For new members entering the Alpaca industry unaware of the differences between Huacaya and Suri alpaca, this is my view after farming both breeds for over 5 years. The major difference is their fleece or fibre.

Huacaya		Suri
The Huacaya fleece forms a bundle of staples, has crimp and grows out from the body giving the animal in full fleece, a well rounded full look. Huacaya fleeces closely resemble those of the Merino sheep, but have a softer feel, more like cashmere. Fleeces are being used in a wide range of fibre processes. The optimum is fine suiting cloth, whilst other uses include knitwear, felting, weaving and blending with other natural fibres.		The Suri fleece forms pencil-lock staples, has no crimp and falls straight down from the body like a silk curtain, giving the animal a more slender, elegant appearance. Suri fleeces are more like the Angora goat fleece, but much finer and softer. Suri fibre is unique because of its lustre and is used in the main to produce a draping worsted cloth used for the production of luxury overcoats. The cloth is produced with a nap and is then brushed to bring up the lustre.

The major breed of alpaca in the world is Huacaya, being over 90% of the total population. In New Zealand, Suri make up about 3% of the alpaca population, therefore Huacaya 97%. Worldwide the figure quoted is 6% Suri and growing. Over recent years Suri fibre has been worth up to three times more than Huacaya fibre on the world market and this has encouraged a 'breed Suri' program particularly in South America.

To most people, the Huacaya is the more appealing of the two breeds because of its cuddly appearance. Our ability in New Zealand to handle, scour, card and spin sheep wool makes the Huacaya fibre easier to process. The Suri on the other hand, is being used by spinners and weavers (with an interest in exotic fibre) or blended with other fibres, because we are a long way from having enough volume of fibre to produce the luxury cloth.

Suris are fascinating to study simply because so little is known about them. With the increased interest in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, this animal should become the subject of intense scrutiny, and I'm sure we will soon be on our way to unlocking many of the Suri's secrets.

Whichever breed is for you, the cuddly Huacaya, the elegant Suri, or perhaps both, I'm sure you wil gain great pleasure from owning these wonderful animals.

For more information, see Breed Differences.