Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Alpacas

What is an alpaca?
An alpaca is a mammal. They are a member of the camelid family, along with camels, llamas, vicunas, and guanacos (other animals similar to alpacas that live in South America). Alpacas are sometimes confused with llamas, but they are in fact very different! Llamas are much, much larger than alpacas, have curved (banana-shaped) ears [as opposed to the straight (spear-shaped) ears of the alpaca]. Alpacas have been bred for many generations to remove the coarse second coat that most llamas have. This makes their fleece ready for processing without having to remove coarse hairs.
Why do people breed alpacas?
Alpacas are raised primarily for their amazing fleece, which comes in more natural colors than any other fiber animal, and is also hypoallergenic! The fleece is shorn off the animals once a year in a process that doesn't harm the alpaca. Each year, an alpaca produces from two to eight pounds of lovely, soft fleece. In addition to the beautiful coat they produce, they are also one of the most interesting, unusual and adorable animals on earth! They offer the possibility of profit while enjoying a relatively easier farm lifestyle (as opposed to raising vegetables, for example). Supply and demand factors in the U.S. have created comparatively high prices for each alpaca, meaning that breeding and selling alpaca offspring offers another viable means of profit, as well.
Do they spit?
Yes. Alpacas do spit sometimes as a means of defense! While they generally reserve their spitting to other alpacas, they do occasionally spit on people, too. If you approach them carefully and respect their space, it's usually not a problem! Alpacas are really adorable to look at, but they don’t behave at all like cats or dogs, and therefore don't make good domesticated pets. Also, alpacas are herd animals by nature, and a single alpaca by itself will be very unhappy, so be sure to always have at least two!
How long do alpacas live?
Alpacas can live up to 20 years, sometimes longer.
How quickly do alpacas reproduce?
Alpacas reproduce very slowly, with each female capable of having one healthy cria (baby) per year. Twins rarely make it to maturity, unfortunately. The slow reproduction rate helps to keep the supply down and prices favorable. Females are ready to breed as early as two years of age, but males are typically not ready to breed before three years.
How much land do you need to raise alpacas?
The answer to this question depends on your farm management practices. If you want to feed the alpacas primarily from the pastures in which they graze, you'll need a lot more land. But if you are going to bring in hay and grain, then you can have more alpacas in a smaller space. Fewer alpacas per acre also means more intensive waste cleanup efforts. You might also need to check with your local legislative offices to learn about any restrictions on the land use in your area. As a benchmark, you could comfortably have up to twelve alpacas per acre with waste cleanup once or twice per week, while bringing in hay and alpaca feed to supplement grazing.
What do you do with alpaca fleece?
Alpaca fleece can be sent directly to a mini-mill  (Grand Alpaca Company Farm and Fiber Mill, is exactly that) and made into exquisite yarn for knitters and crocheters, or into rovings for hand-spinners. It can also be sent to mills that weave rugs or make blankets; or delivered to fiber co-operatives that create products such as socks, blankets, scarves, and hats. Eventually, as our nation's infrastructure expands to handle the conversion of large volumes of fleece into these types of products, the fiber can be sold in bulk to manufacturing companies.
How much do alpacas cost?
Here at Grand Alpaca Company we can offer you fiber or companion alpacas starting at $500, and quality breeding alpacas starting at $1,500, with special discounts on multiple purchases. 
How do you get started raising alpacas?
It's a good idea to visit several alpaca farms first, in order to learn as much as you can and to gain whatever knowledge the farmer is willing to share with you! If this is you, we’d love to have you schedule a visit! ​
Why buy your alpacas from us?  Learn more about what we have to offer at our Michigan alpaca farm.