Family Feature: Alpacas . . . comin' at ya
Neece Family and Huajatolla Alpaca Ranch
 

The Neece family: Jennie Sims, Beth Neece, David Neece
Becky Sims, Natalie Neece and an alpaca

        The Neece family of Walsenburg saw their first alpaca at the 1998 Colorado State Fair and it was love at first sight. Alpacas are members of the camelid family, like llamas only smaller and more docile. "In fact," says Beth, "we have two 'guard llamas' protecting our 26 alpacas. If provoked, an upset llama can be a rather formidable foe and will spit on its opponent. Unlike llamas, alpacas don't have fierce tempers but do possess this unusual defense mechanism; however, they tend to spit first and aim later."
        Both animals are native to the Andean Mountain Range of South America, found primarily in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. There are two types of alpacas - the more common, Huacaya is distinguished by its crimpy fiber coat that stands up, and the Suri, without a crimp so its fiber hangs much like dreadlocks. Their color can vary from white to true black with several shades from tan to brown.
        Their life span is roughly 20 years, while the gestation period is 11 months and a baby is called a cria. They stand approximately 36" tall at the withers, weighing around 150 pounds and are considered gentle and easy to handle. Caring for them is a fairly easy task. Their diet consists of grass hay, preferably without any alfalfa, their toenails must be trimmed every four months or so, and shorn of their thick fiber every year. A sturdy enclosure is necessary to keep predators out and a minimum shelter is helpful.
        Alpacas were bred over 5,000 years ago to provide fine warm clothing for the ancient Inca civilization. Today, most breeders in North America breed for color, as well as conformation and fiber quality. The fiber, soft and warm, comes in many natural colors.
        Alpacas provide one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. Soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool. This cashmere-like fleece, once reserved for Inca royalty, is now enjoyed by spinners and weavers around the world. Today, it is estimated there are 3 million alpacas in South America, and about 4,000 in the United States.
        The Neece's find them to be wonderful livestock, smart, cute and easy to handle. Beth adds, "Our alpacas are curious animals and just love company, so stop by and say hello."