Weaning with Confidence

Weaning is very stressful for crias. In this article, I discuss recommendations on how to set up your crias for success during this time, including when to wean, where to wean, and what you can do to make the weaning period successful.  

Considerations for when to wean

• Natural weaning - Some people choose to let the dam wean the cria naturally. This method can be effective for some, but there are times when the dam lets her cria nurse until over a year of age. This can lead to a yearling or even an adult llama who tries to nurse when the mother has another cria at side or even trying to nurse off of other nursing dams. If the dam is a heavy milker and/or struggles to hold her weight this method could endanger her health. Another consideration with natural weaning is the gender of the cria. While rare, there are males who have bred females at surprisingly young ages. This could lead to problems with unplanned births and even a cria breeding his mother. 
• Rebreeding the dam - If the dam is rebred or going to be rebred soon after her cria is born, it is good to consider giving the dam time off from nursing while she is pregnant.  
• The dam's weight - Some dams are great mothers and give everything to their crias. If a dam is low on her weight, it is good to take that into consideration when determining when to wean.
• Age to wean - I recommend consulting with a mentor and take all of the above into consideration when determining weaning age. We have had success weaning around five to six months of age, though there are some that recommend waiting a couple months longer. 

Weanling pen setup

• ​Out of sight from mom is best - The ideal setup for a weanling pen is somewhere the crias cannot see their dams. If they can see their dams, they will often pace and try to reach their heads through the fence or gates to get to their mother. If there is bad weather, the weanlings will probably stay outside and get wet and cold. If an out of sight weanling pen isn't possible, we have shut our weanlings in their shelter for the first day or two to prevent them from pacing and encourage them to eat. 
• Familiar area - It is recommended to wean crias in an area with which they are familiar. If you have a separate weaning area, it is best to put the dam and cria in there together for a period of time, then remove the dam. This will give the cria time to adjust to their new surroundings before the stressful weaning period. Another option is removing the dam from the herd for a period of time. The cria can remain with the herd during the weaning period, but will have the familiarity of the pen and the other herd members to keep them company.
• Wean with a buddy - A cria should never be separated without a llama buddy to keep them company. Crias of a similar age and the same gender work well. Females from the herd can also be a good option for female crias, or geldings for male crias. Consult with a mentor if you are unsure who the best weaning buddy will be for your cria. 

What to do during the stressful weaning period

• Provide good feed and minerals- Having lots of good hay and alfalfa available to the weanlings will encourage them to eat. They are still growing and need good nutrition during this stressful period. Free choice minerals, the same you provide to your adults, should be available at all times to your crias.
• Vitamin boost - On weaning day we give our crias a dose of ADE & B12 vitamins to make sure they have the necessary vitamins for good growth. It is all about setting them up for success in the best way possible. 
• Watch for parasites - Periods of stress are when llamas are most vulnerable to parasites. Monitor your weanlings closely for signs they may be falling into bad health. It will be important to address parasite issues as quickly as possible at this young age, so it is good to run fecal samples at the first sign of trouble to make sure can get them proper treatment. 
• Work on training - We have found the weaning period to be a great time to work on training with your cria. Short sessions to brush up on halter training, grooming practice, and picking up feet will help your cria learn and bond with you.