What to look for when buying your first alpaca?

The purchase of an animal should always be thought out. Not only what kind of animal to buy, but above all, whether we are properly prepared for it and aware that it is a duty for many years. Alpacas have undoubtedly been very popular recently. More and more people have it. I want to "drop everything and breed alpacas", but is it really an idea without any weaknesses?

Below we will describe what difficulties may arise and what owning alpacas really entails.

Breeder, owner, host….? Who will I be when I buy alpacas?

Not every person who purchased an alpaca is immediately an alpaca breeder. According to the Act on the organization of breeding and reproduction of farm animals, animal breeding is "a set of procedures aimed at improving the hereditary assumptions (genotype) of farm animals, including the assessment of the utility value and genetic evaluation of farm animals, selection of individuals for mating, conducted in the conditions of proper breeding". Thus, a breeder is someone who, by crossing a male and a female, wants the offspring to be better than the parents in terms of fleece quality, coloration or body structure. Beforehand, it is necessary to assess whether the animal is suitable for breeding. The first step is to check whether the appearance of the animal is consistent with the description of the species and breed (which will be mentioned below), in the second step the best animals are selected from those that are "consistent with the description", in the third step we decide which exact male will become the father of the offspring. The quality of an alpaca may be determined by testing the fiber quality (done in a laboratory), evaluation at a fleece show, evaluation at an alpaca show and by the origin (how titled were her parents, grandparents). So you can easily remember that not every farm animal is a breeding animal.

In zootechnical nomenclature there is also the issue of animal husbandry. What does it mean? Animal husbandry means keeping animals in such conditions that all their needs are fulfilled (in the case of alpacas it is e.g. access to pasture and hay, keeping in a group). Animal husbandry is a broader term than breeding, because farm animals are also kept in proper breeding conditions.

What about people who do not breed? Not all alpaca owners need to focus on animal husbandry. You can have alpacas and not breed them (e.g. if it's our hobby, for alpaca therapy or agrotourism). You can also have alpacas and reproduce them, but do not breed, then we do not follow the principle that our offspring has to be better than their parents. Keep in mind that farm animals, due to their high quality, are much more expensive. It happens that someone who wants to buy an alpaca for purposes such as a hobby ,therapy with alpacas or agrotourism, does not need an animal of the highest quality in terms of fiber thickness or body structure. Instead, they may pay attention to other factors such as the character of the animal or interesting coloration.

Regulations concerning the obligation to register camelids (alpacas, llamas, camels) with ARiMR (Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture) will soon come into force in Poland. The draft can be found under the name: Draft Law on Animal Identification and Registration System. Please note that this obligation will apply to every person who owns alpacas, regardless of whether it is a breeder, owner of a larger herd or a person who owns a few alpacas as a hobby.

Before you decide to buy alpacas, ask yourself the following questions:

Is there a camelid veterinarian in my area?

Alpacas are becoming more and more popular in Poland, but there is still a lack of veterinarians familiar with the specificity and treatment of this species. It is worth finding out where the nearest veterinarian is located who will be able to help us in an emergency situation. There are clinics specializing in the treatment of alpacas, which periodically go to the clients to review the herd, which is also worth bearing in mind.

What do I know about alpaca biology?

Alpaca is a specific species. They are so-called pseudo-ruminants, which means that they ruminate like sheep, goats or cattle, but they differ from them in the structure of the digestive system. Alpacas do not have a typical estrous cycle like most animals, in them ovulation occurs after copulation. They are pregnant for as long as 11.5 months (about 345 days), the standard birth is one young - called cria. After about 6 months the young is weaned from its mother, you should not buy alpacas younger than 6 months, a responsible breeder will not agree to such a sale. Alpacas live up to about 25 years. They are distinguished by their specific behavior, the sounds produced resemble quiet mooing, during courtship and copulation, which takes place in a crouching position, not standing, the males make characteristic gurgling-clucking sounds and - which is perhaps most specific for alpacas and llamas - spit (this is a warning-defensive behavior: "go away"). Some individuals may also be dangerous to small predators (small dogs, cats) - chasing them away from the pasture and trying to trample them with their front legs, provided that it is a single intruder and not a pack of feral dogs. Alpacas on the pasture and indoors have so-called latrines, where they defecate.

