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Selecting the right llama male to be your herdsire is a challenge. Many considerations go into choosing the male or males, which will shape the future of your breeding program. Conformation, fiber, appearance, presence, disposition, color, and pedigree are all characteristics you will most likely evaluate in choosing a herdsire. However, this list omits one of the most essential components of a good breeding male. A male's reproductive capabilities are the fundamental requirement of a herdsire candidate. Indeed, all of the above traits are secondary to this very primary concern. Without the ability to reproduce, a male is of no value in a breeding program. A wonderful öphenotypical packageõ means absolutely nothing without good reproductive capabilities.

Since the entire camelid industry is so new outside of South America, there are few defined parameters to evaluate male reproductive capabilities, especially male fertility. Although fertility parameters and standards are very commonplace in other species, it is a new concept to many llama breeders. In view of the lack of established fertility standards for llamas, and in conjunction with Dean P. Neely, V.M.D.,Ph.D., Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, we decided to start accumulating and recording data. In time, we felt this information would help us establish parameters we could use in evaluating our herdsires and ultimately as a tool in herdsire selection. It has never been our intention to define parameters for the llama breeding community, but rather to collect and share information about possible problems and realistic expectations one could expect to achieve in the successful management and selection of fertile llama males.

When we started gathering data in 1990, only a handful of veterinarians had insights to offer regarding camelid male fertility. Even fewer breeders were interested in pursuing objective collection of data. Published information, not requiring technical translation from Spanish, was also limited, with the notable exception being Julio Sumarùs thesis.1 Thus, our Reproductive Record Keeping forms were largely developed relying on male evaluation forms used in other species. The male examination form printed in Dr. Murray Fowlerùs book, Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids2, and the form developed by the Society of Theriogenologists for stallion evaluations were the two written forms we used as a basis in developing our forms. Mostly, we were guided by the information we had collected in the initial two years of our work, and in 1992 began to use the format presented here. The forms shown here, and resultant article, are shared in the hopes other veterinarians and breeders will become interested in male fertility evaluation.

So why take the time and trouble to keep these records? Truly infertile males eventually eliminate themselves from the status of breeding male, while males with good fertility identify themselves in time as well, settling females with apparent ease. But what about the males who run öhot, then cold,õ sometimes settling females and sometimes not? What about the male who has an excellent performance record and then suddenly becomes a problem? How much time are you willing to lose in your breeding program when these incidents occur? Are there ways to objectively assess male fertility, and predict or prevent infertility?

Our female reproductive record forms have enabled us to increase our herdùs reproductive efficiency. In other words, achieving a cria per year from each dam. That achievement cannot rest solely on female management, it also hinges on the fertility of your males. Thus one reason in taking the time and effort to collect and record data on males is to help make the above stated goal a reality. Another goal in keeping reproductive records for males includes maximizing your overall herd performance by quickly identifying males suffering from temporary infertility due to illness, trauma, travel or heat stress. Longer-term goals for us include identifying objective criteria, which we could use to classify males as highly fertile, acceptable fertility and conversely unacceptable fertility.

The benefits of such record keeping may not be immediately realized, but are more a long-term investment in your herd.

Our records have helped us gain insight into temporary causes of lowered fertility and infertility3. With these insights, management alterations designed to minimize these breaches in normal fertility can be made quickly and allow for a more efficient treatment protocol. Records will enable you to spot patterns created by seasonal, environmental or managerial variables and pinpoint problems more accurately and efficiently. With a group of males under similar management you can identify your top performers, as well as early maturing young males. In time, you will be able to see if any correlations exist between father and sons.

As with our female reproductive records, general medical records are incorporated into this format, shown in Figure 2. Good general health management is always a prerequisite to reproductive management. As with our female records, these forms are designed to be used on a calendar year basis with each male having an individual record. Early records for male crias, as well as female crias, are kept on our Cria Medical Record Form4. At an age ranging from 12 to 16 months, males are switched to our Male Lama Reproductive Record Forms.

