Alpaca and Llama Fibre Production Welfare

Alpacas and llamas are farmed globally for fibre, but welfare standards vary widely, and undercover investigations have revealed serious abuses in some parts of the supply chain.

Key Facts

Peru hosts approximately 80 percent of the world's alpaca population and produces most commercial alpaca fibre
Shearing is an annual necessity for alpacas as their fibre grows continuously; unsheared alpacas suffer from overheating
Undercover investigations have documented rough handling and painful restraint methods during shearing in some facilities
Llamas are larger and more assertive than alpacas and can be particularly stressed by inexperienced handling
Certified humane alpaca fibre schemes require low-stress handling training and independent welfare auditing

Welfare Considerations

Alpaca and llama shearing presents a genuine welfare challenge because animals must be restrained for the process, which they typically resist. The welfare outcome depends almost entirely on the skill and attitude of the shearer and the quality of the restraint system used. Traditional methods involving tight restraint in lateral recumbency cause significant distress. Purpose-designed shearing tables that immobilise animals with less struggle are now widely available and substantially reduce stress, but adoption is uneven, particularly in small-scale production. Consumer demand for certified welfare-audited fibre creates market incentives for better practices.

What You Can Do

Look for certified humane or welfare-audited alpaca and llama fibre products
Ask clothing brands about the source and welfare standards of their alpaca and llama fibre
Support brands that have committed to third-party welfare auditing of their fibre supply chains
Avoid purchasing from brands that cannot provide welfare audit information
Support development of internationally recognised welfare standards for camelid fibre production