ALPACAS - A Getting Started Guide

A Comprehensive Introduction to the World of Alpacas

Written by:

Heritage Farm Alpacas & Events

Flora, IN

www.heritagefarmevents.com

Section 2 -
Defining Your Herd Objectives

Huacayas or Suris: How Do I Choose?

By now in your alpaca research, you may have discovered that there are two types of alpacas: Huacayas (pictured left) and Suris (pictured right). Some farms keep both with great success, while others focus entirely on one type. Your choice may depend on the kind of alpaca operation you envision — or it may simply come down to personal preference.

Huacayas have that classic “fluffy teddy bear” look, with dense, crimpy fleece that stands out from the body. They’re the image many people think of when they picture an alpaca — and who can resist that endearing face?

Suris, on the other hand, carry themselves with an elegant, almost regal style. Their fleece hangs in long, silky locks that shimmer and sway as they move. Suris are much rarer in the U.S., making up only a small percentage of the national herd. That rarity leads some breeders — ourselves included — to speculate that Suris may hold their value well as the market gradually shifts from primarily breeding stock sales to a fiber-based economy. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a direction we’ve chosen to lean into.

Both types have their merits, and both can produce high-quality fiber and strong market appeal. You may find that something you read in this guide — about fleece processing, marketing, or your target customer — will tip your decision one way or the other.

Ultimately, the choice between Huacaya and Suri is just one piece of your bigger business picture. Pick the type that inspires you, and build your plan around animals you’ll be proud to raise for years to come.

Huacaya vs. Suris - A Quick Comparison

Feature	Huacaya	Suri
Personal Draw	Huggable and irresistibly cute	Sleek, shiny, and uncommon
Care & Maintenance	Fluffy fleece can collect debris but usually straightforward to manage	Locks can tangle or felt if not well cared for; requires attentive husbandry
Show Ring Impact	Competitive and widely represented	Eye-catching due to rarity; can stand out in shows
Shearing & Processing	Typically easier to shear and process due to shorter staple length and loft	Shearing requires more care to preserve lock structure; processing often kept separate from Huacaya fiber
Market Rarity	Common – easy to source breeding stock	Rare – potential for niche market appeal
U.S. Herd Percentage	~85–90% of alpacas in the U.S.	~10–15% of alpacas in the U.S. (rarer)
Fiber Use	Lofty fleece ideal for knitting yarns, hats, scarves, and garments needing warmth and structure	Silky fiber with beautiful drape – perfect for luxury scarves, shawls, and woven goods
Look & Appeal	Soft, fluffy, and approachable – the “classic alpaca” image	Elegant, flowing, and exotic – often described as graceful or regal
Fleece Style	Dense, crimpy fiber that stands out from the body like a plush teddy bear	Long, lustrous locks that drape down the body in silky, pencil-like tendrils

Define Your Strategy

The business objectives you’ve identified will be reached through one or more routes, each tied to the value of alpaca livestock and the products and experiences they can provide.

Common income streams include:

Sale of livestock – breeding stock, show animals, or pets for fiber.
Stud fees from herdsire breedings – offering your males for outside service.
Agistment – boarding alpacas for others who may not have land or facilities.
Brokering – marketing and selling alpacas on behalf of other owners.
Sale of fiber – raw, processed, or prepared for spinning.
Retail sales of alpaca products – through a farm shop, at local markets, fairs, and special events.
Agritourism – open your farm to visitors offering tours, alpaca feeding, alpaca trekking, educational activities, farm stays, and/or wedding and events.

Not every owner will take part in all of these, and many find creative additional income streams, but this list gives you a practical starting point.

Before putting your final plan on paper, take the time to research every aspect of alpaca ownership (see bibliography) and visit multiple farms. Notice what others are doing, how they achieve their goals, and how their approach compares to your own objectives.

You should also consider the structure of your business. Will you operate as a sole proprietor, or would a Limited Liability Company (LLC) be more suitable? Consult with a financial adviser experienced in agricultural enterprises and rural lifestyle businesses—someone who understands the realities of livestock operations. If you can find an adviser familiar with alpacas, you’ll be even better prepared.

Raising alpacas requires both financial commitment and patience. Be realistic about how much you can invest in building a business that may take four or five years to yield a healthy return.

As author Lewis Carroll wisely put it: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Alpacas can be found at many price points and for many purposes. Beginning your journey without a clear sense of direction can lead to costly course corrections down the road. Clarity of purpose from the outset is one of your most valuable tools

Alpacas - What are they?

Let’s start with a quick refresher on these charming and useful animals — so we’re all conversant, whether you’re new to alpacas or revisiting what you’ve learned.

Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, closely related to llamas. Smaller than llamas, alpacas typically stand around 34–36 inches at the withers and weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. They are pseudo-ruminants with a three-chambered stomach, adapted perfectly for extracting nutrients from sparse mountain grasses. When it comes to fleece, alpaca fiber outshines sheep’s wool in softness, warmth (up to five times warmer), strength, and even hypoallergenic appeal. It’s also more lustrous — often compared to cashmere or angora in feel.

