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THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT LIVESTOCK

When the Spanish invaded South America some 5 centuries ago, they found very woolly animals with a long neck, called “pacos”. From “el paca” in spanish, the word evolved to Alpaca, which is now the common name, and lama pacos in zoology.

Alpacas belong to the Cameloid family, yes, they are related to camels! Paleontologists believe that the first cameloids lived in North America about 40 million years ago. Some 3 million years ago the Bactrian Camel and Dromedary Camel migrated to Asia and from there to the Middle-East and Africa. They could because these continents were connected at that time. The descendants of these camels migrated 2 million years ago to South America. They developed into the subspecies of the wild llama (lama guanicoe) and wild vicuna (vicugna vicugna).

From the Guanaco developed the domesticated llama (lama glama), the llama as we know them today. Some believe that the Alpaca developed from the wild vicuna, llama or guanaco. The similar skeleton, shape of the ears and teeth would support this theory.

The Vicuna is a protected species and the numbers are very low. They are rounded up each year and the saddle portion is shorn only. The vicuna mensalis has an apron of very long guard hair which is unsuitable for garments, but the saddle provides the finest fibre in the world of around 10 - 15 micron. The saddle does have some guard hair as well, but this is picked out by hand (!).

The Alpacas have been domesticated for 6000 years, the Incas developed these cameloids into a superior fibre producer. Unfortunately, with the conquistadors eradicating the Incan culture and population, the alpacas and their breeding programme disappeared as well. Evidence of very fine, alpaca fibre was found in woven garments. Alpaca mummies found from the time after the Conquest were not as fine and dense, probably due to llama cross breeding. Without written history it was not possible to retrace the steps of the breeders. Until half a century ago one Peruvian man revived the interest in breeding very fine alpacas again, Julio Barredo.

Alpacas are found in Peru, Chile and Bolivia, and in general one could say “the Alti Plano”. Most herds in Chile and Bolivia are coloured, but Peru has been breeding for white. However, at this point in time Peru is going back to colours again, not wanting to loose the heritage of natural colour, but the focus is on black and fawn, after white.

On the altitude that alpacas live the air is very thin. The Indians and cameloids have adapted to this environment with their red blood cells being oval, instead of round, to be able to take up more oxygen. Some people may never live on a lower altitude because of this, but the alpacas do not seem to have this problem. They are also used to high UV rays, very cold nights and hot days. Although the land is sparsely covered with grasses and shrubs, alpacas are extremely able to convert what food they find in substance.