Two consequences of the 16th century Spanish
conquest–the arrival of new domestic animals
from Europe and the development of mining
as the most lucrative business activity in Peru–
drove the alpaca from its pedestal in the Inca
Empire and relegated the species to the higher
elevations of Bolivia and Peru. Alpaca numbers
dropped and husbandry practices deteriorated in
the hands of the native Andean herders whose
very life was a struggle on harsh “alto plano.”
Finally in the 1920’s, appreciation for alpaca fiber
experienced a rebirth. By the 1980’s alpaca fiber
production had risen to the level of a strategic
economic resource in Peru. Today Peru, which
has over 85% of the world population of alpacas,
considers the species a natural resource worthy
of protection.
world” (courtesy of the Suri Network).
Huacaya Alpaca fleece should be fine, dense,
uniform, and grow perpendicular to the skin. The
fleece, which grows from individual follicles in the
skin, should be made up of defined staples of
crimpy “bundled” fleece. These bundles should
organize themselves into staples which create
a dense presentation across the animal.” (courtesy Northwest Alpacas) Suri Alpaca of Bozeman
Montana
Until the 1980’s only a very few alpacas existed
in North America, and these were scattered
among a few zoos and private collections. The
brief lifting of importation restrictions in 1983 and
1984 enabled the entry of alpacas from Chile and
brought the North American population to some
500-600 head. Another group of alpacas arrived
from Chile in 1988. In the 1990’s, alpacas came
to North America from Australia, Bolivia, Chile,
Peru and New Zealand. Importation came to a
halt with the closure of the Alpaca Registry, Inc.
(ARI), in 1999.
Shearing season marks the beginning of summer.
Alpacas brave the long winter months here in
the northern rocky mountains, continually growing their super fine fiber which keeps them warm
from the bitter cold. Here at our small alpaca
ranch in Bozeman, Montana, its not uncommon
for the winter months of November, December
and January to exhibit temperatures below zero
for days on end.
The Alpacas tolerate harsh climatic conditions
that include temperature variations of more than
forty degrees in a single day. Alpacas have a
high resistance and can go without food
or water for days. It is a single-coated
animal that has an average weight of 100
to 175 pounds and an average height
of 36 inches at the withers. They have a
lifespan of 18 – 20 years and a gestation
period of 350 days.
The Alpaca Breeds: Suri and Huacaya
“Suri Alpaca fleece is a rare, luxurious fiber regarded for bright luster, next to skin
fineness, cool slick handle, and beautiful
drape of elegance. No other animal fiber
possesses all these features making Suri
Alpaca Fiber sought after throughout the
56| June-July | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com
Alpaca Shearing in Montana:
It’s fiber harvest time!
Alpaca shearing time in Montana has become
very important and traditional for Northern Rocky
Mountain Alpaca Ranch.
The outline for harvesting and processing fiber is
pretty straight forward:
Prepare for shearing > Shear > Sort/Grade Fiber
> Tumble > Pick > Wash > Card > Spin/Felt >
Sell/Assemble End Product