – of South America, where they’ve adapted to harsh conditions, including freezing winds and dramatic daily temperature shifts. Fortunately, they’ve also adapted well to South Africa’s arid interior.
Peru remains home to about 95% of the world’s alpacas – about 3,5 million animals. The country produces about 4 000 tonnes of fleece annually. While alpacas are rare, they are not classified as endangered. Today, they are found across Europe, the UK, Australia and North America.
Alpacas were introduced to South Africa about 20 years ago. Since then, the industry here has steadily grown.
The South African Alpaca Breeders’ Society now has 55 members across the country. Some maintain large herds, whereas others keep fewer than 10 animals. They are found in most provinces, but the largest breeders are concentrated in the Western Cape.
Globally, the alpaca gene pool is relatively small – and even more so in South Africa – so breeding decisions must be made with care.
Commercial potential
A proven but still young pregnant female alpaca can sell for between R15 000 and R18 000, and a young “open” (not yet bred) female may fetch up to R15 000. A potential herd sire – that is, a breeding male aged between 1 and 2 – can be sold for up to R22 000. A proven adult male typically costs between R25 000 and R35 000, and castrated males go for about R14 000.
Unlike Merino wool and mohair, alpaca fibre is not sold at auction. Most owners make use of their own fibre clips – although some breeders don’t use them at all. Top-quality fibre with a micron count of 19 or less sells for about R300/kg off the animal. The price decreases as the fibre diameter increases: the finer the micron, the higher the comfort factor.
The industry has developed to the level that alpaca yarn, knitwear, and felted and woven garments are now being produced locally. Alpaca fibre comes in 12 natural colours, including white, fawns, browns, greys and black. White is the most common, selectively bred by Peruvian and major international breeders, and it makes up more than 25% of the American herd. Rose grey is considered the rarest colour. Alpaca fibre blends well with other natural fibres, including lamb’s wool, angora rabbit and silk.
There is a dedicated alpaca processing mill in Wellington in the Western Cape, but as an industrial facility it requires a minimum of 25 kg of fibre in the same colour and micron grade per batch – something few breeders are able to supply.
Alpaca fibre is exceptionally fine, hypo-allergenic, twice as warm as sheep’s wool and up to five times as strong. It is water-resistant and fire-retardant. These qualities make it highly sought-after for premium knitwear and woven products – and it can be felted. White alpaca fibre absorbs dye very well, making it easy to produce vibrant colours for those who prefer options beyond the natural earthy tones.
These animals have no meat value locally – something that is not encouraged in any case.
Breeding
Many breeders believe alpacas should never be kept alone, as they are highly social animals. For this reason, some breeders only sell them in groups of at least three of the same sex to new owners.
Female alpacas do not have a specific breeding season and will accept a male at any time, which can be detrimental to their health. As a result, males and females are introduced for the purpose of mating and are separated immediately afterwards.
It’s rare for alpacas to have more than one cria, unlike goats and sheep, which can easily produce twins or triplets. The gestation period is long – about 345 days, or 11½ months.
Some surprising facts about alpacas
• Alpacas have soft, padded feet that do not damage even the most delicate terrain. Like sheep, horses and cattle, they are grazers and modified ruminants, meaning they chew their cud. Their diet should consist primarily of high-quality hay (mainly grasses), supplemented with grains and mineral mixes. Thanks to their camelid ancestry, alpacas are adapted to survive on minimal water, although a constant supply of fresh water is still essential.
• Alpacas tend to use a few designated areas for defecation, which helps limit the spread of parasites and makes it easy to collect and compost their manure for use as fertiliser.
• Apart from routine vaccinations, regular dental and toenail checks, and annual shearing, alpacas are relatively low-maintenance animals.
• Female alpacas almost always give birth in the morning, often very early, and rarely in the afternoon. Birts are usually uncomplicated. In their native high-altitude environment of South America, this timing ensures that newborns, or cria (the Spanish word for baby), are strong enough to keep up with the herd by nightfall.
• Female alpacas are typically ready – and eager – to mate again just three weeks after giving birth, which means they are often almost continually pregnant. Males reach sexual maturity at about 2½ years, whereas females are usually first bred at 12 months of age or once they reach a weight of 40 kg.
The fleece
There are two recognised coat types, or breed variants: the huacaya and the suri. The huacaya has a thick, dense fleece that grows perpendicularly from the body. High-quality huacaya fibre has a soft handle and a natural sheen, and often displays a well-defined crimp across the blanket area. The rarer and more highly prized suri is known for its long, silky fibres that grow parallel to the body, hanging in distinct, separate locks – similar in appearance to dreadlocks but without any matting.
Royal alpaca refers to the luxurious fibre obtained from an animal’s first shearing, known for its remarkable softness. Serious fibre breeders aim for fleeces with a low micron count – typically in the 15-18 micron range – and strive to eliminate coarse guard hairs. Currently, much of the alpaca fibre still falls withing the more general (but still highly desirable) 20-24 micron range, but selective breeding for increased fibre density and staple length has enabled the production of heavier fleeces with fine, high-quality wool.
Source: The South African Alpaca Breeders’ Society. Contact the president, Alison Notley, at helderstroomalpacas.co.za
* A follow-up article will look at alpacas in the role of livestock guardians, protecting flocks from predators.
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 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
