Want to breed alpacas? Read the tips & advice of an

alpaca veterinarian!

An adult alpaca has three stomachs, or rather three stomach compartments, each with its own unique function. These compartments are referred to as C1, C2 and C3. In a newborn cria, the C3 is the most important functional stomach. After all, this is where the milk ends up and the first step in digestion takes place. As the cria grows and starts eating roughage like grass and hay, the C1 compartment will slowly begin to develop. Once the cria is able to consume solids and has been weaned from its mother, the digestion of dietary fibres in the C1 is an important step.

The C1 contains a tremendous amount of bacteria. These bacteria are able to convert high-fibre substances in roughage, like cellulose and hemicellulose, into volatile fatty acids. Volatile fatty acids are the main source of energy for alpacas with a fully developed C1. The digestible fibres in grass and hay are converted into energy by the bacteria. Put briefly, grass and hay feed the bacteria in the C1. Without these gut bacteria, an alpaca would not survive.

The health and digestion of an alpaca depends fully on the bacteria population in the C1. Rapidly digestible sugars and starches can lead to an imbalance in the bacteria population. This always has a negative effect on the health of the alpaca. An adult alpaca or llama consumes 1.5-2% of its body weight each day (calculated based on the amount of dry matter). Up to 30% of this intake of dry matter may consist of concentrates and/or a vitamin and mineral supplement. Consequently, at least 70% of consumption should consist of high-fibre roughage like grass, hay or AlpaGrass.

When skin comes into contact with UV light, vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is produced. In the thin air of the Andes, there is a high level of UV radiation, so alpacas and llamas have naturally adapted to high levels of vitamin D3. Europe does not have such a high altitude, so the UV radiation level is much lower. There are also fewer hours of sunlight here, which reduces the natural production of vitamin D3 by the skin.

Sufficient vitamin D3 is extremely important for alpacas and llamas. because it regulates their calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin D3 regulates the absorption of these minerals in the intestines and storage in the bones. An adequate oral dose of vitamin D3, such as provided in Alpamin, is sufficient for adult alpacas and llamas.

Growing crias, however, require a higher amount. The two issues that need to be addressed are an increased need due to bone development and reduced intake because young crias do not always eat pellets. Below you can read about how to ensure that crias do not suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D3 or rickets.

Problems with a possible deficiency of vitamin D3 (rickets) start to manifest themselves when the body’s reserves in the growing cria are depleted, usually at around six to eight weeks and always in autumn or winter. Symptoms of rickets include impaired growth, carpal vagus, cow hocks, stiff gait, lying down often, soft ribs, lumps on the transition between ribs and rib cartilage, and bone enlargement around the growth plates.

To prevent problems with rickets, the general rule is to inject every cria during its first winter with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per kg. Do this in October, December and February. Alpacas with a darker colour, denser fleece and better fleece coverage (especially on the face) are more susceptible to rickets.

A good place to start is the necessary vitamins and minerals. This requirement is virtually the same for every alpaca or llama. Their protein and energy needs,  on the other hand, are very different for every animal. Pregnant dams and young animals, for example, require a lot more proteins and energy.  In addition, the quality of their roughage is decisive for the supplements to be added to their diet. Generally speaking, we can provide basic advice for different groups, but keep in mind that every individual or every group is unique!

Basic advice in addition to roughage (grass/hay):

1)    Adult male, gelding or non-breeding female
Maintenance phase (no foetus, milk or body tissue production)

-    Low need for protein (8-9% raw protein/kg dry matter)
-    Low need for energy
-    Vitamin and mineral supplement (Alpamin)
-    If relevant, a small amount of concentrate (Alprofos), depending on the season and quality of the  roughage 

2)    Female in the first half of pregnancy, not lactating
Moderate production phase: moderate production of foetal tissues

-    Moderate need for protein (10-12% raw protein/kg dry matter)
-    Moderate need for energy
-    Vitamin and mineral supplement (Alpamin)
-    Moderate amount of concentrate (Alprofos)

3)    Female in the second half of pregnancy
Higher production phase: significant production of foetal tissues

-    High need for protein (12-14% raw protein/kg dry matter)
-    Moderate need for energy
-    Vitamin and mineral supplement (Alpamin)
-    Moderate to high amount of concentrate (Alprofos)

4)    Lactating female + nursing cria
High production phase: milk production

-    High need for protein (12-14% raw protein/kg dry matter)
-    High need for energy
-    Vitamin and mineral supplement (Alpamin)
-    Higher amount of concentrate (Alprofos)
-    Maintenance of phosphorus level (FosfoBeet)
-    Depending on the season, beet pulp supplement: consider the phosphorus level! (FosfoBeet)

5)    Weaned cria from 6 to 18 months
High production phase: body tissue production

-    High need for protein (12-14% raw protein/kg dry matter)
-    High need for energy
-    Vitamin and mineral supplement (Alpamin)
-    Higher amount of concentrate (Alprofos)
-    Maintenance of phosphorus level (FosfoBeet)
-    Depending on the season, beet pulp supplement: consider the phosphorus level! (FosfoBeet)

Practical tip for alpaca breeders: divide the herd into groups according to their dietary needs.

