Alpacas are members of the cameloid family and are native to Peru, Chile and Bolivia. They are believed to be descended from the first cameloids which lived in North America millions of years ago and migrated to Asia and then to South America. For a long time, there has been debate about whether alpacas descended from llamas, guanaco or vicunas, the other camel descendants. This is important to understand when we talk about the purity of different genetic lines of alpacas.
This connection between species was also a very important fact for a famous man in alpaca history named Don Julio Barreda. Alpacas come from Peru, Chile and Bolivia, primarily, where they have been raised for many centuries and used for meat as well as for fiber. The Incas had refined alpacas into a fine fiber animal before the Spaniards invaded South America and the conquistadors eradicated their culture. The Spanish called them "pacos" or "el paca", which evolved into the name, alpaca.
Until the mid-twentieth century, alpacas were raised in the Andes mountains at high mountainous altitudes and the herds roamed freely in those areas. Don Julio was the first breeder to use fencing to control the nutrition and breeding of alpacas. As a result, he was able to keep llamas, huacaya and suri alpacas from interbreeding and he is primarily responsible for developing the purity of these breeds. As a result, the alpacas which come from his ranch, Estancia Accoyo, are considered to be the best of alpaca genetics and are very much desired in the alpaca world. Other ranches followed his example, however, and many fine animals come from other well known farms, such as Alianza, Abel Condori, Fredy Valez and Mancusani farms of Peru.
Alpacas in the United States have very few genetic problems compared to many other species of livestock. This is believed to be because alpaca breeders in the United States have been careful not to breed alpacas too closely to their relatives in order to vary the genetics.
The first alpacas to be imported from South America were Huacaya alpacas, which first entered the US in 1984. Within a few years, alpaca owners came together and, by 1988, created the organization which is now known as AOBA, the Alpacas Owners and Breeders Association. This is now our central organization as breeders.
AOBA has established standards for the breeds and, through their Alpaca Certified Show division, have established rules for alpaca shows to keep consistency throughout the show process. They certify different shows as compliant with their high standards. AOBA has established regional affiliates in many states to encourage local participation. This organization promotes the alpaca fiber industry, nationally markets the alpaca business and publishes Alpaca Magazine. They cooperate with many other alpaca organizations. AOBA held its first national conference in 1992 and now the AOBA National Conference is a week long conference of seminars and competition that is the height of the year for many alpaca owners.
Suri alpacas were first imported into the United States in 1991. These animals were chosen by a small group of investor farmers and have formed the foundation of our American genetic pool. Suri alpacas are more rare and represent only about 10% of the world’s population of alpacas.
Importation of all alpacas into the US ended in 1999. The number of alpacas registered in North America reached 100,000 in 2006.
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