Alpacas are induced ovulators and as such can be mated at any time. On average gestation is eleven and a half months and it is recommended that mating be timed to ensure late spring or early summer births.
Young females are ready to be put to a stud male only when they have reached 60% of the weight of their mother or are fourteen months old. Following a normal birthing and complete cleansing within twelve hours of birth, a female should be in a fit condition to return to a male from ten to fourteen days after partum.
It is known that some males are able to breed from about nine months of age, however, this is not normally possible until the male is between two to three years old.
During copulation the stud male intrudes through the cervix of the female and deposits sperm into each uterine horn. This action can cause damage to the uterine lining and disrupt a developing pregnancy. Frequent and indiscriminate mating should be avoided. Entire males should not be kept with pregnant females.
The selection of stud males is an important decision that has to be made and it will have a major influence on the quality of the offspring.
Cria
Cria should be weaned at about six months of age.
It is unwise for the safety of a newly born cria to have expectant mothers birthing in a field with deep puddles, ponds or streams.
