Breeding Alpacas Part 3

Last, but certainly not least, in our alpaca breeding mini-series is gestation, birthing and cria care. Check out part 1 for further information on breeding ages, selecting and housing studs, stud services and registering alpacas with the BAS, or see part 2 for information on the mating process and testing for pregnancy.

How long are alpacas pregnant for?

Alpacas are pregnant for an average of 343 days (11.5 months), but can vary between 320 - 375 days!

What is it called when an alpaca gives birth?

An alpaca giving birth is called 'unpacking' and happens after an 11.5 month gestation.

How many babies does an alpaca give birth to?

An alpaca will give birth to a single cria and twins are very rare as there is not enough room inside the womb, so they are usually aborted before term.

A female alpaca giving birth to a cria

What signs do alpacas show when they are about to give birth?

Here are some common signs to look out for when an alpacas is getting close to giving birth:

7-10 days before

• 'Bagging up' of the udder (milk is being produced, ready for the cria)

7 days before

• Dropping of the belly

• Hollowing in the hips

• Ligament relaxation

The morning of birthing

• Restless, agitated behaviour

• Can't appear to get comfortable

• Withdrawing from the herd to the perimeters of the group

• Visiting frequently and/or straining at the poo pile

• Humming often

• Lying with legs to side

Labour has begun

• Tail lifted

• Contractions

• Fluid bag visible

• Feet and nose of the cria visibly showing

Is it normal for an alpaca to give birth standing up?

Yes, it is completely normal for an alpaca to give birth standing up and in fact helps the cria drain mucous and fluid from his mouth and nasal passage.

What items should be in an alpaca birthing kit?

To ensure you are fully prepared for your alpaca to give birth, we recommend that you keep a birthing kit handy in a dedicated bucket or toolbox, clearly labelled 'Birthing Kit' so that it can easily be found by you or anybody else looking after your alpacas. An alpaca birthing kit should contain the following items…

Base Kit:

• Distinct box

• Vets phone number

• Towel to dry the cria’s body if needed

• Thermometer

• Disposable gloves

• Scales and a sling to weigh the cria

• Iodine (to spray the umbilical cord)

• Umbilical clamps

• Fastract Jump Start

• Head torch

• Bag to dispose of afterbirth/other waste

In case dam needs assistance:

• Individual lubricant tubes (lube is the perfect base to culture bacteria, so big bottles will harvest bacteria - not what you want to be inserting into a female!)

• Hibiscrub and bucket (to sterilise hands and utensils)

• Arm length calving gloves 

• Lambing ropes/head snare

• Honey/glucose

• INJECTABLE Metacam OR Loxicom (painkiller & anti-inflammatory)

In case cria needs support:

• Alpaca colostrum - must be FREEZE DRIED if using as a colostrum, such as IMMUCOL PLATINUM, as this process protects the nutrients (can use shop bought goats milk as a milk replacer AFTER colostrum has been given)

• Feeding bottle

• Milton sterilising fluid 

• Stomach feeding tube & syringe

• Cria coat and hot water bottle in case of a difficult birth or poor weather conditions

In case dam/cria need support:

• Hot water bottle / warming discs (prioritise warming the armpits as the main vein going back to the heart is here and will speed up the warming process) 

  
  

Do alpacas need assistance when giving birth?

Alpacas are rather secretive when unpacking and rarely need assistance, so usually you won’t see the cria until it is already born. But problems do occur from time to time, so it is recommended to check your alpaca at least every 2 hours during the day when she is close to giving birth - if you can't make that commitment, breeding alpacas may not be for you! Here is a suggestive, but not exhaustive, list of issues that can occur during birthing...

• Dam can’t stand 

• The female is straining at poo pile for more than 1 hour 

• Amniotic sac comes, but no cria within 20 mins 

• No progression from stage 1 to stage 2 after 6 hours 

• No progression after 15-20 minutes of pushing in stage 2 (delivery)

• Can’t feel head/legs (likely a uterine torsion) 

• Can’t identify which legs belong to which head 

• Backwards presentation 

• Both legs won’t come at the same time (legs crossing over indicates shoulders are too wide) 

• Can’t pull head through 

• Back legs get stuck at hips (hips too wide) 

• Fluid bag doesn’t pop or is stuck to mouth/nose

• Dummy cria - can try to squeeze the chest to emulate birthing in attempt to bring them round 

• Trust your instincts 

If you notice any of the above issues, contact your vet immediately.

What do I need to do after an alpaca has given birth?

Here is a helpful, but not exhaustive, checklist of things to check and carry out once an alpaca has given birth:

Shortly after birth:

• Check dam and cria are both ok

• The cria's navel should be sprayed with Iodine solution to prevent infection and helps to dry and seal the cord (you can check the sex of the cria at the same time)

• Record their weight and temperature; healthy cria weigh 6.5KG - 8KG at birth and have a temperature range of 36.8°C - 39.2°C

• Fastract Jump Start can be given to new born cria, especially those that have had a difficult/lengthy birth

• If you need to dry the cria, leave the head & bum area as the dam identifies her cria by smelling these areas

• Once essential quick checks have been done, leave the dam & cria alone to bond, as disrupting them too much can lead to one rejecting the other

Within first 4 hours:

• Check the cria has suckled within the first 4 hours of being born, as their immune system will be weak, and they need the colostrum (first milk) from the dam to help build their immunity - call the vet ASAP if suckling does not occur

• Check the female has passed the placenta (also known as the afterbirth or cleanse) - if not, call the vet

Within the first 6 months:

• Weigh your cria regularly to check they are increasing in weight by around 1.5kg per week in their first 2 months and continue to gain weight steadily thereafter

• Prevent clostridial disease 

• Crias should receive vitamin D supplementations at 1 month and 3 months of age and again at weaning time

• Wean the cria around 5-6 months of age

• Run a FEC and worm the cria at weaning

• Microchip the cria and register with BAS

• Begin halter training

  
  

Disclaimer: Fostings Alpacas are not a veterinarian body. Always consult your vet if your are concerned about your alpacas.

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Learn how to look after alpacas

This 110 page E-Guide is packed full of information for new and prospective alpaca keepers, covering Alpaca 101, Essential Requirements, Diet & Pasture Management, Costs to Purchase & Keep Alpacas, Routine Husbandry and Common Disease & Parasites in Alpacas. The E-Guide is downloadable upon purchase so you can dive straight in! For the full contents list and to get your copy, just click the image below!