Part I. General characteristics of the species
The camelid family (Camelidae) includes the camel (Camelus), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), llama (Lama glama), vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe).
Camelids are associated in Europe with exotic species kept in zoos, but nothing could be further from the truth, because alpacas and llamas are farm species bred successfully in many countries. The majority of the world’s alpaca population lives in the Altiplano region – a mountain plateau in the Central Andes, in South America. The largest number, over half of the world’s alpacas, is found in Peru and numbers 3.3 million, 420 thousand live in Bolivia and 45 thousand in Chile. According to data from The British Alpaca Society, it is estimated that the largest alpaca population in Europe is currently located in Great Britain and amounts to around 35 thousand animals. It is estimated that the number of alpacas in Poland is around 2 thousand.
Alpacas (Vicugna pacos) were bred by the ancestors of the Incas in the Andes in South America several thousand years ago. Alpacas were the treasure of the ancient Incas and played an important role in the Inca culture. Together with alpacas, the Incas settled the Andean highlands – Altiplano. The homeland of alpacas is the Andes. Alpacas are small, gentle animals, bred and kept mainly as suppliers of high-quality wool, and currently also used in agritourism, recreation and alpaca therapy (Fig. 1). Alpacas have been bred in Poland for over a decade. In 2012, the Polish Alpaca Breeders Association was established (5), and in 2018 – the Alpaca and Llama Breeders Association (6).
General characteristics of the species
Alpacas are herbivores. They have a three-chamber stomach, are grazing animals and use the same feed in their diet as sheep and goats. Anatomical and physiological adaptations mean that they can be bred in any climate. Alpacas are medium-sized animals and have a rather characteristic body structure. The head is set on a long neck, and the body is supported by slender limbs ending with two fingers (III and IV), the remaining fingers are completely reduced.
The upper lip of alpacas is bifid, separated by a central groove. Alpacas do not use their tongues to manipulate food, and they rarely protrude outside the mouth. Therefore, giving them salt licks to lick seems to make little sense.
Alpacas have continuously growing incisors in the lower jaw (similar to rodents). Instead of incisors, they have a dental plate (also described as a bony-dermoid plate) in the upper jaw. If an alpaca has an underbite, the incisors will need to be trimmed. Incisor problems usually involve teeth that protrude too horizontally and do not touch the dental plate. There are six incisors in the lower jaw (3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3). Alpacas have three tusks on each side (two in the maxilla and one in the mandible). Alpacas have 12 molars. Young animals have 22 deciduous teeth, which increase with age, and at the age of five they have 34 permanent teeth. Incisor and molar malocclusions are relatively common. Premolars and molars play an important role in the efficiency of cutting and grinding feed. During chewing, vertical and horizontal movements of the mandible allow for efficient grinding of feed, which leads to a reduction in its particle size. Florez and Gutierrez showed that alpacas and llamas are more effective in reducing the size of feed particles compared to sheep.
Although alpacas belong to the cloven-hoofed family, instead of hooves, nature has equipped them with pads on their feet. The distal phalanges are covered with a horny plate, and when walking, the animal rests its weight on the pad of the middle phalanx (digitigrade). This anatomical structure of the feet means that these animals do not damage vegetation by crushing. Alpacas have a large lung capacity, a greater number of red blood cells than other animals, and a higher level of hemoglobin. Alpaca erythrocytes are oval, which works well in low-pressure conditions in the mountains. This gives them a larger surface area for oxygenation and makes them less susceptible to damage from dehydration (8). This specific structure and extremely efficient digestive system allow them to survive in very difficult climatic conditions. Alpacas do not exhibit particularly diverse sexual dimorphism: females and males are usually about 1 m tall, differing only in weight. The weight of a female ranges between 50 and 70 kg, and that of a male between 60 and 90 kg. They are long-lived animals, able to live for over 20 years.
Races and Fleece
There are two breeds of alpacas in the world population – Huacaya and Suri. Huacaya makes up 85–90% of all alpacas, and Suri makes up 10–15% of them. The annual fleece growth is from 6 to 12 cm. Good quality Huacaya and Suri fleece is dense, silky to the touch and has a beautiful shine.
