STRESSED OUT? YOU’RE NOT ALONE… AND NEITHER ARE THE ALPACAS & LLAMAS!

By Cathy Spalding
www.gentlespiritllamas.com

Page 2

Stress in Alpacas and Llamas

How does stress and the stress syndrome relate to our alpacas and llamas? They are prey animals and will react behaviorally in the fright-flight sequence of fright, flight, fight, freeze and faint. The fright-flight sequence follows the stages of Dr. Selye’s stress syndrome.

             Alpacas at their social best!

Alpacas and llamas are social within their herd and seem to enjoy routine – even rely upon it. Within a herd there are typically ones who are constantly on the look out and act as guards. They are always the first – and in many cases the only ones – who will sound the alarm call. Some are really great moms. They will look after all the herd crias often times paying special attention to the young ones of less attentive mothers. There are the wise ones, the leaders, the followers, the elders, the middle aged, the young, the vocal, the quiet, the shy and the aggressive… all fitting together in some understood “family” dance within the herd. As with our human families, some relationships are not always easy to bear. Alpacas and llamas have individual likes and dislikes including individual herd mates. Herd specific dynamics as well as our human management can work to create a chronically stressful situation for an animal. Chronic stress and the resulting suppression of an animal’s immune system results in much higher vulnerability to disease and infection, even death. Over the years, there have been many cases of gastric ulcers in alpacas and llamas. A number have resulted in death. Veterinarians report the cause as most often due to stress.

What might bring about stress in the lives of our alpacas and llamas? It is important to recognize chronic stress which is long term and ongoing as opposed to acute stress which is short term. Chronic stress could include being the recipient of abuse from another herd member, a very young alpaca or llama losing its mother whether by accident or design, an ongoing unsanitary environment or continual changes in herd dynamics.

This alpaca clearly displays signs of stress in her face

Herd dynamics can be a strong source of chronic stress when remaining in a more constant state of flux with ones coming and going through purchases, sales and various breeding arrangements. Did one’s mother, offspring or best buddy suddenly vanish through a sale? Did another simply disappear for an outside breeding? How might the herd dynamics shift in their absence only to shift once again with their return? If they had a job within the herd – as look out/guard, for example – has another necessarily filled that position? Will it shift back to the way it had previously been or have things changed enough in their absence to alter their relationship within their own herd environment? Have new animals joined the herd? Did they join during the absence of other herd members? What about pasture groupings? Which animals seem to group together? Is one animal always with some and never with certain others? Is this a consideration as we move around and arrange our animals in various paddocks and pastures?

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