Our views are based on experiences and facts that we have compiled into brief informative statements. We consider alpaca ownership a privilege and want to share thoughts with the public, potential customers, and clients so that they can have a baseline for their research. To this day, we are constantly learning and stay amazed at how much we don’t know. We hope that the information provided will jumpstart your research so you can enjoy a long and happy time with your alpaca. No matter the purpose for owning alpaca, during our years of ownership we have realized that in spite of our research and multiple farm visits, there are many things we wish we knew before our purchase.
Alpaca and llama are calming, enjoyable, and stress-reducing animals. When you take the time to sit with them or watch across the pasture they give great pleasure. Your purpose for owning might be for pleasure or to be involved in activities including shows (i.e., halter, performance and/or fiber), agritourism, fiber sales, and so many other options.
Alpaca and llama are relatively easy to care for if you are prepared, but they do require continual monitoring. Their unique nature makes them one of the more challenging livestock animals to raise. Raising alpaca in the southeast climate (specifically the humidity) provides challenges to consider when planning. For this reason it is helpful to visit owners living in comparable weather conditions to learn about alpaca.
A Brief History
The history of the alpaca in the United States gives insight into the evolution of ownership. The alpaca brought to the U.S. were promoted as a cute, huggable investment. The industry consisted of many "flippers" who bred and sold alpaca with little regard for the alpaca or the future of the industry. As such, there are numerous perplexing and complex issues owners will face following their purchase. As owners have been forced to maintain their herds instead of shipping them off of the farm at young ages, they experience the issues more frequently -- and resources are limited when trying to problem solve. Many potential or current alpaca owners do not have experience with livestock and are saddened to realize that preventative measures are necessary, that there are limited veterinarians, and that yes, problems can happen to them, too.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our mentorship includes education so that the decision you make about your purchase will consider the alpaca health and well-being as a priority. You can’t research what you don’t know so we hope that our insight will offer you a baseline for your investigation.
“I want to have alpaca for a pet”
Social media is a blessing and a curse because alpaca have become very popular. The information promotes them as cute and huggable, through videos showing alpaca living in a house, or a boy leading an alpaca through town. Information learned from videos may be applicable in a region other than where a person lives. Alpaca are cute – but they aren’t huggable. It's worth researching what makes these animals unique before you purchase. They are livestock and they are herd animals. They are domesticated but their inherent nature is not that of a companion animal. Their nature is that of livestock, being an animal that was originally providing clothing and a food source for their shepherds and families.
“I want to buy a young alpaca so we can raise them so that they like us”
People seem to have the sense that the baby of any species is the one to own. Puppy mills prove that it is profitable to sell babies because they tug at heartstrings. A closer comparison is other livestock such as cattle. There are studies about mothers reactions to their calves being loaded for slaughter – of course we don’t know about the young calves because slaughter is the purpose for raising, but I would expect that they are as sensitive. Since alpaca aren’t raised for slaughter you can expect that alpaca will live many years – and they can with the right care and management. After being born, alpaca should stay with their mothers for 9-10 months unless there is a reason to wean early. Weaning is a process that requires insight so that the alpaca makes a healthy transition, as young alpaca learn from their mother and the herd. They will not be more sensitive or friendly to you because they are purchased young. Selling babies to raise with humans is an act of animal cruelty. To be blunt, these alpacas will most likely live a short life. Owners and auction houses that sell young alpaca are unethical! There are very few reasons why a baby (or even a small group) should be separated from the mothers. Beyond the fact that the young alpaca will stress when taken from the mother and herd, they will not be able to learn acceptable alpaca behaviors. Alpaca ‘mills’ will make the profit. The purchaser will have the heartache. The time when a baby might need to be rehomed is if the mother dies and there isn’t any option for the owner to integrate that baby with other mothers or alpaca. Those are situations that require considerable management.
"The people around us have horses so I know there are veterinarians in the area."
There isn’t a simple answer to help people plan nutritional and vet care but it is well worth exploring before, rather than after, your purchase. Don’t rush an alpaca purchase. Every question, every visit, every alpaca encounter will serve to help your alpaca. Over the years you will realize how much more there is to know.
"I want to buy one alpaca"
Herd animals depend on and learn from each other. They don’t always do well when separated. Their unique personalities are no different than some other types of animals (i.e., they are smart and sensitive) so it is worth your time to learn about their unique individual qualities.
