Alpaca Vs Llama

Vol.4, No. 01 February 2008
Alpaca VS Llama

Alpaca Vs Llama
By HC Writer Kathleen Gazey

Camel Cousins: The Difference between Alpacas and Llamas

As a child, I was always fascinated by camels. I thought they’d be the coolest animal to have for a pet. Imagine, inviting your friends over for a camel ride! Needless to say, my parents didn’t agree with my idea of what would make a great family pet. Sadly I went though my childhood without ever seeing my dream of having a pet camel realized.
Now as an adult, I am about to make this long forgotten childhood dream come true. I’m about to get some camels! Well not really camels. At least not quite the ones I pictured as a kid. I’m about to bring home some of their cousins and I’m quite excited about it! I’ve decided to raise alpacas and llamas.
In a way, camels, alpacas and llamas are cousins. They are all members of the camelid family, a small group herbivores with a unique three chambered digestive tract, long legs and split, padded feet. But like all cousins, for as many things they have in common, there are also lots of differences between alpacas and llamas.
The most obvious difference between the two animals is in their size and appearance. Alpacas are the smaller of the two and will grow to an adult size of 32-39” at the shoulder and weighing between 100-190 pounds. At birth, the alpaca babies, or cria, usually weigh 10-17 pounds. In contrast, the larger cousin, the llama, will reach an adult weight of 200-450 pounds and 36-46” at the shoulder. Even at birth a llama cria weighs 20-35 pounds, roughly twice the size of an alpaca cria. The larger llama has ears that are similar in shape to a banana, while the alpaca has a straight spear shaped ear.

Alpacas have been a domesticated breed for more than 6,000 years, and used as a luxury fibre-producing animal. Careful breeding selection over the centuries has resulted in the alpaca of today which produces a dense, incredibly soft, lightweight and warm fibre similar to cashmere. The fibre grows approx. 6” per year. This growth requires the alpaca be sheared every year so that they remain healthy. After shearing, this beautiful fibre it is sent for processing and made into a wide variety of products including yarns, fabrics, and garments. Alpaca fibre also has the unique quality of having crimp. The desirable property of crimp is one of the reasons why alpaca fibre is so wearable. It is this crimp that gives garments made with alpaca fibre, either woven or knit, the ability to ‘bounce’ or return to it original shape rather than sagging.
While the alpaca was bred for its high quality fibre, the llama has also been domesticated for several thousand years, but was bred mainly as a pack animal. The larger size of the llama made it desirable to pack through the mountainous terrain. Depending upon size and condition, a llama can carry up to 100 pounds on their back. Llamas are enjoyable packing companions, due to their gentle and non-complaining nature. Llamas tread lightly on the environment because they do not have hooves. Their two-toed padded feet make them very sure footed while at the same time being gentle to the ground.

In addition to being a pack animal, the llama is sometimes also used for fibre production. Unlike the alpaca, the quality and colour of fleece varies widely. Llamas also don’t produce the quantity of fleece that the alpaca produces. Llamas are a double coated animal with a very coarse outer coat of fiber and a soft inner coat. Llama fibre must be de-haired before it is spun unless the spinner wants a coarser yarn for an outer-garment. When de-haired, llama fiber can be as soft as or softer than alpaca fiber but it does not have crimp.
Llamas also have an excellent reputation as guardian animals. They will oversee the safety of sheep, goats, and other small livestock including their alpaca cousins. While not every llama has the desire to guard, those that do are often as good as, or better, than the classic livestock guardian dog breeds.
So here I am. Now an adult, I get to make the decision about what makes a great family pet. I’m about to add these “camel cousins” to the livestock on my ranch. The alpacas will be here to produce not only their wonderful fibre, but to provide quality breeding stock for sale. The llamas will be there to guard the alpacas and to act as pack animals on our local trail rides! It’s not exactly the dream that I had as a kid growing up, but it’s about as close to having a pet camel as I’ll ever get!

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