The main difference between the two breeds is the structure and organization of the fleece. In the Huacaya, there are crimped “staples” visible when the fleece is parted or in the cut veil (Fig. 3). There are different styles of crimping, with different frequencies and amplitudes of crimping. The fibers of the Huacaya alpacas grow perpendicular to the body surface, which results in greater volume. The fiber of the Suri, on the other hand, is smooth, only slightly wavy and forms freely hanging, long “locks”. Due to its smooth structure, suri fiber usually has a stronger shine. The wool is harvested once a year, sheared like sheep. The raw alpaca fiber is processed on spindles, the resulting yarn is then woven by hand or processed into a textile product. Using looms, artisans produce world-famous ponchos, wall hangings, throws or knitted coats, which they sell on the local market, and the products are mainly purchased by tourists.
The global textile market is dominated by sheep wool, with all other fibers such as cashmere, angora, llama, and alpaca being called specialty fibers. 6,500 tons of alpaca fiber are produced worldwide each year, with Peru accounting for 4,500 tons. Alpaca fiber is rare because the global population of alpacas is small compared to other wool-producing animals, so supply cannot keep up with demand. Studies have shown that alpaca fiber is three times more durable than sheep wool.Products made of thin alpaca fiber discovered in Peruvian ruins 2,500 years ago were in very good condition, unaffected by mold or fungi. Alpaca fiber does not tear or deform, so clothing made of this product can last for years. Alpaca yarn is six times warmer than sheep wool and in this respect even surpasses down. Thanks to its unusual structure, it is exceptionally soft to the touch, incomparable to other natural fibers (11). Alpacas bred in high mountain areas, where temperatures are low, have evolved a number of properties in their hair coats that are not found in other animals. This luxurious fiber is appreciated by clothing designers in Europe and Asia. Alpaca fleece is perfect for allergy sufferers. It was called the fleece of the gods, because alpaca fiber clothing was reserved only for the royal house of the Incas and their priests. The color palette of alpaca fiber starts from pure white and reaches all the way to deep black. There are over twenty other colors between these extremes.
Alpaca breeding exhibitions
The exhibition is the best way to compare alpacas, when they stand in the ring next to each other or when their veils are compared. This gives the breeder information about where he is in his breeding work and what features of the alpacas he should continue to work on. In addition to evaluating and selecting the best alpacas, the competition system sets certain breeding standards and excludes many defects. If an alpaca passes the evaluation of several judges and is assessed well, this is a signal that it is suitable for breeding. The judge, whether in the ring or during the veil competition, explains his choice and evaluation in detail. In this way, the breeder can learn a lot about the alpaca, what it is like, what it is good at, and what can be improved.
In the case of alpaca breeding, the competition system is divided into two types – the Halter Show and the Fleece Show. In the first case, the judge evaluates the entire alpaca: its conformation in movement, general type and fiber quality. Each alpaca in the ring has a competition number. When evaluating the alpacas, the judge checks for defects and evaluates what he sees and the fleece he touches. He compares this with the other alpacas in the ring. He does not know their genetic value, i.e. their real breeding potential. Alpacas that have excellent conformation, type and good fiber are entered into the ring. The trap of the ring can be a spectacular alpaca with unknown genetic traits, which will not necessarily pass on the desired traits in breeding. The evaluation of veils is anonymous, the judge does not know which alpaca he is evaluating – he scores specific features of the veil that is lying on the table in front of him.
Alpacas with great fiber are entered into the Fleece Show. In fact, various alpacas can end up at the Fleece Show. Those with great fiber and doing great in the ring (conformation and type), but also those with great fiber but having less chance in the ring. There are also situations in which the breeder does not want to stress the animals by going to the exhibition or is concerned about their health in terms of contact with other alpacas. In general, the Fleece Show is a very good opportunity to include many valuable alpacas into the competition system that would not necessarily end up in the ring. The trap of the Fleece Show can be an alpaca with very beautiful fleece but poorer conformation or type of build. Therefore, in general, the competition system gains its full strength when a given alpaca goes through several exhibitions, collects assessments from different judges and always places in the top.
