Biosecurity & Quarantine for Alpaca Herds

Most serious herd problems arrive with a new animal, on a visitor’s boots, or on shared equipment. A simple biosecurity routine is the cheapest health insurance you can buy.

Quarantine new and returning animals

1. Keep new arrivals (and animals returning from shows or breeding) separate for about 30 days, ideally out of nose-to-nose contact.
2. Use separate water, feeders and tools, or handle quarantined animals last each day.
3. Run a fecal egg count on arrival and treat if needed, then re-check to confirm treatment worked — this stops you importing drug-resistant worms.
4. Inspect skin and fleece for mites and lice. See mange and lice.
5. Check temperature, appetite and droppings daily.

Tests to ask for

Ask sellers for herd testing history before buying. See buying your first alpacas.

Visitors and equipment

• Ask visitors who keep livestock to wear clean boots or boot covers.
• Provide a boot dip or brush station at the gate.
• Disinfect shearing equipment, toenail shears and halters between farms.
• Don’t share trailers without cleaning them.

Shows and breeding

• Bring your own feeders and water buckets.
• Avoid nose-to-nose contact with other herds where possible.
• Quarantine animals on return.

Other animals

• Avoid fence-line contact with cattle (BVDV), and keep feed away from wildlife and rodents.
• Control flies and ticks.
• Keep horses separate during EHV-1 outbreaks.

Frequently asked questions

How long should new alpacas be quarantined? About 30 days is standard.

Do I need to test for BVDV? It is strongly recommended for new animals and crias born on your farm.