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Alpaca Care
Caring for your alpacas is simple and easy.
They require a barn or three-sided shelter, fences that keep predators out (rather than
fences that keep alpacas in), and open pasture for grazing. Alpacas
prefer open pasture to confinement in a barn or stall. Occasionally,
alpacas must be groomed, sheared, wormed, vaccinated, and their
toenails must be trimmed.
Alpacas are ruminants so they don't need a special diet. They are grazers
with an efficient digestive system. They do well on low protein, good
quality grass hay. Many breeders supplement with a pelleted "ration
balancer," which supplies vitamins and trace minerals for bone
development and healthy cria.
Because of their small size and easy care, alpacas are ideal animals
for a small acreage. You can raise six to ten alpacas on each acre.
Alpacas can be sheared with standard sheep-shearing equipment
and an annual yield is from 5 to 10 pounds of lustrous fiber.
Alpacas are intelligent animals and are amazingly alert. The quickly
learn to halter and lead for shows. They communicate with each other
through body posture, tail and ear movements, and a variety of sounds.
Most often, you hear them softly humming.
To learn more about alpacas and the benefits of owning them, click on one of the links below:
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