Do I know what an alpaca eats?

The basis of feeding ruminant animals is roughage, which is primarily grass (pasture) and hay, to which they should have access also in the pasture. Additionally, feeding can be enriched with commercial feed mixes for alpacas, beet pulp, bran, carrots, beet. It should be remembered, however, that too much simple sugars (contained in carrots, beets) can disrupt the work of the digestive system, so you can not overdo it. Animals must have constant access to water.

What acreage do I have and how many alpacas can I have on it?

How many alpacas can graze on a given area depends on the quality of pasture, on average it is assumed that it should be 10 - 15 animals per 1 ha of pasture. If the pasture is too abundant, there will be non-eating (overgrown grass, which the animals do not want to eat), if too weak, everything will be very bitten off. Dividing the acreage into quarters (dividing a large pasture into several smaller ones) can help with organisation, especially if you have a dozen or more animals. Of course, males and females must be kept separate. There are special grass mixtures available on the market for sowing for alpacas, a grass mixture for horses also works well. The fence between the quarters should not be lower than 1.4 m, and the outer fence - 1.7 - 2.0 m. It can be a simple mesh net. It can be a mesh, forest, wooden fence, the most important thing is that the animals can not jump over it, or so put the head / limb to get stuck.

Do I have buildings suitable for having alpacas?

Livestock buildings or barns can be easily adapted for alpacas. It is assumed that the average area in the box for one alpaca should be about 2x2 m. It also depends on the number of animals, because the more animals, the more total area available to them, so the area for one alpaca may be smaller. Ventilation in the form of windows and exhaust duct on the roof (gravitational) should be sufficient, although with a herd of several dozen alpacas, mechanical ventilation (with fans) facilitates the removal of gases and dirt, also accelerates the drying of the animals (eg, after rain / drizzle), which is important in the prevention of scabies. A good floor material is concrete (easy to clean, does not deteriorate quickly), the floor must not be slippery (such as tiles) or easily damaged (such as wood). In latrines, litter trays can be provided with sand, for example. The places where the animals lie down should be littered with straw. On very cold days, there should be more straw. If several groups of animals are planned, the area should be divided into boxes, it is worth having a free box (e.g. for isolating a sick animal), or a special area ( for performing veterinary and grooming procedures). The height of the partitions between the boxes should be at least 1.2 m, and higher for males (1.5 - 1.7 m). In the boxes, feeders are installed (at a height slightly above the alpaca's sternum - to avoid disturbing it by bending its head and neck), you can also use nets for hay, gutters for feed and obligatory drinkers (self-filling with a constant level of water or in buckets - which must be refilled). Buckets must be hung up, because standing them on the ground they will quickly be overturned in the box and on the pasture. Additionally, natural lighting (windows or skylights) and artificial light (lamps) are important.

Can I keep alpacas with other animals?

There are not especially many contraindications to keep alpacas with other animals. It is important that they have time to get used to each other and even if they walk together on the pasture, it is safer if they have their boxes in the room. The condition is one - there must be at least two alpacas, and preferably more. Alpacas can feed with llamas, goats or sheep, if they accept each other. When it comes to larger animals, it is worth being careful. In addition, in the case of horses there is a risk of infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV), which in 2021 caused an epidemic among European horse breeders, and is also dangerous for alpacas. When keeping animals together, one should remember that the pasture area should be appropriately larger.

Where to buy alpaca from?

