Keeping Alpacas and Breeding Cycles

Although a female alpaca can be bred after a year old, it is better to wait until it is 2-3 years old. It is fine to keep both males and females together.

The alpaca is not bound by a breeding season like sheep, and so therefore they will mate at any time and drop their cria (baby) after a gestation period of about 11-12 months. Many alpaca births occur during the rainy season. They usually only have single births, which makes them more valuable and sought after and their pregnancies and deliveries are usually without complications. The adults grow to a height of 5 feet.

If something happens to the mother, or she is unable to suckle her young, other female alpacas who have recently given birth will take on the cria and nurse it without complications. They are therefore excellent surrogate mothers.