Livestock

Alpaca and Llama Welfare in the Fibre Industry

Alpacas and llamas are farmed for fibre in South America and increasingly in Europe, with welfare concerns around shearing practices and appropriate social housing.

Key Facts

Peru has over 3.5 million alpacas, producing 80% of the world's alpaca fibre
Shearing is typically performed annually and can be stressful if poorly handled
Alpacas are highly social and suffer when kept in isolation or small groups
Foot rot and dental disease are common in poorly managed herds
The luxury fibre industry has faced scrutiny over shearing welfare standards

Welfare Considerations

Alpacas and llamas are prey animals with strong flight responses. Rough handling during shearing causes extreme stress. Restraint methods vary from gentle to forceful. Investigations by animal welfare groups have documented rough shearing in some facilities. Social isolation is a major welfare concern as these are strongly herd-social animals. The growing European alpaca fibre industry operates without species-specific welfare regulation in most countries.

What You Can Do

Choose alpaca fibre from farms with verified low-stress shearing practices
Advocate for species-specific welfare standards for camelid farming
Support organisations auditing the alpaca and llama fibre supply chain
Ask fibre brands about their shearing welfare protocols
Consider plant-based fibre alternatives where appropriate