Alpacas
Llamas and alpacas may seem to be the same animal, but many differences show the separation. Alpacas are actually ½ to ⅓ of the size of llamas, and are vastly different in the way they live. Alpacas are actually ancient animals that were domesticated around 6,000 years ago. They have a very long, intricate history, with many physical characteristics; similar to llamas, but they differ with their divergent habits, and separate purposes. Both do ultimately relate back to the camelid ancestor. More in depth details such as breed variances, and certain statistics involving pricing, and sizes branch off from general information about alpacas.
There are two breeds of alpacas; suri and huacaya. The difference between the two is the fiber …show more content…
Given that alpacas are on average half the size of llamas they are unable to protect themselves, and it is necessary that shelter is provided along with protection from predators. Llamas are actually great guards and are commonly used to defend these prized, precious pets. They are defenseless, and it is a displayed difference on initial appearance. “They don’t bite or butt, and are free of sharp teeth, horns, hooves, and claws” (Barth). Llamas can measure out to about 4 feet at the shoulder on average, and weigh between 250- 400 pounds, while alpacas weigh between 120-160 pounds. They are also very similar to cows with multiple stomach compartments. “They are a modified ruminant and chew their cud similar to a cow, although they have three stomach compartments, rather than the true ruminant, which has four” (Saffley). They can easily digest the food the pasture grasses, and hay that they eat, with their complex stomachs. The skulls are stretched with no horns or antlers protruding. Being the smallest member of the camelid family, only reaching 3 feet at the shoulder, they are in need of support to survive. Although they aren’t the most stable on their own the average lifespan still manages to be 15-20 …show more content…
Beginning with the fleece, and fibers created, a blanket is the highest quality of fiber produced by an alpaca. The blanket starts at the shoulder, goes all the way down the back and down the sides stopping just shy of the belly. It doesn’t include the neck, chest belly, legs, or britch. With the fiber production, carding is the final process either by hand or machine that is the cleaning process that the fiber goes through. Onto gender terms, a female that is ready to be bred, but is not is considered an open female, which is explains itself fairly well. Any female alpaca not considering breeding terms is called a hembra. A dam is a mother alpaca and any camelid offspring under a year is considered a cria. Males that have produced offspring are labeled as a sire. Lastly an alpaca between the age of 1 and 2 are called yearlings, like most other
Llamas and alpacas may seem to be the same animal, but many differences show the separation. Alpacas are actually ½ to ⅓ of the size of llamas, and are vastly different in the way they live. Alpacas are actually ancient animals that were domesticated around 6,000 years ago. They have a very long, intricate history, with many physical characteristics; similar to llamas, but they differ with their divergent habits, and separate purposes. Both do ultimately relate back to the camelid ancestor. More in depth details such as breed variances, and certain statistics involving pricing, and sizes branch off from general information about alpacas.
There are two breeds of alpacas; suri and huacaya. The difference between the two is the fiber …show more content…
Given that alpacas are on average half the size of llamas they are unable to protect themselves, and it is necessary that shelter is provided along with protection from predators. Llamas are actually great guards and are commonly used to defend these prized, precious pets. They are defenseless, and it is a displayed difference on initial appearance. “They don’t bite or butt, and are free of sharp teeth, horns, hooves, and claws” (Barth). Llamas can measure out to about 4 feet at the shoulder on average, and weigh between 250- 400 pounds, while alpacas weigh between 120-160 pounds. They are also very similar to cows with multiple stomach compartments. “They are a modified ruminant and chew their cud similar to a cow, although they have three stomach compartments, rather than the true ruminant, which has four” (Saffley). They can easily digest the food the pasture grasses, and hay that they eat, with their complex stomachs. The skulls are stretched with no horns or antlers protruding. Being the smallest member of the camelid family, only reaching 3 feet at the shoulder, they are in need of support to survive. Although they aren’t the most stable on their own the average lifespan still manages to be 15-20 …show more content…
Beginning with the fleece, and fibers created, a blanket is the highest quality of fiber produced by an alpaca. The blanket starts at the shoulder, goes all the way down the back and down the sides stopping just shy of the belly. It doesn’t include the neck, chest belly, legs, or britch. With the fiber production, carding is the final process either by hand or machine that is the cleaning process that the fiber goes through. Onto gender terms, a female that is ready to be bred, but is not is considered an open female, which is explains itself fairly well. Any female alpaca not considering breeding terms is called a hembra. A dam is a mother alpaca and any camelid offspring under a year is considered a cria. Males that have produced offspring are labeled as a sire. Lastly an alpaca between the age of 1 and 2 are called yearlings, like most other