Weaning Alpaca and Llama Cria
Whose Baby Is This, Anyway?

Page 2

Letting Mom Do The Weaning

We returned the responsibility of weaning back to our llamas nearly 12 years ago with nary a regret. That is NOT to say there are never occasions when we find it necessary to intervene. That IS to say that with few exceptions, most all of our moms (15 on average) wean their babies every year in which they have them, all by themselves. In the process, we have discovered some remarkable things. On average, most moms on our farm wean their babies sometime during the age of nine months. Occasionally some are weaned around seven months and some not until the end of ten months. Given the nine month average we have witnessed here, is it possible that the age of six months is way too early? I have often wondered how the six month mark was decided...We have drawn some interesting conclusions based on our "observational data". Those babies weaned earlier than the nine month average are usually males (though some are female) who are very independent and quite precocious. Often times they are larger, as well. Those weaned later than the nine-month average appear to fall into three categories:

1. Babies who are quiet, shy, clingy - a "momma's kid".

2. Babies of first time moms or of older moms who have had a number of offspring but have never had the experience of weaning their own baby. In the second instance, usually about the time we decide to intervene we discover the mom has decided the same thing. The second year of weaning by these moms is much more "to schedule".

3. Some moms, if not rebred, do not seem to ever wean their last baby even if they normally have done so. Naturally, it is simply responsible as "herds keeper" to intervene if this last baby is male. If mom is not rebred, in good condition and there are no known compromising factors, we have left female offspring with their moms and noted occasional nursing for up to two years.

The same mom does not necessarily wean each baby each year at the same time. For example, a mom who has weaned six babies may have weaned four around the nine month average and one earlier and one later. It seems to depend on the specific personality and growth (mental/emotional and physical) of that particular baby. We truly feel the weaning process is much more involved than the simple matter of nourishment. What other lessons about "life as an alpaca or llama" occur during those few extra months which we, as humans, do not readily "see"? In our experience, young males are typically weaned earlier depending on their personality. Those who are precocious, have larger testicles, are independent and "aggressively" playful are weaned earlier than those who are more of a "mamma's boy" - quiet and shy. Young females are often weaned around the nine month average or later. We have noticed those babies who have been weaned exclusively by their moms appear more independent and confident after weaning. They tend to "stand on their own two feet", rarely run to mom with their tails up over their back, are less fearful in new situations and training, and have already established their distinct place within the herd. When mom says they are finished - no further nursing - they are indeed finished. They are not allowed to nurse again. Perhaps these are some of the lessons we, as humans, do not readily "see".

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