04/06/2024
THE TRUTH ABOUT ALPACAS:
So, you want an ALPACA? Not yet, please!
♦️ Baby alpacas are called "crias". The name comes from the Spanish Quechua language. If you don't know, alpacas are domesticated livestock that originated in the Andes mountains in South America. Most came from Peru, Bolivia and Chile. They are no longer allowed to be imported to the US from South America.
♦️ Crias MUST be raised in a female herd with their dams, aunties, and other crias. Alpacas are herd animals that require the guidance and companionship of alpacas of the same gender after they are weaned. Males and females need to be kept separately even if the male has been gelded. Even gelded males attempt to breed females which can lead to uterine infections and the inability for the female to have offspring.
♦️ Alpacas ARE NOT pets or toys. They are LIVESTOCK, which produces abundant fiber that needs shearing once a year.
♦️ Crias depend on their dam's milk for survival until they transition into a grazing diet that doesn't happen until the cria is around 4 months old or more.
♦️ Crias need to learn appropriate alpaca behaviors from others in the herd. THEY CANNOT LEARN APPROPRIATE ALPACA BEHAVIOR FROM HUMANS!
♦️ When inexperienced owners raise a cria, even in the presence of a herd, they can inadvertently create a future dangerous alpaca that will be aggressive towards humans, chasing, spitting, biting, jumping, and attacking. This is called BERSERK SYNDROME. Google it, and you will see what I mean. It's not cute. It's not funny. It's downright dangerous. Imagine a 150+ pound animal rearing up and knocking you down without warning. Imagine that same animal biting and stomping on you and being dangerous. Yes, this can happen if an alpaca is raised inappropriately.
♦️ An alpaca will not become "friendlier" if you raise it from a young age. Alpacas are not dogs, remember? Alpacas are alpacas. Handling alpacas appropriately requires skill and knowledge. Do your research and learn how to halter train and give the monthly injectable wormings. Research Meningeal Worm, eMac, Barber Pole and many other alpaca ailments. Know how to body score, assess an alpaca's FAMCHA score, and how to trim their nails. One day your herd may depend on you to save their lives by knowing how to treat these illnesses or assess a condition. Waiting for a vet to help may take too long as alpacas usually only show illness when it's too late. If possible, purchase and READ the Dr Norm Evans, DVM alpaca manual. It's like the Alpaca Encyclopedia for alpaca owners.
♦️ Alpacas DO NOT CUDDLE, KISS OR like posing for selfies. These are all weird things we humans enjoy, not them. Alpacas do not like their heads being touched. It scares them. Some alpacas may do "kisses" to smell a human or take a treat from a humans lips. Most won't.
♦️ You need to have a farm to have alpacas. Not just a backyard. Alpacas need to graze. Alpacas need to walk around. These things keep them healthy and happy.
To sum things up,
🔹 If you want something to cuddle, buy a fluffy toy.
🔹 If you want to entertain your grandchildren, hire a clown.
🔹 If you want to have a pet, adopt a cat or dog from a shelter.
If you want to have alpacas, do your research. DO A LOT OF RESEARCH! Don't believe everything you see on social media or the internet. Visit an alpaca farm, or two, or three+. There are breeders and "breeders". Listen to what people say and what they have gone through. Learn! Never believe you know it all, because you don't. None of us do.
◇Find out if you can do the DAILY hard work that goes along with having livestock (injections, poo removal, weight monitoring, poo sampling, feeding, poo removal, paddock rotation, poo removal, shearing assistance, etc). If your life is "so busy", don't have alpacas. At least don't have them yet. Poo removal is necessary for a healthy alpaca.
◇Understand that alpacas are relatively new animals to most countries, and finding a good vet with camelid knowledge about alpacas or is willing to learn is vital. Also finding a good alpaca shearer is critical to keeping them and maintaining their well being over the years.... You CANNOT skip their shearing or they can die of heat stress. They must be sheared annually. Their toes are trimmed during shearing and sometimes so are their teeth if needed.
◇Decide WHY you want alpacas. Is it for a hobby? Is it as a business? How will you use the fleece? Will you sell alpacas? Will you sell products? Will you have a male fiber herd or a female breeding herd? Or will you have both? Remember that males and females cannot be kept together! So you will need seperate pasture areas that aren't next to each other because some males can (and will,) jump fences to breed!
◇If you are still reading, pat yourself on the back. Although it sounds complicated, alpaca ownership can be rewarding. The biggest thing is to educate yourself BEFORE getting into alpacas.
◇Feel free to share this post and help educate the public about the reality of alpaca ownership.
