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The Suri Alpaca at Pacavillage. Questions and Answers
Pacavillage owns some of the rarest breeds of alpacas in Europe, the black coloured suri alpaca. Its two black stallions, Remo and Negus ensure non-consanguineity, a very important feature that guarantees the health and strength of each offspring. Suris are direct descendants of the Vicuna, their wild ancestor which produces the finest fleece in the world.
The village sits just 3 kilometers south of historic Todi at 350 meters asl and its ground runs down to the Arnada river, which itself meets the Tiber river and then flows all the way to Rome. Here, on five hectares of open and hilly pasture land, alpacas have found their natural habitat performing, amongst many, the very useful function of lawn mowers in a hilly land where it is often difficult to use a tractor.
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The black stallions, Remo and Negus share the graces of six girls. Four babies (crias) born in 2006 make for a total current population of 12 animals. In past years the pacavillage population went up to 18 animals but strong demand from new farms in Italy has reduced this number.
Pregnancy runs over some eleven and a half months and young girls are "ready" to be mounted some 16 to 20 months from birth. A well treated alpaca lives over 20 years in captivity (the upper limit is not known as the alpaca industry in the western world - where animals are well cared for - only started in the mid '80s).
Any farm with paca girls can thus expect the local alpaca population to more than double every two years whilst a looked-after female can ensure a minimum of 18 offsprings during her lifetime.
Animals are shorn once a year, generally May or June. Each animal produces some 4 to 5 kilos of lovely fleece which, following treatment, is used by the industry to produce the shiny and silky garments so much treasured by people. Breeders in Italy have grouped into an association that collects the wool for further processing and that now, with the progressive growth of the alpaca population, is beginning to produce it in satisfactory amounts. All alpaca fleece is unallergic (and if one does not colour it, fully natural) but the characteristics of the suri, which produces a smoother fleece, ensures that its wool can be used for intimate clothing. Of course, baby cria wool, with a micron count that can be down to 0.16 is much treasured and well paid for. A baby would produce some 2.0 to 2.5 kilos of wool in its first year. It would take some 12 cashmere goats to produce the same amount.
The cost of an alpaca varies from farm to farm but one must assume an average of 5 to 8,000 Euros for females whilst males can sell at a lower price, depending on their salient features. Stallions such as pure-breeds Remo and Negus, "founders" of most of the suri population in Italy demand higher prices but remain available for mounting females, at a fee. The maximum price for a pure breed stallion alpaca in the States has shot up to some 350,000 dollars but Europe has yet maintained a lower profile favouring an easier distribution of the alpaca population and the steady growth of the number of farms looking after them.
Importing alpacas is possible but it is a business best left to the specialists given the number of obstacles, including severe quarantine. The cost of an imported alpaca is generally higher than that of a locally born animal whilst its genetics are unknown. It can nevertheless be useful to introduce new bloodlines as the number of alpacas in Italy is rather limited (estimated at some 300 animals currently).
The Italian association has now moved towards the creation of a special register which, starting from its founding fathers, will register, number and qualify each new Italian offspring. The register will not only serve as the base for the Italian alpaca industry but will ensure owners of the quality and genealogy of each alpaca. New owners will thus have the right to ask and receive written guarantees whenever they buy an animal in the list. Animals that are not registered can be assumed to be of unrecognized parents. Although an unlikely event, given the small number of animals in the country, the register is also a useful tool against possible theft.