In addition, alpacas produce a stunning array of natural colors—over 52 recognized hues worldwide—ranging from blacks and whites to maroons, browns, fawns, and grays. This breadth of color makes alpaca fiber uniquely versatile for natural or dye-free products. Perhaps most notably, these animals are beautiful and endearing. Their gentle demeanor, curious nature, and innate elegance make them an immediate favorite among people of all ages.

There are two fleece types (breeds) to choose from:

Huacaya: Dense and fluffy with a crimped appearance.
Suri: Sleek, with long, twisted, silky locks

In the U.S., Huacayas remain dominant, comprising roughly 80% of the population, while Suris make up the remaining 20%

For over 6,000 years alpacas have been raised in South America, primarily in Peru. They have provided a source of luxurious fiber to the Peruvian Indians since the pre-Inca days, continuing through to the present day. Unfortunately, in the 1500s, the Spanish conquistadors almost eliminated these beautiful animals to make way for the sheep they brought with them. Many of the Indians fled to the higher reaches of the Andes, taking their alpacas with them. Over the hundreds of years since then, the animals have adapted to living in the harsh conditions found there becoming, in the process, one of the most efficient grazing animals in the world.

Since the mid-1980s, alpacas have been bred in the United States. Foundation herds were first established through a series of importations from Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. The original US alpaca farmers started breeding to establish an “American” alpaca. The Peruvian herds are primarily white or light fawn, as this is the fiber in most demand by the processing mills. To achieve the predominance of whites, the colored alpacas were culled from the breeding stock. As alpacas are eaten in South America, those that were not needed for breeding often met this fate. Other coloreds were exported to Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.

In the U.S., colored alpacas remain highly popular, even though their fleece—particularly from pinto or appaloosa animals—can be less desirable for large-scale processing. As breeders become more fiber-focused, the industry is shifting toward a future where lasting success will depend on producing consistent, high-quality fleece across the entire national clip, regardless of color or pattern.

How Many Alpacas in the U.S. Today?

According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, the U.S. had about 99,500 alpacas reported on agricultural operations. But industry insiders estimate the total—including registered animals, hobby farms, and unreported herds—to be significantly higher.

The Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) has over 264,000 alpacas registered as of May 2024, though this includes some animals no longer active or deceased. On the farm count front, USDA data shows declines over the years, but estimates still place the number of U.S. alpaca farms around 5,000 at present.

Designing Your Herd

Once you’ve clarified your business goals, the next step is to design a herd that will help you achieve them. Every alpaca farm looks a little different, but all successful ones start with the same question:

“What kind of alpacas do I need to build the future I envision?”

For many first-time owners, the appeal lies in the idea that a single breeding female can produce a cria each year — and with wise decisions and careful management, a small starter herd can multiply significantly over time. While not every cria will be female, and not every breeding will result in a birth, the ability to grow your herd through reproduction is a unique advantage in alpaca farming.

As a general example:

A beginning herd of five quality bred females can reasonably grow to over 25–30 animals within five years, assuming typical breeding success and cria survival rates. Whether your goals are breeding, fiber, or a balanced mix, those foundational females set the tone for your entire operation.

Investment Ranges and Planning

The price you pay for your alpacas will vary widely depending on your purpose:

If you’re building a fiber-focused herd, your best value may come from gelded males (wethers). These animals are typically the most affordable, and with the right genetics, they can produce beautiful fleece year after year.
If your goal is a breeding or seed-stock program, you’ll be looking at proven females, promising maidens, and access to high-quality herdsires. Costs here depend on the animal’s conformation, fiber quality, pedigree, and performance history — not just show ribbons.
Show-quality or elite breeding animals may command premium prices, but many excellent foundation females are available at accessible price points, especially from experienced breeders who are focused on finding the right fit for new farms.

In all cases, your herd should reflect your long-term strategy, not just short-term opportunity. Buying an animal because it’s “affordable” or “available” may cost more in the long run if it doesn’t align with your goals.

Setting Fiber Goals

Regardless of whether you’re breeding, showing, or producing yarns and garments, fiber quality should always matter. Exceptional fleece is the future of the alpaca industry — and developing a herd known for its consistent, high-quality fiber is one of the most reliable ways to stand out.

When building your herd, ask for fiber data on every animal you consider. Breeders who are serious about fiber should be able to provide objective measurements — especially for animals over a year old. If the seller can’t speak clearly about fiber characteristics, think twice before buying.

Some important traits to consider include:

Micron (fiber diameter) – the lower the micron, the finer and softer the fleece
Uniformity – consistent fineness across the body
Density – the amount of fiber per square inch
Luster (in Suris) or Crimp (in Huacayas) – visual and structural appeal
Annual fleece weight – quantity is important too, not just quality
Comfort factor – the percentage of fibers that fall below a threshold for itchiness

Whether your farm produces breeding stock or scarves, investing in excellent fiber is always wise. Improvement in both quality and quantity should be a goal for every alpaca breeder, no matter the scale. The next section will have much more information on fiber.

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For permissions, inquiries, or additional information:

Heritage Farm Alpacas & Events, LLC

4073 N 1200 W, Flora, IN 46929

Phone: (765) 412-0185

Email: info@ourheritagefarm.com

Website: www.ourheritagefarm.com