Alpacas are a species of South American camelids that are domesticated in homes and other settings. Most breeders keep them in herds and they thrive at altitudes of 3500-5000 meters above the sea level. They are common in Ecuador, northern Bolivia, southern Peru, and northern Chile. According to the oldest record regarding these creatures, they were first discovered over a millennium ago. Owning many of them was a sign of wealth in Inca. To learn more about alpacas Nashville is the best place to visit.
When the Inca Empire was conquered by Spanish invaders, the inhabitants sought refuge on the heights of the Andes. They took a small number of these animals where they escaped extinction. Today, the alpaca population is considerably high at 3.5 million globally. The alpaca has a very rich history but still remains relatively unknown in many parts of the world, including the United States. In fact, the United States was introduced to them in 1983.
However, the international community continues to give special attention to these beasts, with major countries importing hundreds each year. Alpaca closely resembles a small llama in appearance. They are smaller in size because they were bred to provide fiber and not to work. Thus, they are not used as beasts of burden. The breeders were more interested in fleece than other products such as meat and labor.
The face of an alpaca resembles that of a camel and the have shaggy necks. As opposed to camels, they do not have humps. Their noses are pronounced, lips are thick, and ears are very long. The eyes are big and very curious. Those that are domesticated well are gentle and friendly.
The terms fleece of fiber are used to refer to hair obtained from alpaca and not wool or fur. The animal comes in many different colors, with records showing more than 22 different natural colors. The colors range from rose gray, white, black, and silver to light fawn, mahogany brown, and champagne. They can also be bred for particular colors. Alpacas can be placed into two separate types, suri and huacaya. The fiber type forms the basis for the classification.
The huacaya type has wooly, crimped, dense, and water-resistant fleece. In North America, more than 90 percent of all the animals are huacayas. On the other hand, the suri alpaca has fine and lustrous that grows parallel to the body. The fiber forms long separate locks. This types makes less than ten percent of the population in the United States.
In mid-1980s, hundreds of these animals were imported from Peru into the United States and are now a premier livestock. The national Alpaca Registry, abbreviated as ARI was formed to preserve purity and high standards in the animal. At the moment, importation from South America is closed. The US is devoted to raising the standards to the highest level in the world and every alpaca born in the country is blood-typed.
Alpaca fiber has several uses. It is used to make woven and knitted items just like wool. Some of the items it is used to make include scarves, gloves, hats, blankets, sweaters, socks, coats, and bedding among others.
When the Inca Empire was conquered by Spanish invaders, the inhabitants sought refuge on the heights of the Andes. They took a small number of these animals where they escaped extinction. Today, the alpaca population is considerably high at 3.5 million globally. The alpaca has a very rich history but still remains relatively unknown in many parts of the world, including the United States. In fact, the United States was introduced to them in 1983.
However, the international community continues to give special attention to these beasts, with major countries importing hundreds each year. Alpaca closely resembles a small llama in appearance. They are smaller in size because they were bred to provide fiber and not to work. Thus, they are not used as beasts of burden. The breeders were more interested in fleece than other products such as meat and labor.
The face of an alpaca resembles that of a camel and the have shaggy necks. As opposed to camels, they do not have humps. Their noses are pronounced, lips are thick, and ears are very long. The eyes are big and very curious. Those that are domesticated well are gentle and friendly.
The terms fleece of fiber are used to refer to hair obtained from alpaca and not wool or fur. The animal comes in many different colors, with records showing more than 22 different natural colors. The colors range from rose gray, white, black, and silver to light fawn, mahogany brown, and champagne. They can also be bred for particular colors. Alpacas can be placed into two separate types, suri and huacaya. The fiber type forms the basis for the classification.
The huacaya type has wooly, crimped, dense, and water-resistant fleece. In North America, more than 90 percent of all the animals are huacayas. On the other hand, the suri alpaca has fine and lustrous that grows parallel to the body. The fiber forms long separate locks. This types makes less than ten percent of the population in the United States.
In mid-1980s, hundreds of these animals were imported from Peru into the United States and are now a premier livestock. The national Alpaca Registry, abbreviated as ARI was formed to preserve purity and high standards in the animal. At the moment, importation from South America is closed. The US is devoted to raising the standards to the highest level in the world and every alpaca born in the country is blood-typed.
Alpaca fiber has several uses. It is used to make woven and knitted items just like wool. Some of the items it is used to make include scarves, gloves, hats, blankets, sweaters, socks, coats, and bedding among others.
About the Author:
You can get a brief summary of the things to consider before selecting a breeder of alpacas Nashville area at http://dixielandalpacafarm.com right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment