Alpacas are animals which belong to the family of camelids. It measures between 90 and 100 cm, on average. It is coated entirely with wool and is distinguished by its straight ears with a very rounded back pointing like a spearhead. They have also long necks and two fingers, each with two pads and two paws.
It looks a lot like a long-necked donkey, or a llama of course. Although it's much smaller so, it is often confused with the latter. The donkey, the dromedary and the guanaco are also his distant cousins. Weighing around 80 kg, the Alpacas are about 47 to 85 inches (1.2 to 2.2 meters) long. There are 22 distinct color varieties of alpacas. An alpaca usually has a lifespan of 20 years.
Alpacas are explorers that consume most of the plant life types, such as grass, fruit, and appetizing herbs. They have a separated upper lip (like a rabbit) that enables them to chew skillfully between long and sharp thorns.Â
Although they munch their cud like a dog, their food is identical to a goat and their digestive tract is something like a horse and a cat. They enjoy prairie and lucerne hay in relation to green plants and grass, and also concentrate in the form of alpaca nuts, now commercially available (but that should be restricted to 1/2 a cup per day).
Alpacas are typically gentle with humans and other animals not found aggressive. The protection from smaller predators such as dogs and foxes against attack is to scare them away or run down the animal and stomp with its forelegs on it. Alpacas can capture foxes and smaller dogs and are quick runners.
The Guanaco is the other wild Camelid found in Latin America. Pretty close to a llama in shape, these slim animals prefer to grow to about four feet. Their wool is not respected like the vicuñas with a rough coat, but they are known for their speedy nature, achieving a maximum speed of 35 mph.Â
To minimize excessive stress, an alpaca should not be left alone in a barn. When not required as guardians, it is preferable to keep at least two alpacas in a barn near the homestead, where they can become habituated to farm dogs and will be easier to manage with frequent hand feeding. They will grow on standard sheep diet and will appear overweight if housed with breeding ewes, thus they should be maintained separately or with sheep throughout the lambing season.
It looks a lot like a long-necked donkey, or a llama of course. Although it's much smaller so, it is often confused with the latter. The donkey, the dromedary and the guanaco are also his distant cousins. Weighing around 80 kg, the Alpacas are about 47 to 85 inches (1.2 to 2.2 meters) long. There are 22 distinct color varieties of alpacas. An alpaca usually has a lifespan of 20 years.
Alpacas are explorers that consume most of the plant life types, such as grass, fruit, and appetizing herbs. They have a separated upper lip (like a rabbit) that enables them to chew skillfully between long and sharp thorns.Â
Although they munch their cud like a dog, their food is identical to a goat and their digestive tract is something like a horse and a cat. They enjoy prairie and lucerne hay in relation to green plants and grass, and also concentrate in the form of alpaca nuts, now commercially available (but that should be restricted to 1/2 a cup per day).
Alpacas are typically gentle with humans and other animals not found aggressive. The protection from smaller predators such as dogs and foxes against attack is to scare them away or run down the animal and stomp with its forelegs on it. Alpacas can capture foxes and smaller dogs and are quick runners.
The Guanaco is the other wild Camelid found in Latin America. Pretty close to a llama in shape, these slim animals prefer to grow to about four feet. Their wool is not respected like the vicuñas with a rough coat, but they are known for their speedy nature, achieving a maximum speed of 35 mph.Â
To minimize excessive stress, an alpaca should not be left alone in a barn. When not required as guardians, it is preferable to keep at least two alpacas in a barn near the homestead, where they can become habituated to farm dogs and will be easier to manage with frequent hand feeding. They will grow on standard sheep diet and will appear overweight if housed with breeding ewes, thus they should be maintained separately or with sheep throughout the lambing season.
0 Comments
For comments please reply here.......