Alpaca Field Behaviour When Cohabitating with Lambing Ewes.

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Livestock Management
• Applied Zoology

Background:

• Alpacas are increasingly used as livestock guardians to deter predators.
• Limited research exists on alpaca behavior when housed with other livestock species.
• Understanding cohabitation dynamics is crucial for optimizing guardian effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the field behavior of guardian alpacas cohabitating with lambing ewes.
• To assess diurnal activity patterns and behavioral states of alpacas in a mixed-species environment.
• To develop a behavioral ethogram for alpacas in this specific context.

Main Methods:

• Two male alpacas were monitored alongside 180 lambing ewes for 41 days.
• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) collars tracked alpaca and ewe movement patterns.
• Continuous observational recordings and behavioral ethogram development were employed.

Main Results:

• Alpacas and ewes displayed similar diurnal activity patterns, with increased speed between 05:00 and 17:00 h.
• Alpacas shared resting locations with ewes at night but occupied paddock outskirts during the day.
• Observed behaviors were predominantly grazing (57%) and resting (27%).

Conclusions:

• Alpacas exhibit distinct diurnal and spatial behaviors when cohabitating with ewes.
• Cataloged behaviors provide a baseline for understanding alpaca guardian roles.
• Further research is required to correlate observed behaviors with livestock protection efficacy.