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Managing Your Alpaca Breeding Herd

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There are many things to consider when you create your mating management plan: weather, animal preparation, pen mating, pasture mating, mobile mating, pregnancy confirmation, breeding management, rebreeding, and record keeping. The more alpacas that you own means the more you need a well thought out mating plan.

BREEDING MALES

Males become sexually mature much later than females. The exact age that males begin manufacturing sperm has not been determined.

CONFIRMING PREGNANCY IN ALPACAS

There are a number of ways to confirm a pregnancy: 1. The best external sign of pregnancy is the female rejecting the male.

FEMALES

Females become sexually mature at between 10 to 18 months with most females being large enough to breed (2/3 of mature weight or 90 to 125 pounds) at 12 to 14 months.

HAND OR PEN MATING

Pen breeding is the most time consuming. If you only have a few females to breed it is no big deal but if you have hundreds it can take a lot of time.

MANAGING YOUR ALPACA INVENTORY

Alpacas must be moved from one pasture to another. If you have a large herd you will be sorting them on a regular basis.

PASTURE MATING

This is the easiest method of mating. You can put a male with several females at one time and he will mate those who are most receptive.

PREPARATION FOR BREEDING

Females should be washed and trimmed around their vulva prior to breeding. This will reduce the risk of infection and the male’s penis being entangled in their backside fiber.

RE-BREEDING

A female can be rebred at 14 and 21 days after birthing. I would not rebreed a female any sooner because the female tends to loose or re-absorb her embryo. You should let the female decide when she wants to breed. She is the one who knows she is ready. Do not force her.