In this blog post we would like to provide you with some information about alpacas. We hope you enjoy reading it and that we can provide you with some unknown information.
The alpaca is also called Pako (Latin name = Vicugna pacos) and comes from South America, more precisely from the South American Andes. It belongs to the camel family. Alpacas are naturally bred primarily for their high-quality wool. But the animals are also often used for therapeutic purposes because their calm nature is said to have a therapeutic effect.
Population:
Over three quarters of all alpacas live in Peru. That is around 3.5 million animals. The pretty four-legged animals have also been bred in Europe since around 1990. Two types of alpaca are known, Huacaya and Suri.
When they are born, there are no humps on the animals' bodies. They weigh around 50 - 80 kg. The alpaca bulls can be significantly heavier than the females. The coat colors are extremely varied. From snow white to beige, gray, brown/reddish brown to jet black, many things are possible. There are also alpacas that are multi-colored and/or spotted.
An alpaca is a very social herd animal that feels most comfortable in a group. Alpacas are pure herbivores. They have a three-part stomach that facilitates the digestion of plant-based food. They use a so-called chewing plate to chew their food and have no incisors.
Alpaca wool is usually harvested once a year. The usable yield per animal is 1 to 3 kg. The raw wool is then processed into exclusive yarn.
Alpaca fiber is characterized by its soft, fine and temperature-regulating properties. It is warmer than sheep's wool. It also has a lower fat content.
Do you have any exciting information about alpacas that you think is missing here? Let us know.
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