According to the news release I received today from Alpaca Registry, Inc. containing the latest findings from the Alpaca Research Foundation, the secret to alpaca ovulation may be in the “sauce”, not in the orgling. It was previously thought that the sound that the males make during breeding, called “orgling”, was the key to inducing the female to ovulate. In fact, breeders speculated that a deaf female alpaca may not be able to conceive since she would be unable to hear the male orgling. The latest research has demonstrated that a factor, known as ovulation-inducing factor or OIF, in alpaca seminal plasma fluid may actually be responsible for ovulation following copulation.
Recent studies conducted at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada by Gregg P. Adams, DVM, PhD, have shown that 100% of those females administered intramuscular seminal plasma fluid were found to have ovulated, as compared to females administered other hormones and a control group with nothing administred. The results clearly indicate that an ovulation-inducing factor exists in llamas and alpacas and plays a very large role in establishing pregnancy.
Based on observation on alpaca breeding behavior, orgling does play a role in helping the female to be receptive to the males advances, but it is surely a serenade that only a hembra (female alpaca) would find romantic. Listen to orgling or download as a ringtone to your cellphone. I have successfully used the ringtone to help encourage a male alpaca get in the proper mood and get his “orgle on.” It may also be helpful for checking to see if a female is receptive or not, ie. if she is pregnant or “open.” Arturo Pena has an excellent post on how to do a behavioral pregnancy check on his blog The Alpaca Pro.