"We live on property that used to be for horses and want alpaca."
Fencing is important to prevent predators from entering alpaca pastures, and horse fencing doesn’t offer that protection. It can be used as an attractive outer fence but there needs to be a minimum five-foot fence with something to prevent burrowing animals from entering the alpaca pasture.
"I see Alpaca that might be $100, thousands of dollars, or even free. How much does an alpaca cost?"
People who look at alpaca as an “item” often misunderstand pricing. Pricing alpaca has many variables. I remind people that you get what you pay for, and free or inexpensive alpaca might really need a home badly -- but you might not have resources (i.e., mentor), or know that alpaca's history when you need to know. When you purchase healthy and managed alpaca from a reputable person you will pay for more than just the "item." If you find a “rescue alpaca” and feel that it must have a home with you, remember to commit to learning, learning, learning because that poor animal might need you more than you need them. There are people retiring from the business or downsizing who will sell alpaca for less money, and that can be a wonderful option if you go into ownership as an informed buyer. Always buy from a reputable, knowledgeable, and involved breeder who you can relate to. This should be an experience that requires trust and communication. Visit the farms and ranches in your region to not only look at the animals but to listen to the information to continue your research and decide where you might purchase.
"I want to buy alpaca to guard my sheep."
Alpaca have protective instincts for themselves and herdmates but they are not useful to guard against dogs, coyotes, or other predators.
"We have a feed store near us where I can get what they need."
Alpaca are not horses or goats, and it is not always easy to meet their needs in the local feed stores. Their nutritional needs require that you research where you will be able to access hay and feed to meet those needs. It is important to consider the cost of raising alpaca, but also the convenience and availability of supplies.
THE ALPACA LIFESTYLE
Owning animals is a commitment, but if you haven’t considered what it means to own livestock this will be your reminder. Alpaca are not dogs and cats that can be taken to a kennel. When you plan that long (or even short) weekend or vacation you need to find someone who knows how to care for alpaca, will be available to watch them, and is able to recognize concerning behaviors. Alpaca aren’t like many other livestock as they do require daily, monthly, and annual care that will continue throughout their lifetime. That could be 20 + years.
Housing
Alpaca are grazers. They need space. Pasture space, space around their hay feeder, between their feeders, and around their fans. Pastures will be quickly depleted from overgrazing or from lack of space, so it's important that these grazers have plenty of space to roam as well as area to rotate off of the pasture for replenishment. Pastures will need to be reseeded on occasion to prevent weeds. Animals will need to be off pasture after mowing to prevent ingestion of mowed grass. Space around the hay feeder, grain feeder, and fans is important to give all equal access and prevent emotional and health issues in less dominant alpaca. Alpaca do not prefer to live inside of a barn but can become accustomed. They are much more comfortable in an enclosed area if there is enough space for their friends. Their comfort zone is increased when they can visualize their surroundings. Being a prey animal, they like to see their surroundings and when they can’t they can become stressed. They need each other so that they can sleep in a rotational pattern for safety. If living in the southeast, their housing needs to have enough shelter and space for their hay and fans due to the heat and rains. Space allows equal access.
Males and females can NOT be housed together. There are people who believe that gelded males can be housed with females and in a few circumstances that COULD be possible. I would be very hesitant unless I know that male is not breeding the females. Even a gelded male can damage a female to the point of infections and infertility, aside from the fact that the female can become stressed by this behavior. Age groups of males should be separated until it is determined that younger males can handle aggression from the older ones. Females, males, and geldings have individual personalities, so when deciding who to house where, consider the dominant and subservient. Alpaca are like people – sometimes they don’t like each other. Alpacas should not be combined in pastures with other animals, except possibly guard animals. Yes, people will say that they do that without a problem, but experienced owners (breeders, hobbyists) all know that the problems will come and then they won’t say a thing. There are too many reasons to keep alpaca separate from goats, sheep, donkeys, chickens, miniature or full size horses, and cattle. The following article describes harmful issues that can occur when mixing species. Don’t take the risk – it won’t have a happy ending.
Pasture Management
Unless you have a strong background in pasture management, it's a difficult area to learn. There is the option of "dry lot" where the animal’s paddock is dirt. This requires additional hay but does have advantages, particularly in the southeast. Alpaca are relatively easy on the land since they don’t have bottom teeth and nibble the grass rather than pull out the roots, but over time the pasture will need to be fertilized and possibly seeded. Alpaca need to be off of the pasture after fertilization, and of course, if seeding, the period of time to keep them off pasture is longer. Chemicals can be harmful to the animals because of their porous hooves and the possibility of ingestion. Stickers and sand burs will need to be physically removed to control the problem. They are not fun to find when you are measuring weights or shearing. Research poisonous plants and remove as necessary.