The origin of the animals and the types of farms that keep alpacas have been mentioned above, but here it is worth focusing on a few more issues. An extremely important issue is to find an honest seller of alpacas, who cares about the welfare of his animals. It is worth checking if the owner belongs to a breeders association, what are the opinions about the farm. It often happens that certain breeding farms in the world are characterized by high quality animals (their alpacas win exhibitions, they have a lot of experience and trust among other breeders). It is worth to buy animals from them for the basic herd when we want to start our own breeding. An experienced breeder will also help in the selection of animals. It happens that the owner who cares about the welfare of animals will not sell alpacas to a person who wants to buy only one animal and does not have a herd or is not sufficiently prepared to have animals. A good breeder, even after selling the animals, will provide advice if we ask for help. Dishonest sellers may deceive the buyer e.g. about the age of the animals, origin or health status. Alpacas are herd animals and should never be kept individually. In the UK there is a problem with tuberculosis in the population of alpacas. However, animals from Chile often have little contact with people before they get to our country. Therefore, it is worthwhile to find out, read opinions, talk to several breeders, look at the websites of alpacas breeders associations and then make a decision.

What should an ideal alpaca look like?

If you plan to start a breeding operation, the quality of your core herd is a priority. When assessing the value of the animal one has to take into account several factors. The main direction of alpacas use is the production of wool of the highest quality, so it is the first factor that is taken into account when choosing an animal. Hair coat in the case of Huacaya breed should be abundant and thick, growing back from the body at an angle of 90°. One of the organoleptic methods of evaluating fiber quality is the appearance of the carbuncle (how much crimson the hair is). This is positively correlated with fiber thickness; the more crimped the hair, the thinner it is. It is also important for the hair to be of uniform thickness throughout its length, as narrowing may be indicative of past illness, and may also have a negative impact on fiber strength. Another factor is the uniformity of hair thickness in the coat, the thinner and more uniform the coat the better. In the Suri breed the hair is long, silky, forming a parting in the middle of the back and falling on both sides of the body forming curls. Here is evaluated the structure of the curl and its shine. Alpacas can have 22 natural colors plus variations. The dominant color is white, but you can find animals from light to dark browns and blacks, as well as many patches, spots and dots of other colors.

Alpaca's body should fit into a square (as opposed to a llama, which fits into a rectangle). Proper body conformation is also an indicator of a good quality of the animal. The conformation should be compact, without limb defects (crooked limbs are not desired), spine or tail (it should be straight and set lower than in a llama), nails should be short and even, ears should be pear-shaped, the body should be well covered with hair, in females the udder should be properly built (symmetrical, without additional teats), in males large testicles set in the scrotum. For alpacas, as ruminant animals, correct dentition is very important, especially when it comes to incisors. They should be even and end on the gum plate of the jaw. A common problem (hereditary) is prognathism (excessive protrusion of the mandible), as a result of which the incisors do not adhere as they should and overgrow. This requires their regular correction, otherwise it limits the ability to take food. Unfortunately, this is a problem that affects most alpacas in Poland. Such correction is usually done at the time of shearing, as well as trimming nails. If necessary, the treatments are repeated more than once a year. If the animals walk on hard surfaces (e.g. concrete) the nails can wear down on their own. All of these elements have a direct bearing on the health of the animals. Animals with genetic defects such as blue eyed whites should also be ruthlessly eliminated from breeding. As the name suggests, these are white individuals with blue eyes. Often such animals are deaf. At this point it is also worth to bring up the subject of alpaca hybridization. For many centuries they crossed loosely with llamas, which made many alpacas have undesirable characteristics of llamas. These are: banana ears, humpbacked muzzle, less abundant hair cover (bald muzzle and legs), larger than standard body size, distorted body proportions, poorer fiber quality. Animals with obvious hybridization traits should not be bred.

