# data[].attributes.body
Unlike most species of mammal, alpacas have an irregular nonseasonal polyestrous pattern. They are induced ovulators, which means they only ovulate when exposed to a specific stimuli. The stimuli needed to trigger ovulation include sexual activity. During copulation the male "orgles". Orgling is basically a low pitched humming noise the male makes during copulation. This illustrates how mating behavior directly effects ovulation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Milner Library proxy server will allow authorized individuals to use the indexes and databases when connecting through a computer off-campus.

# data[].attributes.body
A pre-mating behavior female alpacas have been known to exhibit is compared similarly to flirting. Females will prance around the males at the other side of the fence with their tails lifted. Although they seem so willing, when put into a mating pen, the females tend to run around until she lays down to mate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Detailed information about alpaca reproduction and neonatal care of alpaca crias.

# data[].attributes.body
This study determined that the relative fertility of both male and females was low. This was a result of low sperm counts in males and pseudopregnancy in females.

# data[].attributes.body
A study done at the La Raya Research Station tested 3 forms of mating using 50 alpacas and 20 llamas. 70 days after the alpacas had been mated, only 84% of pregnancies were correctly diagnosed. At 125 days, the percentage rose to 88%. However, this is significantly less than the llamas, which were exposed to the same forms of mating. The llamas had pregnancy rates from 88-95%. Perhaps this has something to do with the low sperm counts and pseudopregnancies mentioned before.

# data[].attributes.body
The owner took this picture of a young male practicing his mating behavior and mounting skills on a mature alpaca.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Shearing season is coming to an end and that means it's time for breeding season to begin at Snowshoe Farm! There are two sides to breeding season: breeding our own females and breeding females that belong to our clients.

For our own herd, breeding begins with the decision-making process - which females do we breed this year and to whom do we breed them? Do we have breedings that we'd like to repeat? Do we have young males to prove? Do we have maidens ready for their first breedings? Do we want to purchase an outside breeding for anyone? How many cria can we manage next year? Once we have a list of potential breeding pairs, behavior testing begins. This is an almost-daily ritual of bringing over a male and walking him by a female or putting him in a pen with a female and watching their behavior. Regular behavior testing and taking good notes as you observe the alpacas' behavior are your best tools for managing alpaca breeding.

We keep a number of breeding males at Snowshoe Farm. We offer drive-by breedings (clients bring their females by for a breeding and then take them home), very limited mobile breedings (we bring our male to you) and we also board females while they are here for breeding. This last option works best for maidens and for clients who are too far away for drive-bys to be practical. We also lease some of our herdsires for short periods of time. This works well for farms who want to use the same male on several females and prefer to keep their females at their own farm.

Outside breeding clients will start arriving later this month. They are all fecal tested before arriving and go into a small barn, separate from our herd. Otherwise, the routine is the same: behavior testing, breeding and, after several weeks of refusing to rebreed, an ultrasound by our vet to determine the status of the pregnancy.

All in all, it's a busy few months, but by mid-fall it comes to an end. Breedings that are done this summer will be births next summer and few of us here in the northeast are breeding for cold weather births.

To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are offering 15% off all alpacas and breedings this year. That's in addition to our already low breeding fees! Check out our herdsires and contact us with questions or to schedule a breeding.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Alpaca Breeding 2014 - Snowshoe Farm Alpacas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Shearing season is coming to an end and that means it's time for breeding season to begin at Snowshoe Farm! There are two sides to breeding season: breeding our own females and breeding females that belong to our clients.

# data[].attributes.body
Alpacas are a polygynous species. This means they have males have multiple female partners during a breeding season (Price, 85).

# data[].attributes.headline
Male and female alpaca during copulation

# data[].attributes.subject
Male and female alpaca during copulation

# data[].attributes.body
In preparation for copulation, once the female is ready, she lays on the ground as the male mounts.

# data[].attributes.body
Here's a cute video of a newborn alpaca, otherwise known as a cria, taking their first steps. As alpacas are fairly social animals, cria's are usually immediately integrated into a group.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is our new baby alpaca called a Cria. This alpaca is named Eclipse and took its first steps and was soon really running around.

# data[].attributes.body
In New Zealand, the most common method of mating alpacas is pen mating. This is where a female is taken to a separate mating pen with her desired male. Another less commonly used method is called paddock mating. Paddock mating is when a single male is allowed to run loose with a large group of females. As we learned in class, pen mating allows for female choice, while paddock mating eliminates male competition and female choice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Alpacas can be bred at any time of year, but more difficulties (for the new-born) are likely to be encountered in winter, or the heat of mid-day summer, so many breeders in New Zealand try to get their females to give birth in either Autumn or late Spring.

Females are usually mated for the first time according to weight and age - however many owners have no way of weighing their alpacas, so mate a one year old and hope for the best. We have heard that USA vets are reporting a large increase in alpacas requiring birthing assistance and 80% of these are first time mothers - indicated they may have have been bred at too young an age. Many US vets are now advocating that females not be bred until they are 18 months to 2 years of age; we feel this is a good policy.

Alpacas are normally remated 2 weeks after giving birth, with the highest proportion of successful matings occurring at this time. Alpacas are "induced ovulators" - they are stimulated to ovulate by the act of mating. The male "orgles" (sings) to the female during the act of mating and it is believed that this also encourages ovulation. A female ready to accept a male will "cush" (sit down) and allow the male to mount her. One who is pregnant will run from him and if he is persistent, spit at him. This is called "spitting off" and is a useful tool in determining whether a female has previously ovulated, or is pregnant.

In NZ, pen mating of alpacas is the most common method - the female is taken to a mating pen and the desired male released with her. Most females will initially dodge the male, then those who are "open" (not pregnant) will cush, while those who have ovulated or are pregnant will spit him off. Another method not so commonly used is paddock mating - where the male runs loose in the paddock with the females. This method is only successful when you have a large number of females to be mated to the same male.

Confirmation of pregnancy can be determined in several ways. First is the "spit off". Most females are "spat off" one or two weeks after mating. This is not proof of pregnancy but indicates whether the female has ovulated. An additional spit off is done at 4 weeks, and this is usually a good indication that the female is pregnant. Forty days after mating, a blood test can be done to confirm pregnancy. Ultrasound scanning is another device to determine pregnancy.

Gestation is normally around 11½ months, but cria can be born full term up to a month prior to their due date, and not be overdue 4-6 weeks after it! Most gestational tables work on a term of 11 months, but most breeders report 11½ is commonly expected. Alpacas have a reputation of giving birth on sunny days between 10am and 2pm, however births can and do occur in bad weather, early mornings or late afternoons. Often these are the births most likely to cause problems, either in the actual birth, or the ability of the cria to thrive immediatelyfollowing parturition. You should keep a close eye on any alpaca due to give birth!

For more detailed information, see Breeding Alpacas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Alpacas can be bred at any time of year, but more difficulties (for the new-born) are likely to be encountered in winter, or the heat of mid-day summer, so many breeders in New Zealand try to get their females to give birth in either Autumn or late Spring.

# data[].attributes.body
Here's a picture of an alpaca giving birth to a cria. The ideal position for the cria to be in is face first with the front feet out.