Celestial Casa Alpacas
Ontario Breeder of quality and fine fleece

 

Susan Garrett & Greg Precop
3129 3rd Concession W
Harrow, Ontario
N0R 1G0
519-738-0579
416-720-6435

ccasaalpacas@yahoo.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are Alpacas used for?
Alpacas are the source of luxurious fiber. After mohair, alpaca is the strongest natural fibre. Garments are warmer, lighter, softer, silker & more lustrous than wool. Many people who find wool prickly, can comfortably wear aplaca. Alpacas are shorn once a year yeilding 5-10 pounds of exquisite fleece. The fibre, virtually grease-free, can be hand spun directly off the animal. Alpacas are one of the easiest, gentle, intelligent, clean, earth friendly, and profitable animals to raise.

Are they intelligent?
Yes, Alpacas are intelligent and easy to train. In as little as 4-5 repetitions they will pick up and retain many skills, such as accepting a halter, being led and loading in and out of a vehicle. They communicate with each other through body posture, tail and ear movements, and a variety of sounds. The sound heard most often is a soft humming.

Who do you sell their fiber to?
Canadian demand is primarily through the cottage industry of handspinners, yarn shops, and weavers who produce woven or knitted products. Consumer demand is expected to remain strong due to a trend towards high quality natural fibers..

How much acreage do you need to raise Alpacas?
They are an ideal small acreage livestock. Typically you can raise 5-8 alpacas on 1 acre depending on the quality of your pasture. Alpacas are gentle on the land as they have soft padded feet and two toes. They use a communal dung pile making pasture and manure management easy.

What and how much do they eat?
Alpacas are ruminants with three compartment stomachs. They chew their cud like cattle and sheep. Alpacas prefer to eat fresh grass. In the summertime they prefer to be in the pasture and you only need to feed them a pellet supplement. During the winter they will require a good grass hay and slightly more pellets to insure they have adequate vitimains and minerals.

Do Alpacas Spit?
They will spit at one another over food or if sufficiently angered, but would rarely spit on a human. Occasionally a human will get in the way of an Alpaca spitting at another Alpaca.

Are Alpacas easy to care for?
They are small and easy to maintian. They rarely overeat and require no extraordinary care. They should have basic shelter for protection against heat and foul weather. They require regular worming and vaccinations, in addition to occasional trimming of their nails and teeth. The alpacas should be shorn annually.