Alpacas are farmed for their valuable fiber with welfare challenges around shearing practices, social housing, and dental management requiring attention.
Alpaca welfare is often overlooked compared to sheep and cattle despite significant and preventable welfare challenges. Annual shearing is welfare-positive if done quickly and skillfully, but poor technique causes injury and distress. The social nature of alpacas makes solitary housing a welfare failure. Dental disease is endemic and chronically painful in many alpaca herds due to inadequate veterinary dental care. Improved owner education and welfare standards for alpaca farming are needed.