Camelids including alpacas, llamas, and camels are farmed across the world for fibre, meat, and transport, with welfare needs that are distinct from more commonly studied livestock species.
Camelid welfare receives relatively little research attention despite the significant populations involved globally. Working camel welfare in low-income contexts faces the same challenges as other working animal welfare: poverty-driven under-provision of veterinary care, overloading, and harsh handling. Alpaca fibre welfare depends heavily on shearing practice quality, which varies enormously. Welfare improvement in these species requires both targeted research on camelid-specific welfare indicators and practical guidance for the diverse contexts in which camelids are kept.