Breeding Alpacas – The facts
Please feel free to contact us about breeding stock available to purchase. Most of the alpacas we sell are not listed for sale. Our herd sires are available for limited outside matings, details can be found on our herd sire page.
- Males reach breeding age at 2-3 years old
- Young males should be separated from females at 6 months of age
- Only the very best males should be used for breeding
- Pet quality males should be castrated at around 18 months of age
Alpacas breeding in a typical position
Less common breeding position
- Females reach breeding age at 12-18 months old
- Female alpacas are ‘induced ovulators’ with a 3 week cycle. They can be bred at any time of year. Spring /early summer is ideal when there is good grass and longer daylight hours
- A female will ‘spit off’ a male if she is pregnant or has ovulated
- A female will sit for a male if she is receptive
- The gestation period is approximately 11.5 months (average 335 days but can be 320-370)
- Alpacas usually give birth during daylight hours (not just mornings and any time is possible)
Calving normally happens in the field
Newly born alive cria in the field
- Cria weigh from 6 – 9kg (13 – 20 lbs)
- Twins are very rare
- Cria are weaned at approx. 6 months of age
Breeding alpacas for Colour
Breeding alpacas to produce alpacas of a known colour is a fascinating process. Understanding what your males and females are capable of producing is key. For example, a white alpaca carrying the white spot gene bred to a solid coloured male will often produce a cria with some white on it. If you want to breed solid colours then knowing this beforehand would be useful!
Over the years we have consistently bred black females to black males and have only ever produced 1 cria who wasn’t black. This is a very high success rate. From this colour base we can now add elite males of other colours to complement the fleece characteristics of the female and hopefully produce black in the first or second generation.