Alpacas are shorn annually for their prized fiber, but welfare standards in the industry vary widely. Understanding their social, physical, and behavioral needs helps improve lives on fiber farms.
Key welfare concerns include shearing stress, social isolation, and poor handling practices. Reputable farms use low-stress handling techniques, provide herd companionship at all times, and schedule shearing in mild weather. Poorly managed farms may use aggressive restraint, leading to fear, injury, and chronic stress responses. Certification schemes like Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) aim to set minimum welfare benchmarks.