Reproduction in female South American camelids: A review and clinical observations

Relationship between the nutritional state before the breeding period and the reproductive success in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) from the Chilean Puna

“…Age did not differentiate groups; animals ranged from 1 year 10 months to 3 years 10 months before the breeding period. Alpaca females are usually first bred at 12 months of age, but many breeders delay their first breeding until 15-18 months old (Vaughan and Tibary 2006), which was the age of the youngest alpacas during the breeding period of this study. The BCS of the groups indicates an ideal fat cover (Van Saun 2009) which was not expected, considering that the critical levels of forage quality and productivity extended from June to October in the Chilean Puna (Raggi and Parraguez 2005).…”

Disseminated Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in a Persistently Infected Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) Cria

“…Alpacas spit as a communication tool within the herd, and breeders frequently use the behavior to evaluate sexual receptivity of the female. 19 Breeding involves cervical penetration by the penis and deposition of semen deep inside both uterine horns. The uterine trauma occurring during the breeding process may increase the risk of BVDV transmission.…”

Early Embryonic Development and Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy in Camelids: A Review

“…Semen is deposited deep into the uterine horns throughout the mating period and slowly forms a spermatozoa reservoir in the uterine tube as it liquefies (Bravo et al, 1996;Tibary et al, 2007;Vaughan and Tibary, 2006). The molecular and ultrastructural aspects of spermatozoa-oviductal attachment and reservoir formation have been investigated in llamas.…”

“…It has been suggested that embryo migration is facilitated by the shortness of the uterine body, the smallness of the right horn, and the increased number of mucosal folds in the endometrium of the right horn (Musa and Abu Sineina, 1976b). Gross examination of the uterus from fetal, pre-pubertal, and nonpregnant female camelids has demonstrated that the left uterine horn is consistently larger when compared to the right uterine horn (Figure 2) (Porjoosh et al, 2010;Vaughan and Tibary, 2006). Mobility of the embryo as observed in the horse is less likely to happen in camelids, because of the elongation of the blastocyst and the decrease in tone and contraction of the uterus during pregnancy.…”

“…Epidemiological data on the incidence of pregnancy loss in camelids is scarce (Knight et al, 1995;Tibary, 2010;Vaughan and Tibary, 2006). Early embryonic death can reach up to 50% in naturally mated females and between 20 and 60% in embryo transfer recipients (Anouassi and Tibary, 2010).…”