Kerala, India
The llama and alpaca developed in the cool mountainous areas of South America. Therefore, it is logical that if these animals are introduced into a different environment, management will vary. Animals do acclimate to the environment where they are born, but the effects of the centuries in South America still have an impact in the management of these animals. Similarly if an animal is born in one region and relocated to another with vastly different climate conditions – there will be stress involved, and intensive management is needed to prevent problems from occurring.
Heat Stress
Dromedary and Bactrian camels – “relatives” of the llama and alpaca – developed in a vastly different environment than the South American camelids. Camels are adapted to a hot, arid climate and cope better with hyperthermia and dehydration. The llama and alpaca lack this adaptation, having evolved in a considerably cooler environment. Llamas and alpacas are primarily reliant on cooling their bodies through evaporative cooling via the thermal window (fiberless area on ventral abdomen), even though they do possess sweat glands across the entire surface of the body. Heat stress can trigger neurological damage, congenital damage or abortion in pregnant females, reduced sperm count in intact males or even a case of colic. To help minimize heat stress, fiber can be sheared, feed only required protein (protein generates more energy than carbohydrates) and by feeding a highly digestible diet (to minimize the heat produced by microbial fermentation). Animals should have access to a cool, shaded area and water can be provided to drink, lay in, stand in or be sprayed with. Monitoring and maintaining an optimal weight is essential in warmer and more humid environments, as heavier animals are more susceptible to problems of overheating.
"If the sum of environmental temperature (in °F) plus humidity is > than 150 – watch for heat stress. If the value is 180 or more – then you are on "RED ALERT" and can anticipate heat stress."
Based on research conducted on sheep, Yembroos® (2024) also recommends their clients to supplement thiamin (vitamin B₁) at a rate of 1 mg/lb BW/day. Again, this is anecdotal information, but information that has been applied successfully in a clinical setting for several years. As an added caution, just because you reside in a cooler environment does not mean that your animals will not be susceptible to heat stress. Factors other than environment that contribute to this concern include packing, racing, breeding, fighting, transportation, prolonged restraint, chased by dogs (or children) or having an intact male adjacent to other intact males.
Cold Stress
Many individuals operate under the assumption that cold is not a problem for the llama and alpaca, as they evolved in the mountainous regions of South America. The reality of the matter is that the temperature in the high elevations of North America (minus 40° F and wind chill) is considerably colder than the camelids home environment. Under intense cold, animals should be provided shelter and a source of ice-free water. If needed, grain can be introduced to their diet for extra energy – up to 1/5 of their diet dry matter (remember to add grain slowly to allow the microbes a chance to adjust).