Breeding  

It is important to keep in mind that this is a blood-stock industry, not part of the food industry.  We are breeding to improve the quality of the herd, the conformation of the animals and, above all, the quality of the fleece, not just to get animals on the ground.  Conformation and fleece are both important.  To have a top animal whose progeny are valuable and sought after, and whose fleece makes the top prices, you need the highest possible score for both.

Ideally you should start with a good female and then breed her and her offspring up to a top stud male so that the cria gradually improve further in quality.  Alternatively you can buy a less expensive female and still breed up, it will just take longer.  Either way the quality of the stud male is important.

There is a lot to look for in an animal.  Conformation factors include body proportions, the straightness of the legs, walk and stance, details of face, ears, eyes and teeth.   Fleece characteristics include handle, texture, crimp, colour, brightness, fineness and uniformity.   Health and the ability to breed are also important.

These and other factors should be taken into account when breeding, when selecting both females and the the stud male.  This is why we run regular (one-day) animal assessment courses to help people choose their animals.

Examples of our stud males:

Stud males:  William, Walter and Simon

[SD = standard deviation.  CV = coefficient of variance].  

Walter, a pure white Peruvian Huacaya, with excellent fleece characteristics.                 25.7 microns; SD = 4;   CV = 18.3;  %>30 microns = 12.2% at 7 years old

Simon, a medium fawn Peruvian Huacaya has similar characteristics                                    24.2 microns;  SD = 24.2;  CV = 20.8;  %>30 microns = 6.4 at 6 years

Rapunzal's Mate (RM) a multi-coloured (cream to honey) Peruvian Suri                              22.9 microns;  SD=5.7;  CV = 24.7;  %>30 microns = 9.6 at 3 years                                         RM has fathered excellent pure white and medium brown cria from white and brown females.

                                                           Rapunzal and Rapunzal's Mate      

Mating

          Alpacas are induced ovulators, ovulating only after mating, and so can be mated at any time.  They are generally presented to the male two or three weeks after giving birth, thus the female is pregnant for most of her life.  However the foetus remains small for most of the pregnancy and is not a stress on the adult.                  

Mating takes place sitting down.   Ovulation usually occurs within 26 hours.   The female is normally run with or presented to the male a second time, 12 days later, but will refuse him if she is already pregnant. Successful mating is confirmed by ultrasound or progesterone testing as well as additional presentations to the male if appropriate.

The female's first mating can occur at about twelve months or when they reach a weight of 45kgs or 65% of their expected body weight.  A maiden should never be forced on her first time but they tend to sit as soon as they are ready.

Pregnancy

.              Gestation is approximately eleven to eleven and a half months and one cria is produced.  It is extremely rare for twins to be born, approximately one in every 2,000 to 5,000 births, and they rarely survive. 

Birthing

It is a good idea to keep females who are about to give birth close to the house so they can be observed.  However birthing is generally straightforward and needs little human intervention.  The young are usually born in daylight hours, generally in the morning or early afternoon, giving them the rest of the day to adjust before the harsh Andean night falls. 

Most births are easy and managed without human assistance.  The cria generally weighs between 12 and 18 pounds, is born front legs and head first and is up, walking and feeding within an hour or so.

Ideally birthings should occur from late spring to summer with shearing done a couple of months ahead of births.  From time to time an animal will ‘slip’ a year when she gives birth too late in the year to allow time for successful mating to ensure a warm weather birth for the next offspring.  She can then be mated a few months later in the following spring.  

                            They will care for all young, not just their own

Aftercare