Here is a list of the difference between Alpacas and llamas. Overall, sheep wool is quite multipurpose and easily blended with fibers from other animals and plants. The personality and disposition of a llama and alpaca are quite different. If you buy through a link on my posts, I may earn an affiliate commission. Create a website/ online store. When the Spanish conquerors arrived, they did not see the same value in the indigenous animals and subjected them to much abuse, including crossbreeding them with llamas. Their ears are also much smaller than a llama’s and shaped like a triangular spear-head. Click here to see natural garments of alpaca wool. David Monniaux, CC-BY-SA 1.0, wikimedia commons, Gvasquez, CC-BY-SA 2.5, wikimedia commons. Llama fleece is used in the same manner in the manufacturing of similar products. Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclosure | Disclaimer | Cookie Policy. How can I quickly tell an Alpaca apart from a Llama? The wool from the first shearing is the finest, and is called baby alpaca. There were 6000 left. Beverley Byer has been writing professionally for a number of years. The result was a decline in quality. Comparing alpaca vs llama wool, alpaca wool is a highly coveted fiber for being soft and light, so not only do they have a thicker and more abundant coat than llamas, but they also look more fluffy. The fleece of these animals was of such fine quality, it was reserved exclusively for royalty. The three-category type llamas are Light-Wooled with smoothed heads, ears, and legs; Medium-Wooled with some fiber on their bodies and smoothed heads, ears, and legs; Heavy-Wooled with enormous amount of fibers on their entire bodies. They’re curious, quick to learn new things and approaches people without hesitation. Beverley Byer (author) from United States of America on May 22, 2015: Thanks for your comment. Yes, because Llamas have an innate desire to protect and exert their dominance. In terms of temperament and fiber characteristics, Alpacas are better than llamas. Wool’s good qualities are its elasticity, and tensile strength. BetacommsnBot, in Public Domain, wikmedia commons, Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC-BY-SA 3.0, wikimedia commons, 3268zauber, CC-BY-SA 3.0, wikimedia commons. Alpacas have a more rounded, sloping body. ), Argentina, and the United States (California, Wyoming, and Texas- top states) follow. Huacaya has short, crimpy, and fluffy fleece. Collecting Wool. China is thought to be the world’s largest consumer of sheep wool. Alpacas faces are short, have a blunt muzzle, and are very fluffy. To dig deeper into the great mystery of an alpaca vs llama, I’ve written a description of Llamas and Alpacas and described their similarities. They have a lot of thick, soft fur, usually on top of the head and around the neck. For things like apparel, clothing, scarves and more. Alpaca Wool. But breeders were no longer interested in the species as a load-carrying vehicle. Cusco in particular has a large population of these creatures. Alpaca Wool: Alpaca wool understandably comes from the wool of the alpaca, a South American camelid similar to a llama. Merino can be close, but in order to be soft, it has to be processed in a certain way. They’re also quite heavy, able to reach up to 400 pounds. At first glance, they look indistinguishable from llamas, but there are differences! They are softer and finer compared to the heavier, warmer wool that llamas produce. There are two breeds of alpaca, Suri and Huacaya. Lamas produce 2 to 5 lbs. My posts contain affiliate links. In a world growing weary of synthetic materials and enthusiastically turning toward eco-friendly choices, alpaca fiber offers an opportunity for consumers to wear soft, warm, durable, natural garments. Peru has both llamas and Alpacas! Derived from three different lineages of the wild mouflon, sheep were originally developed for meat, milk, and skin. The alpaca and llama wool can be converted into cloth by using the Sewing Studio. And as worldwide appetites continue to grow, North America continues to deliver superior alpaca fibers and products. Alpaca fibers have higher tensile strength than wool fibers, therefore, the fiber is stronger than wool. Alpaca is wool that comes from the fleece of the alpaca, which is a close relative of the South American llama, which you will find in the Andes Mountains. Llamas spit at each other, when showing they’re more dominant, and to make sure the ‘lower class’ is disciplined. It’s easier for the farmer to collect fertilizer. Yes they have such gorgeous faces. • Alpacas are reared for their valuable fibre or wool, while llamas are useful for human in many ways including as a working animal and a source of good meat and wool. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches. Llama fiber is more coarse, normally 50-65 microns and not as suitable for garments. Llamas did not fare well with the Spanish colonists either, but their decline came a bit later in the 11th to the 13th centuries. Much appreciated. By the end of this post, you’ll know how to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama! An alpaca tends to be very skittish and timid, but gentle. Llamas have relatively long, straight backs, better suited to carry packs. 