Editing Llama (section)

== Reproduction ==
[[File:Lama glama Laguna Colorada 2.jpg|thumb|Dam and her [[cria]] at [[Laguna Colorada]], Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia]]

Llamas have an unusual reproductive cycle for a large animal. Female llamas are [[Induced ovulation (animals)|induced ovulators]].<ref name=Chen>{{cite journal |journal=J. Reprod. Fertil. |year=1985 |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=335–339 |title=Semen-induced ovulation in the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). |last1 = Chen|first1 = B.X.| last2 = Yuen|first2=Z.X.| last3 = Pan|first3 = G.W.
|doi=10.1530/jrf.0.0740335 |pmid=3900379 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Through mating, the female releases an egg and is often fertilized on the first attempt. Female llamas do not go into estrus ("heat").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llamapaedia.com/reproduction/ovulate.html |work=Llamapaedia |title=Induced Ovulation |date=12 April 2007 |author1=Greta Stamberg |author2=Derek Wilson |name-list-style=amp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412025723/http://www.llamapaedia.com/reproduction/ovulate.html |archive-date=12 April 2007 }}</ref>

Like humans, llama males and females mature sexually at different rates. Females reach puberty at about 12 months old; males do not become sexually mature until around three years of age.<ref>
{{cite journal
 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2647232/
 |journal=College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
 |publisher=National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
 |title=Llama reproduction
 |date=17 April 2007
|author=L. W. Johnson|volume=89
 |issue=11
 |pages=219–22
 |pmid=7232
 }}</ref>

=== Mating ===
Llamas mate in a kush (lying down) position, similar to big cats and canines, which is unusual in a large animal. They mate for an extended time (20–45 minutes), also unusual in a large animal.<ref name=CebraAnderson2014>{{cite book |author1=Chris Cebra |author2=David E. Anderson |author3=Ahmed Tibary |author4=Robert J. Van Saun |author5=LaRue Willard Johnson |title=Llama and Alpaca Care: Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction, Nutrition, and Herd Health |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8sU0AwAAQBAJ&q=copulation |date=15 February 2014 |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |isbn=978-0-323-24291-2}}</ref>

=== Gestation ===
The gestation period of a llama is 11.5 months (350 days). Dams (female llamas) do not lick off their babies, as they have an attached tongue that does not reach outside of the mouth more than {{convert|1/2|in|mm|order=flip|abbr=off}}. Rather, they will nuzzle and hum to their newborns.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.llamaweb.com/about/reproduction.html
 |work=LlamaWeb
 |title=The llama reproductive cycle
 |date=17 April 2007
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303164258/http://www.llamaweb.com/about/reproduction.html
 |archive-date=3 March 2007
}}</ref>

=== Crias ===
A [[cria]] (from Spanish for "baby") is the name for a baby llama, [[alpaca]], [[vicuña]], or [[guanaco]]. Crias are typically born with all the herd's females gathering to protect against the male llamas and potential predators. Llamas give birth standing. Birth is usually quick and problem-free, over in less than 30 minutes. Most births occur between 8 am and noon, during the warmer daylight hours. This may increase cria survival by reducing fatalities due to [[hypothermia]] during cold Andean nights. This birthing pattern is considered a continuation of the birthing patterns observed in the wild. Their crias are up and standing, walking, and attempting to suckle within the first hour after birth.<ref>{{cite book |author= The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University|title= Camelid Medicine, Surgery, and Reproduction for Veterinarians|series= Part II|year= 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Long |first= Patrick O. |title= Llama & Alpaca Neonatal Care|page= 112|isbn=0-9646618-3-7|year= 1996|publisher= Clay Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Birutta|first= Gale|title= A Guide to Raising Llamas|page= [https://archive.org/details/guidetoraisingll0000biru/page/327 327]|isbn= 0-88266-954-0|year= 1997|publisher= Storey Communications|url= https://archive.org/details/guidetoraisingll0000biru/page/327}}</ref> Crias are partially fed with llama milk that is lower in fat and salt and higher in phosphorus and calcium than cow or goat milk. A female llama will only produce about {{convert|60|ml|usfloz|abbr=off|0}} of milk at a time when she gives milk, so the cria must frequently suckle to receive the nutrients it requires.<ref name=VETMED>
{{cite web
|url=http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=222
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211092218/http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=222
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=11 December 2012
|author=Linda March
|title=Llamas: A Different Kind of Pet
|publisher=[[University of Illinois]], College of Veterinary Medicine
|access-date=15 May 2009}}</ref>

=== Breeding methods ===
In '''harem mating''', the male is left with females most of the year.

For '''field mating''', a female is turned into a field with a male llama and left there for some time. This is the easiest method in terms of labor but the least useful in predicting a likely birth date. An ultrasound test can be performed, and together with the exposure dates, a better idea of when the cria is expected can be determined.

'''Hand mating''' is the most efficient method, but it requires the most work on the part of the human involved. A male and female llama are put into the same pen, and mating is monitored. They are then separated and re-mated every other day until one refuses the mating. Usually, one can get in two matings using this method, though some stud males routinely refuse to mate a female more than once. The separation presumably helps to keep the sperm count high for each mating and also helps to keep the condition of the female llama's reproductive tract more sound. If the mating is unsuccessful within two to three weeks, the female is mated again.