Fencing
Invest in solid fencing that will withstand years of alpaca ownership. Alpaca are not kind when they rub fencing so it is important to have secure fence that is at least five feet high. The fencing is not as important to keep them in as it is to keep predators out. Safe and secure fencing can be board or PVC, combined with field fence or 2×2 or 2×4 field fence or chain link. 4×4 field fence does not provide the safety for the animals as they can get their heads or feet stuck causing a disaster. Barbed wire is not appropriate as fencing but can be used on the bottom outside to discourage dogs and coyotes from digging. An electric hotwire can be placed on the outside (away from the alpaca) as well. If your property will have males and females life will be easier if they can be separated by distance, and possibly a double row of fencing if that distance is not long.
Heat and Humidity
Raising alpaca in the southeast is challenging because of the heat and humidity. You can never have enough fans! Fans don’t eliminate the humidity but it does help the alpaca to manage. Heat can equate to stress, which in turn can be a health issue to be managed. The combined temperature and humidity level is the heat index to monitor. When it climbs above 120 you will see alpaca showing symptoms of being too hot and as it creeps up you will reach a point where the alpaca cannot handle the heat. Each alpaca manages heat and humidity differently, and it's important to monitor closely to know if they are handling the temperatures. Fans are useless if they aren’t positioned in places where the alpaca will lay. They need to be large enough to blow good amounts of air. Remember that alpaca are carrying a blanket of fiber and the moisture near their skin is trapped. Fans should be sitting on the ground because alpaca cool and heat from their belly. Just because a fan is present doesn’t mean the alpaca will use it. They want to be with their herd so it is important to give them space as well as ensure they are in close enough proximity so they will be laying together. Secure the fans so that the alpaca can’t lay next to them or rub on them and knock them over.
When the heat index is increasing, watch your alpaca for signs of overheating. These might include flaring nostrils, puffing cheeks, or laying on their side. You can provide sprinklers that spray low so the alpaca can lay on or around them. You can also hose bellies and armpits to cool them -- but don’t hose the alpacas body, as this will create a thermal barrier like wearing a wet wool blanket in hot temperatures. Misters are useless in humid climates as they cannot saturate an already humid environment. Kiddie pools look fun but unfortunately alpaca like to drink the water they’ve walked through so there is a strong possibility of high parasite counts. Electrolytes in water buckets and fresh, clean, cool water also help the alpaca to manage their heat stress. We use a combination of Gatorade (Orange is our ranch favorite) with a vitamin/electrolyte supplement mixed. There are other options for electrolytes that might work for you. Automatic waterers help to keep water cool so you don’t have to worry about cooling it. You want to encourage the alpaca to drink just as people should. Sunbathing is pleasurable for them and it gives them the Vitamin D that they need. It is scary when you look across the pasture at several sunbathing alpaca because it seems they are dead. The neighbors will think so too.
Medical Care
First: Before you consider purchasing alpaca find a veterinarian that you can work with. This person should hopefully know something about alpaca. They should be someone who can be available, communicates so you can understand, and is willing to listen without being defensive about their knowledge base. If they haven’t worked with alpaca they need to be humble enough to willingly reach out to knowledgeable veterinarians. You will learn a considerable amount about medical care when owning alpaca, but you can’t obtain medications and understand their condition unless you are working with a veterinarian. If you wait to find a veterinarian after you purchase you have compromised your animal because when they are sick enough to need a vet, they need one NOW. Second: Purchase a scale! And use it often, not just when you are concerned. Your scale is a barometer for you alpaca’s condition. Alpaca will have the same conditions that people experience – some are injuries and others are medical conditions that are difficult to diagnose. They will handle their pain or problems without displaying symptoms which is very frustrating because when they show symptoms it is often difficult to cure. Monitoring your alpaca to know their behaviors will help, and if they seem the slightest bit off continue monitoring and/or call a vet. Social media is not the place to diagnose and treat your alpaca because alpaca are all different and you will be in contact with persons in different regions of the country.
