Keeping Alpacas

Mating & Birthing

Females - females are usually ready to be mated from about 18 months, dependant on how well grown they are. Alpacas are induced ovulators so can be mated at any time of the year, which means that breeders can manage birthing times so that cria are ideally born in spring and summer when the grass is plentiful and full of nutrients. Winter & autumn births are fine, though mother & cria need more careful management of their nutritional needs.

Birthing - average gestation is 335-355 days resulting in the birth of a single cria; twins are rare and their survival even more so. Most births are straightforward, needing no intervention and most happen in the morning, though it is quite common for animals to birth later in the day. A cria born late in the day might well be healthy, but it is important to make sure that it is warm, dry & feeding and a good idea is to provide a sheltered area with light to make sure that the cria gets the essential colostrum from Mum during the night.

Males – reach sexual maturity at around two and a half years of age, though there are exceptions and young males, once weaned, should not be left with females. Equally, weanling males should not be put with mature adult males as they are likely to be severely bullied. A gelding male (wether), who has not been used as a stud male, is therefore an excellent & versatile investment as he can take care of weanlings and immature males and then can be returned to run with females and protect young cria.