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Breeding in Alpacas: Part 2 (Mating)
- Fostings Alpacas
- Jun 22, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 6
Next in our alpaca breeding mini-series is the mating process. For the complete series, check out part 1 (selecting your breeding herd) or part 2 (the mating process) or part 3 (gestation and pregnancy testing) or part 4 (birthing) and part 5 (early cria care) or part 6 (cria care beyond the first week).
Introduction
The obvious is clear, that a male alpaca and a female alpaca will be required to create a baby alpaca (called a cria). But, the mating process in alpacas is a lot more complex than other animals, so to avoid stress and heartbreak for both you and your alpacas, it is important to be accustomed to their ways before diving straight in.
Mating Logistics
When Can Alpacas Get Pregnant?
Alpacas do not have seasons, as they are induced ovulators; thought to be brought into ovulation by the act of mating. Therefore, alpacas can potentially get pregnant at any time of year. But...
Ideal Mating Time
While alpacas can conceive year-round, in the UK it is best practice to strategically time matings to avoid Autumn and Winter births and aim for spring to early summer breeding - and therefore after an 11.5 month gestation, spring to early summer births. This approach offers several benefits:
Healthier, stronger cria - Spring and Summer born cria tend to gain weight more quickly, typically reaching 35–45 kg at weaning, compared to 21–26 kg for those born in Autumn. This results in more robust, resilient youngsters.
Safer mating conditions – Mating after shearing in spring reduces the risk of the male's penis becoming entangled in long fleece (yes, that really can happen!) and minimises the chance of bacteria entering the female's reproductive tract.
Better environmental conditions – Plentiful grass and sunshine in late Spring and early Summer create a more comfortable experience for the dam, the cria, and the breeder, making care and management easier.
Females should be given at least three weeks to recover after birthing before returning to the stud, as this allows the uterus time to return to its normal size. However, be aware that some females may take up to 40 days before they become receptive again.
Pen Mating in Alpacas
Pen mating is the preferred method among breeders as it offers a controlled environment that assists successful pairing, precise tracking of conception and due dates and avoids over-mating of females. In this method, the male is introduced to the female solely for mating. To ensure a safe and controlled environment, a clean, ungrazed, level pen (approximately 3m × 3m), with secure fencing should be designated for this purpose.
Best practices for pen mating include:
Scheduling matings after shearing (typically in May or June).
Ensuring the female has had at least two to three weeks to recover after giving birth before reintroducing her for mating.
How the mating process works
The female is placed in the mating pen (accompanied by her cria if she has one).
The male is brought in on a headcollar and lead rope for controlled introduction - if receptive, the female will assume the cush position (lying down with her legs tucked underneath her), allowing the male to mount from the rear. (If the female is not receptive, reattempt mating in two to three days when she may be more receptive.)
Mating typically lasts 20–40 minutes, though it can extend up to an hour. Matings lasting under 10 minutes are generally ineffective.
During mating, the male produces a distinctive vocalisation known as ‘orgling’, which is believed to help stimulate ovulation.
Either the male will decide it’s time to finish and get up, or the female will decide she’s had enough and try to get up. At this point, the session can end. Unless the safety of the female is compromised, the male should not be pulled off.
Conception Rates
Following a single mating, 75% to 80% success is not uncommon.
Field Mating in alpacas
Field mating involves placing a stud male with multiple females in a pasture and allowing them to mate naturally over time. Field mating can be beneficial in cases where young females struggle with pen mating, as it provides a more relaxed environment. But whilst this method may seem convenient, it has several drawbacks:
Uncertain conception and due dates due to uncontrolled mating.
Risk of repeated matings, which can be stressful for the female and risk injury and infection.
Difficulty in tracking success rates of individual matings.
Potential TB transmission risks when using external stud services, posing concerns for both parties involved.
Best practices for field mating include:
Scheduling matings after shearing (typically in May or June).
Best for females without cria at foot to avoid injury to the cria.
Put multiple females in with a single stud, so they have company and reduce chances of the stud harassing and exhausting a single female.
Never place multiple males with females, as this will lead to aggressive competition and fighting, causing serious injuries.
How the field mating process works
The chosen male is placed into a field with multiple females - ideally while you stand watch from the side-lines, so you know when mating has occurred and be ready to re-split the group.
If receptive, the female will assume the cush position (lying down with her legs tucked underneath her), allowing the male to mount her.
Mating usually lasts 20–40 minutes, though it can extend up to 1 hour.
During mating, the male produces a distinctive vocalisation known as ‘orgling’, which is believed to help stimulate ovulation.
Either the male will decide it’s time to finish and get up, or the female will decide she’s had enough and try to get up.
As soon as you have seen mating(s) taking place and come to an end, separate the stud out as soon as is practical.
Expand your knowledge
There's a lot to learn about breeding alpacas, such as selecting your alpacas, the mating process, supporting the female through gestation, testing for continued pregnancy, the birthing and what to expect as well as trouble shooting problems including malpresentation - when you can correct it and when to call the vet - as well as early cria care and care beyond the first week. The Alpaca Breeding Course, here at Fostings Alpacas offers all of this in a mixed theory and practical delivery, so you come away confident in knowing what to expect when breeding alpacas.
Disclaimer: Fostings Alpacas are not a veterinarian body. Always consult your vet when creating a health plan for your herd and if you are ever concerned about your alpacas.
