In our time in the industry we have heard this question (and a range of variations) many, many times.

So in an attempt to provide you with a bit of information we’ve combined our knowledge with some facts, some research and the occasional personal experience or anecdote.

We’ve introduced thousands of people to these wonderful animals. Mostly at Agricultural Shows, but also open days, displays and many other events. We are always happy to talk to as many or as few people  and answer as many or as few questions as you may have.

   What is a male alpaca called?

Macho is the name for an adult male. Wethers are males that have been castrated (desexed).

    What is a female alpaca called?

Hembra

    What is a baby alpaca called?

Though we rarely (ok, we never) refer to the males as Machos or the females as Hembras, we always call the babies by their name - Cria.

    Are alpacas related to camels?

Yes they are. They are one of the members of the camelid family. This includes, of course, camels, llamas, alpacas, guanaco and vicuna.

    What are alpacas used for?

Mainly their fleece. This is particularly true in Australia, where alpaca breeding is based around the improvement in quality of the fleece of the animal. They can be butchered, and certainly this has become a little more prevalent of late. It is reasonable to assume that alpacas will be bred for meat at some stage in the future, but not just yet.

Drop back in soon as we add to this section.