Monday, October 30, 2023
Pregnancy in Alpacas
PREGNANCY IN ALPACAS
Pregnancy detection is the foundation of monitoring a successful breeding program. Early pregnancy diagnosis allows for timely intervention if needed and alerts you if there is more time to breed a female during the breeding season.
Pregnancy can be detected by “spit testing” over the course of several weeks and by ultrasounds of the female’s uterus.
Pregnancy can be confirmed by an ultrasound exam around 3 weeks after breeding. Knowing early if your female alpaca is pregnant, will prevent unnecessary breeding attempts. However, pregnancy loss is common in alpacas, and not every female diagnosed pregnant during early exams will deliver a cria. Pregnancy loss during the first 60 days of gestation happens in 10%-50% of the females (Llama and Alpaca Care, Cebra et al., 2014).
Therefore, a second ultrasound exam is recommended around 60 days after breeding, to confirm your female is still pregnant. If pregnancy loss has occurred, this also gives time to rebreed your female if desired.
Pregnancy loss later in gestation (>60 days) is less common but may still occur in 3% to 17% of pregnant alpacas. Any time you doubt your female alpaca is still pregnant, you should consult your veterinarian, and have an ultrasound exam performed on your alpaca.
Roland Abma, D.V.M / Shae Jarvis