The exhibition that arouses the greatest emotions and that every breeder dreams of visiting is the Alpaca Fiesta exhibition held every four years in Peru, in Arequipa. The last edition of Alpaca Fiesta took place in 2018. The most popular alpaca exhibitions in Europe are organized in Germany, in Ilshofen and Buchloe, and in Great Britain in Telford. The most important exhibition in Poland – Fleece Show is an exhibition organized by the Polish Association of Alpaca Breeders. So far, it has been held twice, in 2017 in Warsaw and in 2019 in Boguchwała.
Alpacas from Peru and other important breeding centers
Regardless of where they are purchased, all alpacas come from Peru, where the breeding center is located near the city of Puno. Although importing these animals has become a big business in the last 30 years, Chile, not Peru, is the largest exporter of alpacas from South America. Export regulations in this country are much more lenient than in Peru, which is why interest in exports has reached a very high level and the number of animals exported is very large.
According to data from the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture, both legal and illegal exports of these animals take place at the same time. For Peru, this contraband not only means a loss of foreign currency, but also an opportunity to lose animals of high genetic value. According to current Peruvian standards, there are many restrictions on the export of alpacas. Each year, at the request of the Alpaca Breeders Association, the Ministry of Agriculture allocates a maximum number of animals for export in a given year. This annual number is awarded to exporting agents through public auction depending on the amount awarded. The requirements that must be met concern the age of the animals and the thickness of the fiber. Animals with a fiber thickness of less than 22 microns, with milk teeth or younger than two years old cannot be exported. The sale of animals awarded prizes at official exhibitions is also prohibited. Coat samples are analyzed in a laboratory before the animals are sent to quarantine. According to the Peru-Australia health protocol, alpacas should be quarantined for no less than 90 days, while the Peru-Switzerland health protocol calls for a 40-day quarantine.
In the 1990s, Peru allowed several shipments of selected alpacas, especially outstanding sires, to the West. At that time, new (Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Great Britain) thriving centers were established, which, based on imported Peruvian genetic material, have developed excellent quality alpacas in the last two decades.
In May this year, one of the Polish breeding farms, Alpakarium in Rudka, enriched the genetic pool of its alpacas by purchasing three males and three females from New Zealand. Bringing the animals to Poland took over a year. The most time was spent on learning about the New Zealand breeding lines, i.e. the key alpacas in the history of the breeding there, the characteristics of their fiber, breeding families and achievements at exhibitions. The final step was a trip to New Zealand, direct contact with local breeders and the final selection of alpacas. Right after the selection was made, the females were entered into the New Zealand mating calendar so that they could be mated before the flight to Poland. Quarantine in New Zealand lasts about 40 days. During this period, the alpacas were regularly examined and, in accordance with the applicable procedures, they passed all mandatory serological tests. The alpacas flew to Amsterdam (Netherlands) on the European continent. The flight lasted two days because there were stopovers. At each stop, a team of veterinarians boarded the special plane for transporting animals. The alpacas flew in groups, in wooden openwork boxes resembling a pen, with regulated air temperature. Additionally, during the entire flight, a guardian watched over the optimal travel conditions. After arriving in Europe, there is no longer a quarantine and breeders can pick up their alpacas directly from customs clearance. The animals were brought to Poland by a carrier specializing in transporting alpacas around Europe. The farm in Rudka conducted two months of quarantine for the newly imported alpacas, under the constant supervision of doctors from the Omni-Vet veterinary office. During this time, the alpacas lived separately, and disinfecting mats were placed in front of the shelter. Their health was monitored, including several detailed blood and stool tests.
Importing alpacas from outside Europe is not easy, as another Polish farm, Coniraya from Sieborowice, found out when it bought two males and three females from the United States in the spring of 2019. Here, the export procedure is even more complicated, because the alpacas first undergo a 3-month quarantine in the US, then a 6-month one in Canada, and only after such a double quarantine and a series of tests can they fly to Europe.
Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Great Britain have become, alongside Peru, the dominant centers for alpaca breeding in the world, both in terms of the quality of the alpacas bred and their export to European countries and recently also to China. Currently, Great Britain is struggling with further outbreaks of tuberculosis in alpacas and the export of these animals has significantly decreased (16). The emergence of this zoonosis is caused by the frequent occurrence of tuberculosis in cattle and free-living animals in this country.
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