Alpacas: Super Cute & Curious

By Meara Hayden, Penn State Extension Intern

I have always had an interest in unusual animals. The alpaca specifically captured my imagination. I have several pairs of incredibly warm and soft alpaca wool socks. There are plenty of alpaca farmers in our area, and I visited Harley Hill Farms in Quakertown to find out more about local Alpaca farming.

Photo taken at Harley Hill Farm

The farm is owned by Bill and Lori Oraschin. I spoke with Bill while standing amidst his female and young alpacas. The animals were incredibly friendly and tame. They came up and snuffled my hands, wondering if I had food. Their hair was very soft and thick. They didn’t seem bothered by my presence in the least. The alpacas possessed an innate intelligence that one does not expect from sheep or cows. They are interesting, curious animals.

Alpacas are raised primarily for the soft fiber they produce. They are sheared once a year, usually in May or June. White alpacas have the softest fiber, measured in microns, but softness is hereditary. So you could breed a softer brown alpaca if one of its parents was white. The young alpacas are called crias, and unlike their relative the llama, alpacas are not pack animals. Llamas can be used to guard the alpacas, and will herd them to safety and may fight to the death on their behalf. Alpacas require regular trims of their top knots and toenails, which the farmer can learn to do themselves to save on vet costs. You can keep about 5-7 alpacas per acre, although some keep as many as 10 per acre.

When an alpaca is brought to a farm show, about 60% of the score is based on the quality of their fleece, and about 40% is based on their proportions. A well-proportioned alpaca’s neck will be about as long as their back.

They are primarily cold weather animals, and barns do not require heating in the winter, but they will need cooling in the summer. The alpacas at Harley Hill Farm enjoy numerous fans, and the occasional hose spray under their bellies. They eat a mixture of hay and a grain mixture, with vitamin supplements. 

The fiber harvested from the Alpacas is sent to be turned into yarn, which is then either sold as is, or woven into hats, gloves, or rugs. The products made from alpaca fiber tend to be softer and more waterproof than those made from sheep’s wool. It also tends to be warmer, and hypoallergenic, due to the fiber’s hollow strands and lack of lanolin (a waxy substance found in sheep’s wool).

Most people who choose to raise alpacas must be willing to put in a big time commitment to keeping these animals happy. But their gentle softness may just make it worthwhile.

Resources: http://extension.psu.edu/animals/camelids 

Support Your Farmer:

Berks County: Charming Forge Alpacas in Womelsdorf

Bucks County: Harley Hill Farm in Quakertown

Lehigh County: Kraussdale Alpacas in East Greenville

Northampton County: Purple Haze Alpacas in Bangor