The Mating Process

Alpacas do not have a breeding season and provided they are receptive, females can be mated at any time of the year. Females are “induced ovulators,” which means that the act of mating and the presence of semen cause them to ovulate.

Please consult the Services Directory for contact numbers of members offering mating / husbandry services.

A male in the act of mating, or hoping for a chance to mate, “orgles” (sings). This orgling helps to put the female in the mood, and it is believed to also help her to ovulate after mating. Occasionally, females conceive after just one breeding (which can last anywhere from five minutes to well over an hour, as the males are “dribble ejaculators”), but can have trouble conceiving. Artificial insemination is technically difficult, because the act of breeding stimulates ovulation.

A male is usually ready to mate for the first time between one and three years of age. A female alpaca may fully mature (physically and mentally) between 12 – 24 months. It is not advisable to allow a young female to be bred until she is mature, as overbreeding a young female before conception is possible is a common cause of uterine infections. As the age of maturation varies greatly between individuals, it is usually recommended that novice breeders wait until females are 18 months of age or older before initiating breeding.

 

Alpacas mate in the “cush” (prone) position and if a female is not receptive (already pregnant) she will refuse to sit down and will probably spit at the male.

 

This rejection response, known as a “spit-off” is used in the management of the female to regularly monitor the progress of her pregnancy.

Breeding Methods:

• With “pasture breeding”, the male is put with a group of females for around two weeks. This mimics mating in the wild. Although the male will mate with the females, he will graze apart but within close range.
• “Managed” or “in-hand breeding” involves introducing a male (normally on a halter and lead) to a female within a fenced enclosure. This should ideally be 3 x 3 metres in size, built in a manner so that legs cannot pass between the rails or boards and have a clean floor area.

Camelids are reported to have a high rate (about 33%) of early abortion, mostly within the first month. If pregnancy was not achieved, the dam’s serum progesterone level drops back to normal by 14 days, after which she will sit ready to be mated again. The induction of ovulation and resulting 14 day progesterone cycle should be considered when mating and remating.

Gestation averages 355 days from the conception date with a few not unpacked (born) for 380+ days. Swelling of the abdomen is noticeable in the last three months with the cria’s movements and occasional kicks clearly visible in the last month. It should be added that some dams hide the pregnancy well, even to the experienced eye.

After a female gives birth, she is generally receptive to breeding again after approximately two weeks. Crias may be weaned through human intervention at approximately 6 months (about 30 kg). However, many breeders prefer to allow the female to decide when to wean her offspring.

PLEASE NOTE:

Males and females should only be introduced to each other for the purpose of mating. It was recently discovered that the alpaca male is the only known mammal that directly inseminates into the uterus of the female.

This method, with its spear-shaped penis, often results in internal damage during intercourse. Excessive mating may lead to the death of females.

Read Article HERE

Contact us for any alpaca registration or breeding advice. Also view our Registration & Minimum Breed Standard documentation HERE.