Animals that do not meet high breeding standards can be used, for example, in recreation. This usually involves castration, as they are not considered to be the parents of future generations. The requirements for recreational animals are completely different. The future owner may have fiber quality in mind if he plans to produce products from it, but body conformation is not such a key issue (provided there are no gross abnormalities that can lead to disease). In recreation (agrotourism, walking with alpacas, hobby maintenance) or alpaca therapy, the features of the animal's temperament and personality as well as its upbringing and possible training are taken into account. The animals should accept the proximity and touch of man. It is very important to balance your actions so that the animal is not afraid of people and feels safe in their company, but does not show symptoms of Berserk Male Syndrome (behavioral disorder due to excessive contact with people at a very young age). On the other hand, it is impossible to overload the animal with work or contact with people, as this can quickly lead to burnout. When choosing an animal for recreation, one should check how it behaves towards people and other animals (proper upbringing and socialization) and how it reacts to some unexpected situations (appropriate temperament and personality traits). Currently, the use of alpacas in this direction is becoming more and more popular, so some breeders are focused on the selection in the direction of desired temperament traits.

Is this animal healthy?

Everyone wants the animal they buy to be disease-free. Unfortunately, not everything can be determined at first glance, but there are several elements that can indicate the good health and condition of the animal. In addition to a normal body shape, a healthy animal will have a shiny coat (in suri this shine is always more visible), without any bald spots. Mucous membranes (e.g., gums, under the eyelids) are pink, and no secretions flow from the nostrils, eyes, or reproductive organs. Feces is in the form of small balls (similar to sheep and goats). Males younger than about 2 years do not yet have tusks (characteristic hooked teeth). The movement of the animal is harmonious.

The condition of an animal can be determined using the BCS (Body Condition Score) scale. In alpacas it is done by palpation, putting the hand in the middle of the spine. The best condition is 2,5 on the 5-degree scale or 5 on the 10-degree scale, i.e. a palpable spine from which fatty tissue can be felt to the sides. If you imagine that you are looking at the animal in cross section you should see a not too sloping peak. Too low condition may indicate disease, malnutrition or a strong infestation of internal parasites. Too high condition (overweight or obesity) predisposes to metabolic diseases, excessive load on the joints, and in females to problems in childbirth.

Scabies may be a sign of a skin disease (e.g. scabies infestation), which unfortunately is a common problem. Scabies most often attack the ears, muzzle, groin, abdomen, genital area and interdigital area. They are difficult to see at first, but over time the infested areas become dry and crusted and the animals scratch more frequently. Animals in a herd become infected very quickly and it is very difficult to completely eradicate scabies. One type of scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei) can be contagious to humans.

A very dangerous disease also for humans is tuberculosis. As was mentioned earlier, the problem with this disease occurs in the British population of alpacas, if we find out that the animals came from the UK or were in one farm with the "British", we should turn on the red light. Symptoms of tuberculosis in animals are weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to exercise and coughing. The way to diagnose the disease is a tuberculin test or serological examination. It is important to remember that TB takes years to develop and symptoms are observed late.

Directions of alpaca use

The primary use of alpacas is for wool production. Shearing is performed once a year in late spring. This is usually done by a professional shearer, with whom it is necessary to make an appointment in advance. Alpaca wool is used for making sweaters, hats, scarves, socks, quilts and pillows. Breeders of alpacas primarily focus on improving the genetic quality of their animals and sell the young after excellent parents. However, people who are not interested in breeding may purchase alpacas for recreational purposes (e.g. agrotourism, organizing currently fashionable walks with alpacas or simply as a hobby). The last option is the use of alpacas in therapy. For this purpose, it is necessary to have animals with special mental predispositions and properly trained. The owner must also have appropriate qualifications to work in this direction. Directions of use can be combined with each other, e.g. in breeding, animals which will not be allowed to reproduce (too low quality) can be castrated and - if they have predispositions - used for recreation.

It can be said that the ideal alpaca for everyone may mean something different. Some people are looking for an animal to start breeding, others are looking for a recreational animal and others for work in alpaca therapy. For each of these people the priorities will be different. However, the unchangeable is that the animal is healthy, properly built and characterized by features that are important for us. We must also remember that the purchase of an animal must be prepared, not only in terms of buildings or pasture, but also in terms of knowledge about this species.

The author of this text prepared in cooperation with Heaven Alpacas is : Joanna Kapustka, M.Sc., Department of Animal Ethology and Hunting, University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Written : 01.02.2022