Breeding in Alpacas Part 1

This post will discuss minimum breeding ages, selecting and housing studs, stud services and registering alpacas with the BAS; with part two and part three to follow.

Alpaca Terminology

Firstly, you should familiarise yourself with the following alpaca breeding terminology:

• Maiden = female before her first cria

• Hembra/Dam = female after her first cria

• Macho/Sire/Stud = entire breeding male

• Gelding = castrated male

• Unpacking = giving birth

• Cria = baby alpaca

• Spit off = alpaca pregnancy test

Timing is important

Alpacas do not have seasons as they are induced ovulators; thought to be brought into ovulation by the act of mating. Therefore, it is important to manage mating times effectively to avoid winter births & plan for spring births. Cria born in Spring & Summer gain weight faster (usually weighing 35-45KG at weaning) than those born in autumn (weighing 21-26KG at weaning). 

Sexual Maturity & Breeding Age

The minimum requirements for a female alpaca to go to the stud are that she must be at least 12 months old and have reached at least 65% of the weight of her mother. However, it is usually recommended that the female alpaca should be 18 months to 2 years of age before putting her to the stud, so she is pretty much fully grown. Alpaca studs are typically used for breeding from around 2 years old, when the penis has become fully detached from the prepuce (foreskin). However, this can sometimes occur sooner; therefore, young male alpacas should be separated from female alpacas when they reach 10 months of age to prevent accidental pregnancies.

Selecting Alpaca Studs

Selecting male studs is arguably more important than selecting the female because of the number of cria a single male can sire each and every year compared to the finite amount a dam could produce over her lifetime. Conformation (the shape and structure of the alpaca) should be at the top of your list to look at when choosing an alpaca, as this will indicative of the alpaca's general health, longevity and breeding potential, with fleece being another important factor to consider. Check out the British Alpaca Society's full breed standard here for a well rounded list of what constitutes as good quality alpaca.

Can male alpacas live together?

Male alpacas and female alpacas should NEVER be kept together, with the exception of young male cria with their nursing dam, because the males will fight over the females, using their sharp fighting teeth with a brutal aim to castrate their opponent. A single male kept with females is also not recommended as the repeated mating he will carry out can cause infection and potentially permanent damage to the female, due to the process being so invasive and can cause undue stress to the female through harassment. Male alpacas should not be housed directly next to females either, as they will still fight and can cause significant injury to each other if they can see the females. Instead, male alpacas should be housed in a group of at least 3 fully grown adult males, away from the sight of females. Adult male alpacas should NOT be mixed with young males, as the older alpacas will bully the younger ones potentially to the death. Of course this will require more space, time, and money. If keeping a separate group of male alpacas isn’t a viable option, you can still breed females and build a breeding herd by investing in specialised stud services instead.

How Do Alpaca Stud Services Work?

Some alpaca breeders offer stud services, either as a mobile service (where they bring the studs to you) or as a drive by mating (where you take your females to the stud). The stud will service your female and a follow up visit can be arranged to conduct a spit off test, including re-mating where necessary. The price varies depending upon stud status (whether they are proven or not), colour, breeding line, genetics, and the level of service and guarantee provided.

Registering Your Alpacas

If you are considering breeding alpacas, we highly recommend that you become a member of the British Alpaca Society, and purchase alpacas who are registered with the BAS. The BAS helps to maintain a high standard of care and management of herds in the UK, in order to promote responsible ownership.

Alpacas can be registered with the BAS under the following categories:

• Listed – non-breeding alpacas such as field pets, castrated males, or any alpacas not suitable for breeding (any offspring from listed alpacas cannot be registered)

• Notified – potential stud males who can be fully registered once proven (have cria on the ground)

• Fully registered – for breeding females and proven males (males must be accompanied by a DNA test)

Part 2 (Mating & Testing for Pregnancy)

Click here for part 2 and to read more about the breeding process in alpacas.

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Disclaimer: Fostings Alpacas are not a veterinarian body. Always consult your vet when creating a health plan for your herd and before administering medication.