What is a PACO-VICUÑA?  

A paco-vicuña is a special alpaca that exhibits the phenotype traits of its ancient Andean ancestor the vicuña.  Alpacas were domesticated from vicuña over the last 6000 years, today many of them exhibit vicuña traits.  Father Don Julio Cabrera had a breeding program in the 1840's  where he attempted to breed the alpaca to the vicuña but in the long term the resultant animals were assimilated into the alpaca herds.  There have been many other attempts that have occurred into modern times with little apparent lasting success. However, many of these vicuña traits can be observed in the alpaca herds that exist on the altiplano today.

Why breed for paco-vicuña?

Vicuña fiber is renowned for its fineness, softness, color and rarity. The vicuña is a wild animal and is difficult to maintain in captivity. Breeding, birthing, shearing, and medical care would be quite a challenge. The vicuña is also a threatened species* which makes the animal and its fiber difficult to obtain as the animal is protected by international laws. The solution is the paco-vicuña breeding for the same fiber attributes of the vicuña and the attitude of an alpaca.

How to breed for a superior paco-vicuña?

By identifying the various traits of vicuña in alpaca and selecting the alpacas with the traits, these alpaca (paco-vicuña) can be bred together to amplify the vicuña traits (such as low micron count, bib, and color) and produce a superior paco-vicuña. The same can be done for the desired traits we want for the paco-vicuña from the alpaca (such as fast growing fiber and calm demeanor). The key is to recognize the alpacas that have these special traits and breed them together to magnify the qualities we are looking for in a paco-vicuña.

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Phenotypic Description of Paco-vicuña

Below are some guidelines of the amount of phenotypic traits of vicuna expressed in an alpaca that is a paco-vicuña. This is only a guideline and some animals may be particularly strong in one area and weak in another. The far right column represents the traits of an actual vicuna and is only for comparison

  * Since 1994, the Peruvian government has nearly eliminated the poaching and senseless slaughter of vicuña by allowing the people of the Alti Plano to have yearly round-ups (Chacus) and shear the vicuña.  The exquisite fiber is sent to one of the mills, and processed into incredibly soft woven fabric, which is made into scarves and other garments for sale to the public.

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