Alpacas come from the high Andean plateaus of South America where they share the territory with their cousins the Llama, Vicuna, and Guanaco.

They were domesticated over 5,000 years ago by the Incas who selectively bred them for their luxurious fibre. Out of this careful animal husbandry evolved two basic breeds-the Huacaya with its crimped or wavy fleece, and the Suri with its silky non-crimped fleece. As with long ago, these are bred to this very day in order enhance their wool quality and productivity.

The high quality of the Alpaca fleece evolved out of the harsh climatic conditions of the high Andes where they live quite comfortably at 4,000 meters above sea level. The fibre has incredible insulation properties and is silky soft; hence, it is sought after by quality textile producers in both Europe and Japan.

The Alpaca sports a noble bearing, yet is very docile and loving. They are friendly towards people, and are not readily intimidated by other animals. Most importantly, Alpacas are hardy creatures and require minimal care outside of rudimentary shelter and relatively inexpensive feed.

Because of their padded feet and gentle grazing habits, they are possibly the world's most environmentally-friendly farm stock. They can be raised in densities as high as five per acre without causing undue damage.

There are fewer than 16,000 Alpacas today in Canada's breeding registry. All registered stock have been identified by DNA and implanted with an identification microchip.

Alpacas are adorable and make great pets as well as being a sound farm business opportunity.