Come See Our Alpacas
What is an alpaca?
Alpacas have their roots as a cherished part of the Inca culture of South America. They are native to the Andes Mountains region of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. The alpaca is one of four species of South American camelids (the others are the llama, vicuna and guanaco). Alpacas were first imported to the US in 1984. The importation from South America has been closed since 1998 in order to develop a stable national herd. There are two types of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri. The Huacaya’s dense fleece grows straight out from its body and gives them a soft fluffy look. The Suri has a straight fiber that hangs and is noted for its bright shine/luster. Their fleece is the world’s finest and luxurious. It is as soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool. Walkapaca Farm raises Huacaya Alpacas.
Their fleece has approximately 22 natural colors. The lifespan of an alpaca is roughly 20 years. The gestation is approximately 11.5 months. Adult alpacas typically weigh between 120-200 pounds. They are gentle and easy to handle and train. They use communal dung piles which makes it easy to clean up. They are modified ruminants and very efficient utilizers of feed and forage. Here in the southeast they can be housed at 6-10 per acre. The biggest challenge is keeping the animals cool as they are prone to heat stress
Walkapaca Farm offers sales, stud service and boarding on our 27 acres next to Uwharrie National Forest. Contact us to find out more!