Alpacas farmed for their luxurious fiber require careful management of shearing, nutrition, and social grouping to maintain good welfare.
Alpacas experience welfare challenges from improper shearing technique, which can cause injuries and prolonged restraint stress. Social isolation causes visible anxiety and failure to thrive. As prey animals, they experience fear responses from improper handling. Nutritional deficiencies cause metabolic diseases including Berserk Male Syndrome in incorrectly raised males. Their stoic nature means health problems can be advanced before obvious, requiring experienced caretakers.