The Downside . . . . 

As with any investment, you should be made aware of any downside issues. As has been stated earlier, the cost of a single Alpaca is not cheap. And, one must consider that the Alpaca is a highly social animal and will not flourish by itself. It does need the company of  others and for some it may be impractical to invest in multiple animals to fulfill that social need.

The costs of necessary pasture, paddocks, equipment, skills, etc. may seem intimidating. The fear of losing an animal to a predator or disease is a consideration. The responsibility of daily required care and feeding may be something that the investor may not want to deal with.