Physical Facts:
Life span: About 18-20 years; average height: 3 feet at the
shoulder and 4.5 feet at the head.
Average weight: Adult, 150-185 lbs. Baby, 16-20 lbs at birth.
Average gestation: 11 months.
Birth:
A baby is normally delivered without human assistance during
morning daylight hours. Twinning is extremely rare. The babies
(called crias) are normally up and nursing within 90 minutes. They are
weaned at 6 months.
Reproduction:
Females are first bred at 14-18 months of age. Alpacas are
induced ovulators and can be bred at any time of the year.
Color:
Fiber colors range from a true non fading black to brilliant white
with roans, pintos, browns, reds, fawns, rose grays, charcoal grays,
and others.
Fiber Production:
The average production is about 4 lbs. per year per adult alpaca
and sells (in a clean state) for about $3 to $6 per ounce. Shearing is
recommended every 1-2 years depending on climate.
Health:
Alpacas are very hardy, healthy, and easy to care for. In most
cases you will only have your Vet out twice a year for shots and other
maintenance procedures (depends on your area, ask your Vet).
Source:
http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/exotic/alpaca.txt
