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Alpaca Spit Testing

Sign posted at indoor sports facility where we attended a birthday party.

Actually, there is ONE time when we really want our alpacas to spit.

That’s when we do a spit test to check whether or not our females are pregnant. In the alpaca business our goal is for our females to be pregnant most of the time. Selling breeding stock is where the majority of our income is generated.

Alpacas gestate for 11-12 months. They are bred back when their cria is between 19-21 days old. Don’t worry, I promise you that their reproductive system is designed to operate this way. If we have a female who needs to remain open (not pregnant) for health or management reasons we will leave her open. The majority of females are ready to breed three weeks after birthing and are sitting down next to the fence letting the male know she is very interested!

We conduct a breeding. Generally, we will want to behavior test the female two weeks later to see if she has conceived. How will we know? When we put her in the pen with the male, she will “spit him off” if she’s pregnant. If she is “nonreceptive” she will spit and run away from him. You want to do spit testing before you shower in case you happen to wind up in the line of fire. Around 30 days after her breeding date, we will have our veterinarian come out and do an ultrasound. Then we know for sure.

See? Some spitting is a really good thing. It means a baby is on the way!!!

More Spitting Saturdays:

10 Reasons Spit Happens

Why Do Alpacas Spit?

Spit Happens

March 21st, 2009 | Tags: Add new tag, alpaca breeding, alpaca spit, Alpacas, spit, spitting, spitting off, Spitting Saturdays | Category: Alpacas, Husbandry, Lifestyle, Spittin' Saturdays | Comments (2)

10 Reasons Spit Happens

Would this cute female alpaca spit on you? If the circumstances were right...

Ever wonder what goes through an alpaca’s mind before they spit? Here are some humorous answers to the question, “Why Alpacas Spit?” – from the Female Alpaca’s perspective.

“Don’t even THINK about touching my cria. Or any other cria, for that matter.”
“Excuse me! That’s MY feed bucket.”
“Teats?? You want to check my what?”
“I’m pregnant and you looked at me the wrong way.”
“That’s my girlfriend. Don’t even think about it.”
“Great. Here comes that macho again. Been there. Done that. No need to do it again.”
“Don’t even THINK about coming near ME with those (shears/needle)!”
“Not the TOENAILS!! It took me forever to grow them out!”
“You aren’t thinking about using that thing on my teeth now are you???”
“You did say you had just showered and washed your hair and were on your way to town didn’t you? You’ll never learn, will you? “

*Inspired by a similar list written by Alan McConkie, published on Alpacasite.

More Spittin’ Saturdays:

What are some other reasons alpacas spit?

March 14th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, Alpacas, spit, Spit happens, why alpacas spit | Category: Alpacas, Spittin' Saturdays, The Alpaca Lifestyle, The Daily Stuff | Comments (1)

Why Do Alpacas Spit?

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Spitting is a popular topic when it comes to alpacas. During the month of March we will feature a new post on Spitting each Saturday. Hope you enjoy Spittin’ Saturdays.

One of the first questions people ask about alpacas is “Do they spit?”

Yes, they can spit. Some alpacas are bigger spitters than others. Some have more attitude than others. Most of the time alpacas are sweet and curious - though most of them like to enjoy humans at arm’s length rather than snuggle with them.

Occasionally when humans or other alpacas get a little too close for comfort, alpacas spit. Spitting is their way of saying, “NO, I don’t like that. Stop what you are doing!” They can’t talk, so this is their, ahem, nonverbal way to voice their displeasure over something. Alpacas are totally defenseless. All they’ve got is their spit.

In my experience spitting usually occurs when the girls are arguing over food (remember they are usually pregnant), or when the boys are arguing over the girls. I am most often spit on when I happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, i.e. walking through a group of them during a barnyard squabble. Alpacas are passive, not mean-spirited beasts. But when they are mad, their spit is their only weapon.

There are different degrees of spitting. On one end of the spectrum is a mild *phew*. This one is mostly air and is used to signal irritation. Almost like a sneeze. On the other end of the spectrum is the very angry spit. This one involves green nasty stuff from the depths of the alpaca’s rumen. It is usually reserved for a fierce disagreement with a herdmate or the veterinarian. And it does smell. Bad.

But alpaca spit is not really that big of a deal for those of us who are addicted to love them. Spit can usually be avoided by understanding the alpaca’s nature and using mild handling techniques.

Next Spittin’ Saturday – Spitting from the Alpaca’s Perspective or “10 Reasons Spit Happens!!!“

More Spittin’ Saturdays:

No Spit

Alpaca Spit Testing

March 7th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca spit, Alpacas, do alpacas spit, spit | Category: Alpacas, Spittin' Saturdays, The Daily Stuff | Comments (8)