While the following might not go far when it comes to a person deciding if they want an alpaca or a llama hanging around their home, it does allow you to recognize one or the other if ever introduced. They are both interesting beasts with their own personalities!

Their Ears: Alpaca ears have short spear-shaped ears while llamas have much longer, banana-shaped ears.

Their Size: Alpacas generally weigh in at around 150 pounds while llamas can get as heavy as 400 pounds. At the shoulder, an average alpaca stands between 34 and 36 inches, while a llama generally ranges between 42 and 46 inches.
Their Faces: Llamas have a longer face; an alpaca’s face is a bit more blunt, giving them a “smooshed in” look.

All in all, we like both and when it comes to homesteading or prepping for a future event where you may need whatever a llama or alpaca can give a family, you might want to strongly consider one or the other. To learn more go to Modern Farmer.

>Surprisingly, they do not eat as much as you think, preferring hay and chewing on grass, which makes them awesome lawn-mowers by the way! Just do a little research and think about the advantages of owning your own pack animal and fleece maker!

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