|
IAC Home > Alpaca Resource Center > Breeder's Tips
> Birthing Your Cria
|
| PREPARING FOR BIRTH
|
Print this page
Email to a friend
|
| |
|
| Females should be separated from males at least two months before birth and her last cria should be weaned at least five months before birth. I prefer to have the pregnant females separated from other females with young cria because another female’s cria may well steal the precious colostrum before the newborn gets a chance to suckle. I have my pregnant females where I can see them from my house and office. Most alpaca breeders continually check the expectant mother. They fret when the baby does not arrive on their timetable. My dad always told me, “She will have it when she is ready, not when you are ready.” That may sound pretty obvious but many a breeder who did not keep track of the female’s pregnancy status finally figures out, one month after the projected due date, that the female is not pregnant. This can be an expensive experience.
|
|
 |  Birthing Your Cria
|
|
|
|
 |
|
How EPDs Help You Breed Better Alpacas
In order to breed alpacas with better and better fleece traits, we want to choose superior alpacas for our herds. But how do we identify a “superior” alpaca? Genetic superiority cannot be reliably estimated just by measuring an animal’s fleece traits or even by pedigree! A formal statistical estimate of genetic value, that is, its EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) is the best available way to predict whether an animal’s progeny are likely to be above or below average for each trait.
Read more |
 |
|