Requirements you will need to learn to care for your alpaca include:
• Assessment and how to communicate with your vet
• Parasites
• Skin
• How to administer medications
This is a very limited list – alpacas experience eye, ear, leg, and other trauma, choke, bloat, mites, mycoplasma haemolomae, and of course parasites. Because we live in a hot, humid climate the parasites (gut and skin) are always in our environment and management is critical. Our humidity makes us need to be constantly vigilant about skin conditions, which can surface and spread rapidly undetected unless you monitor continually. In addition, when an alpaca is injured or sick it might be necessary to keep them with a friend but away from others, or in a small pen to monitor closely or decrease activity. You will invest in medications to have on hand so that you can begin treatments until a veterinarian can be available. Our class “If I only knew then what I know now,” explains medical needs and care in more detail.
Transport
Alpaca are usually easy to transport – you need a method that will hold at least two because they do not like to be alone. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but remember that if you transport during our hot months they need to be kept cool. Before you purchase alpaca you must consider the need to transport to a veterinarian, because it will happen! Vets are difficult to find and if you do find a vet sometimes they are so busy they can’t get to you but at least you can transport to them.
ALPACA NUTRITION & WASTE MANAGMENT
Anything that you provide for nutrition should be balanced for a healthy alpaca. Again, alpaca are like people – some are overweight, some are thin, some have tooth loss that impairs chewing, some are timid and pushed away from the hay or grain feeders. Their dietary needs might change throughout their lifetime. Their digestion is dependent on the rumen which can usually be monitored by observing the alpaca chewing cud.
Grass
The alpaca diet should consist mainly of grass (grazing) and hay to meet their nutritional needs. It can’t be just any grass or hay. Your pasture quality and hay quality will make a difference in the health (and fiber) of your animal. Consider alpaca like people. If people are fed poor diets over a long term it takes a toll on their body and health condition. The same is true of alpaca and should be considered when you are managing your pasture space or purchasing hay. Grazing and hay should be free choice – available at all times so that the alpaca rumen remains stable. Aside from the alpaca's health, the protein levels in hay and grain are important to maintain the fiber quality. Fiber might not be a focus in your ownership, but I also consider it a reflection of the alpaca’s health. When an alpaca isn’t healthy it shows in their fiber.
Hay
Orchard grass hay is a cool season grass consistent with their native country. It provides an adequate amount of protein (less than 15%) and from the 2nd or 3rd cutting is usually soft and grassy. Since it is grown in cool climates, bringing Orchard grass to the SE is expensive. It is often challenging to find available hay that is ideal so it is important to know your resources and research. When I find a nice grass hay the alpaca will eat every morsel; during the summer they eat considerable amounts because they spend more time by the fans. They do eat 24/7 and that is ideal for them to maintain a healthy rumen. Timothy hay is in the same family as orchard, but has seed heads that will get caught in the fiber and topknots. It can be fed if Orchard hay is not available. A pasture management program is critical for the production of good nutrients. Soil samples can be submitted and the pasture managed based on those results. Hay samples can also be submitted to determine adequate nutrient value. Grain is formulated for alpaca. Alpaca are not horses or goats and their grain formula is not the same. There are occasions when it might be helpful to feed something other than alpaca grain – such as when an alpaca is underweight, pregnant, juvenile, elderly, post illness, etc. Those situations hopefully are not long term and it's decided with thought about the specific nutritional needs of alpaca. Is grain necessary? After all, in their native county they probably didn’t have grain. We use grain as a supplement and also to have the benefit of watching behavior. During certain seasons, the cut of hay might have less nutrients than other times, so grain offers the additional sources. But additionally, a sick alpaca probably will not eat, so that is our time to watch the alpaca eating and behaviors.
