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The courtship ritual of the alpaca is very unique. The females are induced ovulators, meaning there are no heat cycles, and that they can and do breed any time of the year. The physical act of breeding causes ovulation to occur. This is the main reason why most alpaca breeders will maintain separate male and female herds, so they can determine who breeds with whom and when. To date there have been no artificial inseminations nor viable embryo transplants in the alpaca industry, although this is happening in Australia!

The Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated breed of South American camel-like ungulates, derived from the wild vicuña. It resembles a sheep in appearance, but is larger and has a long erect neck.