Stephen R. Purdy - The following articles express my opinions only. They are the result of personal experience and what I have been taught by my veterinary colleagues who have devoted their time and effort to improving the health care of alpacas and llamas.

Native to the Andes Mountains, Llamas thrive at altitudes of 8,000 to 16,000 feet in areas of severe cold, gale force winds, and sparse and seasonable vegetation. In their native habitat Llamas are used primarily as a source of fiber, meat, and labor. The genus Lama is a member of the camel family. The Lama genus is comprised of four different species: The Llama Lama glama, The Alpaca Lama pacos.

The Peruvian Alpaca Industry: Objectives, Background, Research, Outcome, Implications. Peru currently produces an annual average of 3.5 million kg of Alpaca fibre, representing 90% of the total world production.