Alpacas’ behavior during physical examination, and its relationships with health indicators and alpaca caretaker’s questionnaire survey

Physical examination is not a significantly stressful procedure for alpacas. However, some difficulties were noted during the introduction of the animal to the examination box, and signs of anxiety were observed in its body language. The results indicate a relationship between behavior assessment during physical examination and desirable traits assessed in the caretaker questionnaire. This study suggests that the future consideration of behavior indicators during human-animal relation could be helpful in evaluating alpacas' health risks. The proposed assessment protocol combining behavior, the BCS and other health indicators offers a practical tool for breeders to monitor alpaca welfare.