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- Dam
- The mother of a cria.
- Density
- The number of fibers per square inch/centimeter of skin. Higher density means a heavier fleece. Learn more →
- Dental pad
- The hard upper gum that alpacas use, together with lower incisors, to bite grass. Alpacas have no upper front incisors. Learn more →
- DNA verification
- Genetic parentage testing required by many registries.
- Dry matter (DM)
- Feed weight after removing water; nutrient needs are calculated on a dry-matter basis. Learn more →
- Dung pile
- Communal latrine areas used by the herd. Alpacas defecate only in these spots, making cleanup easy. Learn more →
- Dust bath
- Rolling in dirt to groom and cool the fleece. Learn more →
- Dystocia
- A difficult birth. Learn more →