| Day 1
A healthy, strong cria is born and up and nursing within 90 minutes. When cria is fully born (on the ground), normally they will squirm and within a short time be sitting sternal. Mom is checked for stability, any tearing during delivery, milk production and watched carefully. Her placenta will pass usually within 2 hours. Meanwhile the cria becomes more active, is alert and vigorous and soon on his/her feet looking for food! The cria should be weighed, temperature taken and umbilicus cleaned and monitored closely along with mom. Within hours, the cria is up and exploring his new world with a very proud Mom. A cria that is weak, underweight or Mom is lacking milk, may require vet assistance and possibly a plasma or colostrum transfer. Call your vet. Day 2 and on
When cria is 24 hours old, draw blood for an IgG test, which measures the immunoglobulin transfer (strength of the immune system). Adequate transfer is critical to the health of the cria, but also gives you valuable insight for this dam’s future crias. This test will also be required if you are insuring this cria. The cria is weighed every day for the first week, then every few days and as long as weight gain is normal (1/4 to ½ pound per day for alpacas), then monitored less frequently. Should your cria loose weight and not gain at the normal rate, consult with your vet immediately. Any cria which exhibits lethargy or unusual behavior should be checked and evaluated. Crias are normally quite alert, inquisitive and love to run and romp in the fields. Crias stay with their Moms until 6 months or so, when they are then weaned. Evaluate the dam frequently to make sure that she is not loosing weight. During the first few weeks, the cria is registered with the Alpaca Registry and microchipped. Crias are evaluated periodically during the first 6 months for the characteristics of their fleece and conformation and a determination is made as to his/her show prospects. Data is kept on the health and fiber of the cria and compared to other crias from the same sire. Annual Shearing
All alpacas are sheared annual, even your crias. Shearing is done in the late spring as the weather warms in your region. While your alpacas may object to the shearing process, they do seem to enjoy being free of that heavy fiber coat and go for a good roll in the dirt right after shearing! Shearing day provides you with valuable data on the effectiveness of your own breeding program. Carefully weigh the fiber in total and in sections- blanket, neck, leg. Record weights and staple length. Learn to grade and sort your fiber and record these grades for each alpaca. This is valuable information to help you in breeding selection and in analyzing nutrition and the health of your herd. Your alpacas go to the shows
Alpaca Shows are an important marketing tool. Currently, the measure of an alpaca is “fame” and genetics. Proven bloodlines that are known show winners at the major shows are the most sought after in the sales and breeding market and build recognition for a breeder. Alpacas of all ages, but predominately under three years old, go to shows and compete with top quality alpacas from the entire country. Judges are quite important in all this, as a ribbon from a well known, reputable and knowledgeable judge means more than a ribbon from lesser known official. Shows serve as great marketing and networking tools. Each farm has it’s own stalling and display area and has the opportunity for other breeders and the public attending to get to know them-client bases are built this way. Shows are a learning experience too – breeders have an opportunity to network with other breeders and see what other’s breeding programs are producing – always check out the first place winners at the show! The larger shows have halter competition and also fleece competitions. Enter fleeces too – those ribbons are equally important to your breeding and marketing program. The competition in fleece shows is greater tougher each year and the judges usually give your winning fleece good written comments that will be helpful. Yearling and older alpacas
Females will be bred at 14-24 months, depending on maturity as determined by behavior and ultrasound exam. Be sure your female is mature enough and healthy before attempting to breed for the first time. Breeding males will be selected based on genetics, fiber and conformational characteristics. A female may be sent to another farm to breed to a desired male. Pregnancy is determined by behavior, then confirmed with ultrasound. Periodic spit tests through the pregnancy are very important. Females sometimes do loose their pregnancies and without periodic testing, owners may not realize they have a open female. Males, if out of known genetics, and/or if they have done well at shows may be sold as yearlings to farms who wish to show this male and eventually use him for breeding. Lesser males are sold as fiber males. All alpacas are vaccinated once yearly and fecals are taken periodically to determine the need for worming procedures. Other vaccinations needed are determined by the region you live in – check with a knowledgeable vet in your area. Teeth are checked regularly for abnormalities or case of males, for fighting teeth which should be cut. Health is monitored through observation and annual blood tests. Data must be kept on all procedures. Proper nutrition is all important for production livestock. Proper growth, vitality, reproduction, even the quality of fiber is impacted by what your alpacas eat. Test your hay or pastures, your water and use these tests results along with your blood tests to analyze your feeding and herd management program. This is critical to affecting the marketable outcomes you want for your alpaca business. Alpacas, we must remember, are living beings and subject to poor health, disease and genetic problems just as any living being is. As alpaca livestock farmers, we must monitor the health of our animals on a daily basis for good production and high market value. Alpaca Sales
Pregnant females are most in demand in the current market. Quality females with good reproduction histories, bred to an excellent sire will sell anywhere from $14,000 to $30,000.
Young females, show quality or close to breeding age, also sell well in our market.
Young males, generally if excellent quality and known genetics, sell $8,000 and up.
Breeding age males, campaigned, show winner and proved out by his progeny will sell for high prices.
Fiber males—not all males have the total package of great conformation and superior fiber, but they are good fiber produces with marketable fiber and there is growing market demand for the “fiber male.” Industry Marketing
A successful business markets and alpaca breeders use the internet, shows, print ads, regional TV and farm events to become known and sell their product.
Professional Education
If you want success, you must be knowledgeable about your business. Professional training for alpaca breeders is available through the Alpaca Breeders Fiber School. The most successful in our business are those individuals who have herd management and breeding programs developed through education and training with industry experts. Education must be a budget item every year! By Bonnie Samuel, Kansas Alpaca Company ©2005
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