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First, some basics. An alpaca female will have one (very rarely twins) offspring after an 11 to 12 month gestation period. Females become sexually mature sometime after their first birthday. Most are receptive between 12 and 18 months, although some take a little longer. Males become sexually mature sometime after their second year. Although there are a few cases of males under one year impregnating females under one. year.
There is quite a bit of controversy regarding the proper age to breed a female. Some wonder if early breeding give a shorter breeding life - many female alpacas can deliver healthy crias well into their teens. Many breeders breed a female year after year, with no breaks. Some with give them a year, or at least a portion of a year, off. Others wonder if giving them a break makes them hard to re-bred the next time around.
Different areas of the country have different breeding seasons. In the North West, we try to avoid winter births due to our wet conditions. And many like spring births so that the female isn't heavily pregnant during the hot summer month.
Alpacas ovulates induced ovulators - meaning that they don't have a heat cycle like most mammals. The act of breeding will cause the female to ovulate. For this reason, breeders usually house males and females separately unless they are together for breeding. Breeding can be done in a small pen to allow observation and timing of the mating, or it can be done by running one male with a group of females for several weeks.
Pregnancy is confirmed by several different methods. A male can be introduced to the female one or two weeks after the breeding. If she is pregnant, she will spit and kick. A submissive female might "sit" for the male, so this method isn't fool proof. Progesterone blood tests and ultrasounds are frequently used.
Birthing usually occurs during the day, and is usually unassisted and uncomplicated. A full term cria will average about 16 pounds. The cria is usually up and nursing in an hour or two. Weaning usually occurs when the cria is about 6 months of age.
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