From niche to notable: Population, husbandry and use of Austrian llamas and alpacas from a nationwide survey.

Austrian SAC husbandry shows significant gaps in registration, traceability, and species-specific welfare standards requiring urgent regulatory attention.

This nationwide cross-sectional survey investigated the population, husbandry practices, and uses of South American camelids (SAC) in Austria, collecting data from 448 holdings across all nine federal provinces between January and June 2024. The study estimated a national SAC population of approximately 26,891 animals, substantially exceeding previous figures and suggesting significant under-ascertainment in existing registries. Alpacas predominated (70.5% alpaca-only holdings), with mixed holdings comprising 16.5% and llama-only holdings 13.0%. While legal minimum standards were broadly met, notable husbandry gaps persisted: approximately half of holdings reported fence heights below species-specific recommendations, and isolated single-animal keeping occurred in some mixed-species herds. Individual animal identification was incomplete, with 88.8% reporting some form of ID and 61.8% using microchipping. Primary uses included fleece production, trekking/walking tours, landscape management, and breeding, reflecting a predominantly hobby or part-time farming demographic. The study highlights critical deficiencies in traceability infrastructure, animal registration, and owner competency. Key recommendations include mandatory individual animal registration, integration of administrative and breeder-association datasets, inclusion of SACs in national animal health surveillance programs, and standardised owner competency training covering husbandry, biosecurity, and zoonoses. The authors acknowledge non-probability sampling likely introduced selection bias, with over-representation of engaged owners and under-representation of unregistered holdings. Future research priorities include longitudinal infectious disease studies, welfare guideline uptake, and veterinary service accessibility for this growing but underregulated species group.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.