{"id":1932,"date":"2023-11-20T16:13:49","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T15:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpaka-appenzell.ch\/?page_id=1932"},"modified":"2026-04-28T19:35:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T17:35:04","slug":"alpaka-fakten","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alpaka-appenzell.ch\/en\/alpaka-beratung\/alpaka-fakten\/","title":{"rendered":"Alpaca Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ALPACA FACTS<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Alpacas are social New World camelids with special characteristics in husbandry, fibre and behaviour. On this page you will find the most important alpaca facts at a glance \u2013 from origin and life expectancy to weight, feed requirements and basic husbandry principles.<\/p>

The most important alpaca facts about origin, gestation period, weight and husbandry are summarised clearly here.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Average life expectancy<\/td>\n15 \u2013 20 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Average gestation time<\/td>\n335 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zoology<\/td>\nCamelidae, Suborder: Tylopoda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Types<\/td>\nHuacaya (Short fleece)<\/strong>\n\n\"Huacaya\n\nSuri (Long fleece)<\/strong>\n\n\"Suri<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Average weight<\/td>\n50 \u2013 80 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Average height<\/td>\nWithers height 1m, head height 1.50 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sexual maturity<\/td>\nStuten: 14 \u2013 16 Monate\nHengste: 2 \u2013 3 Jahre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weaning from the mother<\/td>\nFrom 6-8 months<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feed<\/td>\nIm Winter Heu\nIm Sommer Gras, Wasser und Mineralstoffe wie\nCamelibra<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feed Allowance<\/td>\nApprox. 2% of their body weight per day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shelter Size<\/td>\nFl\u00e4che: 2 m\u00b2\nH\u00f6he: 2 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Group housing \u2013 minimum enclosure area<\/td>\nGroups up to 6 animals:<\/strong>\n250 m\u00b2Groups over 6 animals:<\/strong>\n
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  • 7\u201312 animals: +30 m\u00b2 per animal<\/li>\n \t
  • From 13 animals: +10 m\u00b2 per animal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRemarks<\/strong>\n
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    • Young animals up to 6 months may be kept in the same enclosure.<\/li>\n \t
    • Groups of fewer than 6 animals also require at least 250 m\u00b2.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Our pasture recommendation<\/td>\n600\u2013800 m\u00b2 per animal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Single housing of males<\/td>\nEnclosure area: 250 m\u00b2\nShelter: 4 m\u00b2\n\nA male kept alone must have visual contact with other alpacas.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Livestock units<\/td>\nUnder 2 years: 0.07 LSU\nOver 2 years: 0.11 LSU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Education<\/td>\nAccording to Art. 31 para. 4 lit. c of the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV), a certificate of competence (SKN) is required for keeping alpacas.\nTrained farmers are exempt from this requirement.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Animal registration<\/td>\nBusinesses and individuals who keep alpacas must be registered in the\nAnimal Movement Database (TVD)<\/a><\/span>\n.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Association<\/td>\nNWKS \u2013 Neu Welt Kameliden Schweiz<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is an Alpaca?<\/h2>

An alpaca is a domesticated New World camelid from the Camelidae family. The animals originally come from the highlands of the Andes in South America and are mainly kept for their high-quality fibre. Alpacas belong to the tylopods and are closely related to llamas, guanacos and vicu\u00f1as.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Alpaca, llama, vicu\u00f1a and guanaco<\/h4>

Four species belong to the South American camelids:
alpaca, llama, vicu\u00f1a and guanaco. Two of them are wild animals, two have been domesticated by humans.<\/p>

Scientific studies show that the Alpaca <\/strong>was most likely from<\/strong> the vicu\u00f1a,<\/strong>, while the llama descends from the guanaco<\/strong>. This classification also corresponds to the characteristics of the animals:<\/p>

Vicu\u00f1as are the smallest South American camelids and possess one of the finest natural fibres in the world. The alpaca has been selectively bred over many generations for its soft and high-quality wool<\/strong> .\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Vicu\u00f1a and alpaca in the high altitudes of the Andes in Peru \u2013 home of the South American camelids.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Guanacos, on the other hand, are significantly more robust and larger. From them, the llama developed, which has traditionally been used in the Andes as a pack and transport animal<\/strong> .<\/p>

This resulted in a natural division of the South American camelids: smaller, fibre-oriented animals such as the vicu\u00f1a and alpaca on the one hand, and larger, stronger animals such as the guanaco and llama on the other.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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