Alpacas become 'fortune animals' on Inner Mongolia grassland
By Zou Shuo in Xiliin Gol League, Inner Mongolia |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Updated: 2026-10-07 16:49
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Alpacas are helping herders protect grassland while increasing income at one of China's largest alpaca breeding bases in Sonid Left Banner, Xiliin Gol League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
Chi Haitao, general manager of Sonidalpaca, which runs the base, said the base was built in 2013 with 78 alpacas for experimental breeding. It now has more than 1,500 foundation female alpacas.
Alpaca fleece is four times warmer than ordinary wool, its meat is high in protein and low in cholesterol, he said. The animals eat about half as much as sheep, reducing damage to grassland. The company plans to expand step by step and encourage local herders to raise alpacas together, he added.
Yu Xinyan contributed to this story.