Alpacas are induced ovulators. This means that ovulation takes place as a result of mating. After ovulation, the progesterone level increases in the blood of the female. Spitting off and/or rejection of the male is a good indication of a high blood progesterone level in the female. The spit test schedule below is an easy tool for monitoring the mating outcome, as well as to categorise any fertility problems.

Day 1: mating               

- Female must sit to be mated for at least 10 minutes.

Day 7: Spit test         

- Female spits: indication of successful ovulation (go to day 14) or

- Female sits: no ovulation has occurred (go to day 1)

Day 14: Spit test            

- Female spits: indication of successful conception (go to day 21) or

- Female sits: conception has not occurred or the embryo has died (go to day 1)

Day 21 and later

- An abdominal ultrasound can confirm pregnancy

The information we obtain from the spit test can be used to determine whether any fertility problems are related to the ovary (such as inactive ovaries, anovulatory follicles, follicular cysts or persistent corpus luteum), vagina, embryo or uterus (such as a selenium deficiency, persistent hymen or uterine infection) or to the sire (poor sperm quality). This test helps the alpaca veterinarian with further examinations and treatment of any fertility problems.

A deficiency of selenium can lead to reduced fertility, embryonic death, abortion, premature birth, stillbirth and weak crias. The soil in many European regions contains too little selenium for alpacas. This makes it extremely important to optimise oral selenium supplementation by, for instance, adding Alpamin to the ration. It is by no means necessary to supplement extra selenium by injection because too much selenium can also be harmful.

Phosphorus is a mineral that is abundantly present in the body of all mammals. It promotes, among other things, bone strength and good energy efficiency. But alpacas and llamas have a uniquely sensitive phosphorus metabolism. Under certain conditions, the phosphorus level in the blood can drop. This may be due to a vitamin D deficiency, reduced appetite, general illness or lactation.

To support the phosphorus level in the blood, it is important that the feed has a 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus. The right ratio supports bone development, growth and a good ‘body condition score’ of weaned crias.  It also helps the crias achieve sexual maturity more easily and prevents phosphorous deficiencies in lactating dams.

Extra tip for breeders: limit the use of feed with little phosphorus, such as regular beet pulp or alfalfa.

To determine whether the dam can produce sufficient milk and is able to nurse the cria, there are three factors that need to be examined:

- Check the size and consistency of the udder: a good handful of firm udder tissue is perfect!

- Pull all four teats to remove the waxy plugs, check the colostrum flow.

- Check whether the placenta has passed completely within four hours after birth.

A newborn cria must stand up and try to nurse within a few hours. Any cria that does not attempt to stand up or successfully suckle requires extra support and monitoring. Reasons for a poor start in life include premature birth, hypothermia, oxygen deficiency during birth, or birth defects such as a ventricular septum defect and choanal atresia.

A newborn cria must consume around 10% of its body weight in colostrum within the first 24 hours. Practically speaking, this is at least 500 ml. The health of a cria’s immune system depends entirely on the antibodies in the colostrum. These antibodies will no longer be absorbed by the intestinal wall after around 24 hours after birth.

So, a difficult first day very often means poor immunity and death due to infection during the first four days of life. An antibody deficiency can after day two only be corrected by having a veterinarian administer a plasma infusion.

Checklist newborn cria:

1. Disinfect the navel by dipping it in iodine tincture.

2. Check whether the cria actively suckles within the first three to four hours.

3. Weigh the cria when it is dry at the end of the day of birth. Weigh the cria daily for the first three to four days to monitor weight progress. A cria can lose weight on day two, but must gain at least 150 grams per day from day three, i.e. at least 1 kg per week.

4. Not sure whether the cria has gotten enough colostrum during the first 24 hours? Have the veterinarian take a blood sample on day two to check the total amount of proteins and antibodies. If these levels are too low, a lifesaving plasma infusion can be administered. Too few antibodies usually means that the cria will not survive.

5. Crias with problems can be supported by bottle feeding, tube feeding, a plasma infusion and other treatments.

Hyperkeratosis and alopecia (thickening and hair loss) of the skin are a poorly understood problem that afflicts many alpacas and llamas. Yet there are very serious indications that this problem is multifactorial in origin. Possible causes include scabies, an allergic reaction, stress due to a change of environment, genetic predisposition and a mineral deficiency.

Four basic rules can help avoid skin problems in a herd:

- Adequate supply of zinc in feed

- Limiting stress

- Sufficient grazing land (at least 500 m² per alpaca)

- Consideration of genetic predispositions in breeding decisions