Investment Qualities

An Alpaca rancher with a small herd on a small acreage can expect to harvest his animal's fleece and sell their offspring profitably. The entire investment can be insured. Alpacas are easy to raise, very hardy and require minimal shelter. The entire family can participate in their care. Alpacas are respectful of children and value a peaceful co-existence with humans.

The value of Alpaca fleece is the economic underpinning of the future market for Alpacas. The herds found outside of South America are not currently large enough to justify industrial processing of the fleece they produce. For the foreseeable future, domestic fiber will be sold to the cottage industries which revolve around hand spinning and weaving. Most Alpaca ranchers readily sell their fleece for $2 to $5 an ounce to local artisans. Each animal will produce five to eight pounds of fleece a year.

The current Alpaca industry is based on the sale of breeding stock, which demands premium prices. Each pair is made up of one male and one female. Female Alpacas begin breeding at between 14 and 18 months of age; males breed beginning at about three years. The females produce approximately one baby per year during a reproductive life of about 20 years.