Figure 1 is the initial page of our male reproductive record and contains general information that is self-explanatory at the top of this form. The öHistoryõ section may include extensive notes if a male is being brought to us for evaluation. If the male was born at the farm, observations such as, öshowed great interest in females as cria and weanlingõ may be recorded. The vaccination and anthelmintic section is for historical purposes with males we own (the dates last vaccinated and dewormed in the prior year), or for establishing vaccine and anthelmintic usage with new males coming into the farm.

The penis evaluation is done by Dr. Neely when a male is 16 to 18 months old. He manually extends the penis without sedation, discomfort or harm to the male. If a young male still has prepucial adhesions which prevent extension, the extension is not forced. The findings are recorded with a note to recheck a male who cannot achieve extension at a later date.

If a male can successfully achieve full or nearly full extension, we begin exposing him to females. At this juncture, I fill in comments under the Initial Breeding Behavior section. Concurrently, I note successful attempts on the Breeding Behavior chart shown in Figure 3. Although it is beyond the scope of this article to elaborate on techniques I use to get young males successfully breeding, I will say it is a courtship, which may take much patience and persistence.

The breeding behavior of young males, new purchases or males brought to us for evaluation is routinely recorded on the Breeding Behavior chart shown in Figure 3. Proven males are recorded only occasionally and usually following a specific incident such as refusal to breed, illness, showing or return to our farm after a lease. Our objective is to establish a behavior pattern, and not rely on a couple of observations; any male can have a few off days. Under Breeding Time we note which female the male was bred to and the number of minutes the breeding lasted. If a male is up and down, breeding for only a short duration, that is so noted with each breeding duration timed. Obviously this necessitates someone be present throughout the entire breeding to make these observations.

Semen is not collected with every breeding, but if collection occurs it is so noted. As a breeding farm I sought methods of collecting semen that were easy and could be done on a continual basis without stress to the male. Thus for our operation, electro-ejaculation was ruled out and has never been utilized. Perhaps one of the most difficult techniques to master, we have tried many methods of semen collection now including an artificial vagina with the help of Anne Lichtenwaler, DVM, Ph.D. As of this rewrite in 2006, we have gone back to a simple vaginal aspiration technique, which has worked well for us, and has been utilized throughout the majority of our record keeping efforts.

The final page of our Male Reproductive Record Forms contains the charts seen on Figure 4. Males are checked on an intermittent basis throughout the year, or as needed. Measurements are taken as per the chart and recorded. When semen is collected, sperm density, motility and morphology are recorded.

In conclusion, reproduction records can enhance the management of breeding males. After multiple years of data have been collected, we have a better understanding of appropriate standards for male fertility. For us, our records have helped us achieve our goal of selecting and breeding highly fertile lama males.

Original Copyright 1994: Revised in 2006-Linda Berry Walker
All record forms are copyrighted-January, 1992.

References:
1. Sumar, Julio: Studies on Reproductive Pathology in Alpacas, Masters Thesis Uppsala, Sweden, 1983.
2. Fowler, M. E.: Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 1989, pg. 305.
3. Neely, D.P.: öReproduction Aspects of the Male Llama.õ Proceedings Fourth Annual Hudson-Walker Theriogenology Conference (March 1993) Auburn University, Alabama.
4. Walker, L.B. and Neely, D.P.: öCria Medical Records,õ Alpacas Magazine, Fall 1992, pp. 37-39

Author's Note: We have continued to use these male reproductive record forms at WoodsEdge Wools Farm over the last 14 years and have seen a tremendous benefit in keeping this type of records! Not only have we have been able to significantly raise the fertility standards for our llama herdsires from what was considered acceptable in the past, we have consistently minimized time loss from an occasional illness, heat stress or relocation stress.

About the Author: Linda Berry Walker and her son Brent operate WoodsEdge Wools Farm, a large alpaca and suri llama breeding farm, in west central New Jersey. Linda is celebrating 30 years of breeding fiber-producing livestock in 2006!