Alpacas and Llamas of WoodsEdge Wools Farm

We've just weaned our fall crop of alpaca crias and I thought I'd share some tips we've learned over the years that minimize the stress of weaning.

1. Wean by weight and conditions, not age.

Not all babies are ready to be weaned at the magic age of 6 months, or whatever your selected target age is. Preemie babies may need a longer time with mom, as well as those who have had any illnesses or injury to date. Similarly, 6 months may be too long for some dams. A dam compromised by illness or injury may greatly benefit from a strapping 5-month-old youngster being weaned. Pay special attention to your older dams; some of them are great milkers and can lose too much condition with extended nursing.

2. Relocate mom, not baby, at weaning.

Weaning is a much more difficult adjustment for baby than for mom. When removing mom from baby's life, baby will be reassured by familiar surroundings, the same place to eat and sleep. Mom should be moved, preferably to a location where baby cannot see her and to a minimal feed area. Do not put mom on one side of a fence and baby on the other side; they are both likely to pace up and down the fence line. Monitor mom's udder for at least a week, more if necessary. We do not feed grain to mom for about one week prior to weaning, and feed our poorest quality hay, or least lush pasture, to mom during weaning. Remember, mom is pregnant, so be sure she has continued access to a balanced vitamin/mineral supplementation. We have not found it necessary to withhold water or use drugs to help dry up alpacas (or llamas).

3. Find a nanny to babysit your weanling.

A group of newly weaned crias will greatly benefit from a nanny. Running a matronly female with the weanlings for the initial weaning period helps them to establish a routine. They've been following mom's lead and it is reassuring for them to still have an older female to lead the way from barn to pasture, find the water, know when to come in, and so on. Be careful not to put a female nursing a young cria in with the weanlings, the weanlings may try to steal milk from nanny!

4. Three stresses "break the camel's back."

This tried and true old idiom has worked well for us over the years. You can often get into trouble when you gang up on a baby with three or more stresses simultaneously. Weaning is a stress, but if managed properly it should be a smooth transition. You can avoid problems by using common sense as a guideline, do not inject too many stresses at one time. Other common stresses include the following:

Parasetemia - check fecal samples six weeks prior to weaning and use appropriate anthelmentics well in advance of weaning.
Vaccinations - do not schedule vaccinations concurrent with weaning, but rather a month prior or a month later.
Heat - do not wean in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave, if you can avoid it. When weaning in the heat of the summer, make sure babies have access to a cool comfortable hangout, and that they are not out pacing in the sun.
Sales - please, please, please don't wean your babies by placing them into someone else's trailer! If you're purchasing a weanling, make sure it will be weaned in advance of your arrival.

4. Keep baby's routine the same.

Try not to make too many changes during the initial weaning period. Keep feeding times constant, and the rest of the cria's diet the same as before. Do not use weaning day as the day to begin halter training.

5. Stick to your plans!

Resist those big, sad eyes and petulant little hums; don't put baby and mom back together, unless you really feel it is necessary. If you have only one baby which you are keeping you may want to consider letting mom wean baby naturally. However, as she gets closer to parturition they must be separated so the older offspring will not steal colostrum needed for the next baby. Just keep a close eye on mom's condition and remember she's carrying another baby.

There are no hard and fast rules in raising animals. These suggestions have been helpful to us, but other breeders may have different methods which work equally well for them. One thing which everyone may agree on is that a weanling alpaca is one of the most lovable, endearing and appealing little creatures around.

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