Alpaca farming for fibre production is growing in the UK and globally, with welfare challenges specific to this Andean camelid species that require tailored management approaches.
Alpaca welfare requires species-specific knowledge that is not always possessed by new entrants to alpaca farming. The growth in UK alpaca keeping has outpaced the development of species-appropriate husbandry expertise in some areas. Key welfare requirements include appropriate companionship, annual shearing at the right time, dental monitoring, and understanding of normal versus abnormal behaviour. The bTB issue has created significant welfare stress in affected herds, with animals unable to move and the uncertainty of disease control measures causing prolonged welfare impacts.