Alpacas and llamas are farmed for luxury fiber globally, but their welfare needs including gentle shearing, appropriate social housing, and veterinary care are often inadequately met.
Alpacas and llamas have welfare needs that are well-met on conscientious farms but frequently compromised on those prioritizing fiber yield over animal care. Shearing is necessary but the manner of restraint and speed of shearing profoundly affects stress. Alpacas restrained violently for shearing show acute and prolonged stress responses. Gentle methods using appropriate equipment take only marginally longer and dramatically reduce animal distress. Consumer demand for ethically-shorn fiber creates market incentives for welfare improvement.