Supplement
Store non-hay supplements in a location and manner that ensures they cannot obtain access. Alpaca are curious and will find a way to open feed can lids or get into grain bags. It’s best to not store their grain where it is accessible to the alpaca, but if you do be sure that it is secure. Where there is a will there is a way and it's wise to protect them, as overeating can cause death. Alpaca have long necks so when they eat the food passes a long passage. Grain specifically can get "stuck" in that passageway. This usually occurs when an animal is a food monger and eats fast. One way to help them is to place grain feeders low to the ground so that when they eat they are in a normal position (i.e., lowering and raising their head). Amounts to feed depend on the alpaca so it is important to realize there might be times when the group size or configuration will need to be changed. Too fat or too thin are not healthy. The grain bags will have recommended amounts to feed on the label but there might be times when the hay you are providing or lush grass available during certain times of the year makes them gain weight and feed amounts can be decreased. Other times you might need to separate (with a friend or two of course) to feed more grain and other types of hay. Other feed supplements that might be beneficial to add weight but not an ideal regular supplement:
• Beet pulp (shredded, moistened)
• Alfalfa (not processed like cubes)
• Calf Manna
• Equine senior feed
If an animal is emaciated it is important that supplements are added slowly – trying to recover weight loss rapidly can actually harm or even kill the alpaca due to the resulting organ damage that might occur. There are mineral supplements formulated to meet alpaca needs. They do not use a salt lick so the supplements are loose form that can be sprinkled over the grain or in a separate container. You may or may not need mineral supplements but they are available if you feel your pasture, hay or grain is not providing adequate nutrition.
Manure
For the most part Alpacas tend to use a common alpaca manure pile. Males tend to be much better than females at maintaining a compact manure pile (sometimes but not guaranteed). Non-pregnant females have deep seated instinct to spread their urine out over a larger area. This is so that a male would be able to smell the pheromones in their urine and know that they need to be bred. This instinct still kicks in even if there is no male for 100 miles. I’d like to tell you that you can change their pooping instincts but that won’t happen! Have a plan for what to do with your scooped poop piles. Keeping the pile away from growing grass is a smart choice. Your poop pile will grow so you need to consider how you manage it until you can decide how to use their manure. Poop Tools can be of many varieties. No matter how few alpaca you have, they continually produce poop so think about what you can use that won’t hurt your back and arms when scooping poop. You will need some type of rake or scoop, and a way to transport to the poop pile. Parasites and flies are the greatest annoyance when you have poop. Be aware that illness is transmitted between parasite-infected pens through shoes and tools. Use separate equipment for each pen. Some people have, and we have in the past, used food-grade diatomaceous earth around poop piles to keep parasites under control. There are varying opinions about this practice. While some allow guinea hens to help control insects, they have a relatively small effect on microscopic gut worms. Scoop at least daily. Scooping twice a day requires that you are around the animals so it is a good time to watch behaviors. If it is wet season it is important to remember that parasites, flies, and mosquitoes will proliferate unless you take measures to try to diminish. Poop scooping isn’t a chore for aesthetics – it is for the health of the alpaca.
Pooping in the shed is inevitable. It’s another annoying behavior, but since alpaca manure is relatively odorless you will find that the urine is the worst offender. You can utilize pin bedding pellets that are available at your farm supply store to help absorb the urine so you don’t have a goopy pile of muck. While we don’t see a lot of flies around our poop piles or dump piles, they can be a nuisance in the shelter. There are many ways to control them. Live fly parasites, baited catch traps (disposable and otherwise) sticky bars, and sprays. If you use sprays be sure to spray away from water buckets. If you have problems with flies on the alpaca we use SWAT or other fly sprays. You can use the same products on alpaca you would use on yourself. Observing poop is part of your job monitoring. The shape of alpaca manure is rarely an indicator of parasite issues. It is a better indication that the animal’s hydration, feed, and rumen are either perfectly in balance, or may need some attention. For example, elongated beans may be an indication of low hydration. Another possibility might be too much sand in the digestive system — if you live on sandy soil as we do. The other is mucous in the poop which could indicate parasites. Depending upon your area you might begin to notice piles of dirt around your Alpaca manure piles. The longer you leave it alone (not recommended) the more dirt will appear. That is because of the industrious Dung Beetle. It’s a handsome little creature with bright metallic-colored green wings and a copper color top. It’s about the size of a quarter and it does a great job of helping to eliminate your poop.
IN CONCLUSION
Before making the commitment of time and money in purchasing alpacas or llamas consider preparing for your commitment. They are a lifelong joy if taken care of correctly. Living in the southeast gives great pleasure that those in cold areas of the country can’t enjoy, but it does require planning to know that you have given these delightful animals what they deserve. Spending time preparing will save future (preventable) headaches and heartaches.
How Can We Help?
Ranch tours require advance booking and tickets. To purchase tour tickets as a gift, select "Gift A Tour." If you wish to book a large group tour, please give us a call.
Contact Us
Cell (727) 809-2253
Fax (813) 920-5350
Tour Address 9317 Tarpon Spring Road Odessa, FL 33556
