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ABOUT ALPACAS
Alpacas have been domesticated for more than 5,000 years.
They are one of Mother Nature’s favorite farm animals.
They are sensitive to their environment in every respect.
The following physical attributes allow alpacas to maintain their harmony with our Mother Earth.
- The alpaca’s feet are padded and they leave even the most
delicate terrain undamaged as it browses on native grasses.
- The alpaca is a modified ruminant with a three-compartment
stomach. It converts grass and hay to energy very
efficiently, eating less than other farm animals.
- Its camelid ancestry allows the alpaca to thrive without
con-suming very much water, although an abundant, fresh
water supply is necessary.
- The alpaca does not usually eat or destroy trees, preferring
tender grasses, which it does not pull up by the roots.
- South American Indians use alpaca dung for fuel and
gardeners find the alpaca’s rich fertilizer perfect for growing
fruits and vegetables.
- A herd of alpacas consolidates its feces in one or two spots
in the pasture, thereby controlling the spread of parasites,
and mak-ing it easy to collect and compost for fertilizer.
- An alpaca produces enough fleece each year to create
several soft, warm sweaters for its owners comfort.
This is the alpaca’s way of contributing to community energy
conservation efforts.
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