5. Alpaca is softer than almost all sheep's wool. Much smaller than their counterparts, alpacas only reach heights of up to 1.5 metres tall at the ears. Alpacas have padded feet, unlike cows who have hoofed feet. The cloth can then be crafted into clothing outfits. Sheep with long fleece are sheared biannually. The average llama can carry a load of 45 to 60 kg (99 to 132 pounds) for up to 30 km (18.6 miles) each day. Llama fiber is often sheared and used for weaving and other fiber arts. Leave a comment at the end. It is a hollow fiber so it is warmer than wool of a similar weight. New Zealand (N.Z. The easiest way is to look at their ears. If you have any other llama facts for kids or alpaca facts for kids, please leave them in the comments below. I love knitting and have met so many other fabulous knitters through this site. Geez they look so similar but now thanks to your helpful post, I can spot the differences. (2) Medium-Wool sheep: Columbia –found in U.S.; Suffolk –found in England and U.S.; Hampshire –found in England and U.S.; Corriedale –found in Australia, N.Z., U.S.; and Dorset –found in U.K., U.S., and Australia. Merino Sheep's Wool vs. Alpaca Fleece " Alpaca fleece is as soft as cashmere, warmer than sheep’s wool, hypo-allergenic and almost completely waterproof." They’re believed to come from North America (around 40 million yrs ago). After vicuñas, llama fiber is precious. They make excellent guard animals as they have a protective instinct. Suri has silky dreadlock-like hair that grows toward the ground and better suited for weaving. Such as ponchos, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, blankets, even toys. Have you learned something about these animals, or which one do you prefer? “Sheep 101…” says that 90 percent of all sheep produce wool. Guanacos are larger than vicuñas but smaller than llamas. Fibers on their neck, underbelly, and legs are a bit coarser and of varying length. A llama is independent, and aren’t herd animals. Alpacas were domesticated in Peru thousands of years ago. One exception is baby llama fiber which can be very They’re also very shy around people. These banana shaped ears stick almost straight up out from the head. Today’s wool industry is global. It’s used for knitting and crochet. The website http://www.howmuchisit.org prices sheep fleece at $2 to $3.00 per oz. Great to hear my post was helpful. 3. Their size: Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. Another thing to quickly tell them apart is to observe their ears. But each species is unique and useful in different ways. Alpaca fleece is also soft; smooth; warm; strong; durable; water-resistant (but will lose its shape when wet); fire-resistant (unless it comes in direct contact with flame source); versatile (can acclimate to a variety of weather conditions); contains no oils, lanolin, or grease (therefore, is hypoallergenic and does not cause your skin to itch); looks silken; comes in 22 different natural colors ranging from white, grey, brown, black and colors in between; and requires no artificial coloring or dyes, which make it environmentally-friendly. Various breeds of sheep are reared in various countries to produce wool of different types. It is the finest, most durable, and highest quality of all alpaca fleece. Llama ears are long, curved, and have ears shaped like bananas almost. Llamas have short, coarse hair, which is double-coated. Natural wool colors are not as extensive and so the fibers are dyed. The alpaca is the most popular choice for yarn and textiles. Though they’re all quite similar in appearance, and come from one ancestor. Despite being native to South America, there are about 300,000 of Alpacas and llamas in the United States. Fibers are easily damaged by alkaline substances and sunlight. Llama fleece sells for $3 to $4.00 per oz. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. Fleece shows are often held in conjunction with llama or alpaca shows, and the fleeces are judged against a wide range of criteria that varies depending on the specific species and breed of fleece. Alpacas generally weigh between 48 – 84 kg or 150 pounds. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Generally, their wool creates a higher quality yarn than llamas. Though they look plump and rounded, it’s their hair. Learn More. They’ve been repopulating since 2007 in South America. Alpacas are shy, timid, and more likely to ‘fly’ than ‘fight’ if provoked or threatened. Annual global output for llama yarn is about 600 tons. Many people have businesses where they have hand made products from Alpaca and Llama wool. The rough outer coat is used for lead ropes, rugs and wall hangings. But even those so-called coarse guard hairs are on the softer side when compared with the guard hairs or scales of the sheep. • Llamas live longer than alpacas do. Diane Ziomek from Alberta, Canada on May 21, 2015: I have alpacas, and love their fiber. Their camelid cousin, vicuñas, are smaller than alpacas and guanacos and are more delicate. Alpacas, however, cannot protect themselves. With sheep, the entire fleece is removed, including from their faces. 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