The first young born on the alpaca farm in Rzeszów

The university spokeswoman Urszula Pasieczna told PAP that the young are the result of crosses of very good quality parents. Breeders hope that the young will be even better than their parents.

The young tolerate Polish climatic conditions very well; the animals born in Poland are more resilient and better adapted to the climate that their parents imported from Chile. Young alpacas grow wool rapidly, which means that it will be easier for them to survive the first winter. They will be sheared next spring.

Wool from the first shearing of alpacas, so-called baby alpaca, is the most valuable fleece throughout the life of the animal. "Despite very young age, both females have beautifully promising, delicate and soft fleece" - said Pasieczna.

Females from birth have contact with people, so that from an early age they can be used in alpaca therapy, conducted by the university. Alpacas do not like to be touched; adequate training is necessary to prepare them for zootherapy.

Alpaca therapy is very popular in western Europe. This form of therapy is especially effective for children with autism, cerebral palsy and emotional and mobility problems.

Wanilia was a premature baby, born a month ahead of term. Tymotka was born after 350 days of pregnancy. According to Dr. Daria Sawaryn, head of the Rzeszow university Zootherapy Centre that breeds the alpacas, pregnancy in these animals takes an average of 345 days.

"A very interesting adaptation of females to adverse environmental conditions is the possibility of delaying birth until the weather conditions improve. When the date falls on the warm months, alpaca will not give birth on a rainy, cloudy or windy day. It will wait for a warm or hot day" - revealed Sawaryn.

She added that female does not lick the young, as do other species of mammals, the young must get dry in the sunshine. Therefore, in order to provide the best conditions for survival, females give birth only on sunny days between 10 AM and 2 PM.

Alpaca breeders should also make sure that the young drinks mother\'s milk, gets up and follows the mother. They should also stiffen its joints, which are soft after birth.

"In captivity, the weaker animals can be saved. In nature, mothers leave the weak young, if it does not stand up in 45 minutes" - added Sawaryn.

The university has 35 females and 4 males of these exotic animals for zootherapy for research on selection of fleece for its colour and properties. Animals were brought from Chile in February 2013.

Alpacas are camelids that look like living mascots. They give one of the most precious and most expensive fibres (also called alpaca), which, unlike sheep wool, does not cause itching. It is also several times warmer and lighter, and hypoallergenic. Breeding alpacas does not produce any pollution to the environment - animal droppings without composting are a great fertilizer for plants.

Alpacas occur in 22 natural colours, each in several shades. Due to the fact that their fleece does not require dye, it is considered organic. The university has alpacas in several colours, including white, champagne (beige with a hint of pink), brown, black, silver, rose-grey (brown with a hint of purple) and chestnut. Alpacas with different colouring can be seen in the university mini-zoo.

As of the next academic year, the university will also introduce zootherapy specialisation in the physiotherapy course. It will be available for students of other faculties and outsiders.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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