Suri Alpaca

I showed you a picture yesterday of a Suri, but I neglected to explain the difference between a Suri and Huacaya (which is what we currently have). The Suri's fleece is very silky and hangs down in locks. The fiber is so fine that it feels slippery...almost wet. The fleece spins into a very fine yarn which is used for lace knit items. The Huacaya's fleece has more crimp in it and can be made into a thicker yarn. The Huacaya are more common than Suri in the US. The Huacaya looks more cuddly with the full fleece. The Suri look like they are wearing dreadlocks. Both types are amazing, low maintenance animals and fun to watch...particularly when they are running across the field to get the grain treat first, enjoying a dip in the wading pool, or getting sprayed with a hose on a hot day.