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Alpacas at a Glance
| Lifespan: |
20 to 22 years |
| Breeds in Australia: |
Huacaya and Suri |
| Diet: |
Predominantly grazers and occasional browsers. Alpacas are ruminants, with 3 stomach compartments. |
| Colours: |
Australia currently recognizes 12 different colours - White, fawn, browns, greys and black. |
| Average Weight: |
Males – 85 kg Females – 65 to 70 kg |
| Age at puberty: |
Males – 18 to 36 mths, Females – 12 to 18 mths |
| Induced Ovulators: |
No fixed breeding season, receptive females can be mated at any time of the year. |
| Gestation: |
On average 11.5 months [342 days] |
| Newborns: |
Are called cria, weighing 6 to 8 kg. Twinning is extremely rare. Weaned at 5 to 6 months. |
| Average fleece quality: |
Currently unskirted weight of 2.5 to 3.5 kg from females. Some males and wethers yield up to 6kg. The aim of the Industry is to breed animals with increased fleece weight and quality. |
| Shearing: |
Shorn annually in the Spring. |
>> Animal Husbandry
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