Newborn Alpaca Crias

Colostrum – the Critical Time Factor

After birth, an alpaca cria should drink colostrum within the first four hours. No later than six hours after birth, colostrum must have been ingested – not after 24 hours.

After six hours, the intestinal wall is no longer permeable enough to absorb antibodies, meaning the immune system can no longer be properly established. Crias that do not receive colostrum often die within the first three months.

Milk Flow and Supplement Feeding

Milk production in the dam is stimulated by the cria suckling repeatedly – not only every two or three hours – even if only small amounts of milk are present in the first hours.

If a cria is generously bottle-fed right from the start, it loses the motivation to nurse from the mother. Supplement feeding should only be provided if the cria is weak or lethargic.

Preventive administration of products such as Lactovetsan for every dam is therefore unnecessary. Allow the cria to nurse naturally.

Weight Loss in the First Hours

Every human mother knows that newborn babies often lose a small amount of weight during the first 24 hours before they begin to gain weight. The same applies to alpaca crias. This initial phase is normal.

Body Temperature and Energy Loss

Much more important is that a cria must not lose too much energy after birth. In our climate, crias are often challenged by maintaining body temperature.

Unless born in warm summer sunshine, newborn crias should always be thoroughly dried with towels and, if necessary, gently blow-dried. This prevents energy loss and keeps them strong enough to stand up and nurse.

During drying, people should speak as little as possible so that the cria bonds to the mother’s voice rather than imprinting on humans.

Comparison to South America

In the Andes at around 4,000 meters altitude, solar radiation is much more intense and wind conditions cause animals to dry very quickly.

In our region – especially in April/May or September/October, or during rainy summers – maintaining body temperature must not be underestimated.

We have repeatedly seen new alpaca owners leave their crias shivering in the cold for hours, claiming: “That’s nature – in South America no one helps them either.” This assumption is incorrect.

Enema – Not a Routine Procedure

Routine enemas for all newborn crias are not necessary. Improper application can even injure the cria.

In our experience, only about two to three percent of births required assistance because the first feces did not pass properly. This is usually noticeable when the cria becomes restless and repeatedly strains without success.

In such cases, there is still enough time to administer an enema. Often, simply checking under the tail is sufficient to see whether the first stool has already passed.

The cria must first drink before the digestive system begins functioning properly. Therefore, there is no need for haste.

Summary

The first hours after birth are crucial. Calmness, careful observation, and intervention only when truly necessary provide the best conditions for a healthy start in life.