Author:
Alexa C. Kurzius
smithsonian.com

Date of Publication:
June 5, 2014

Publication:
smithsonian.com

Excerpt:
Alpaca are primarily bred for their fleecy fiber—the meat from the llama-like animal is a byproduct of culling herds—and they’re relatively new to American farms, having come to the country only in 1984. They’re also an anomaly within the livestock market: the USDA doesn’t think alpaca falls under its regulatory purview, according to Modern Farmer, which means meat sales fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA and local state authorities.

Read the rest of the article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alpaca-dinner-180951653/