LLAMA PREGNANCY TESTING

• Llamas are induced ovulators. That is they ovulate a few days after they have been bred.  A Corpus Luteum (CL) forms in the ovaries after ovulation and produces progesterone. The progesterone concentration remains high (more than 1.4ng/mL) until the last four weeks of gestation.
• In a non-pregnant animal, the CL is reabsorbed within 2 weeks, decreasing the progesterone concentration to 0.1ng/mL or less.

• A low progesterone concentration (0.1ng/mL or less) more than a few days post breeding indicates that the llama is not pregnant. If the concentration is low 6 days post breeding, she did not ovulate, or at least did not produce a functional CL.
• High concentrations (more than 1.4ng/mL) 3-9 days after breeding indicates that she has ovulated and formed a functional CL.
• High concentrations 21 days or more after breeding indicate that she is pregnant at this time. We recommend a second test 45-60 days post breeding, since embryonic death is quite common into the second month of gestation. Animals should be retested at 4, 6, and 9 months post breeding. The time that an animal is open is lost profit to the owner and breeder.
• A low progesterone concentration late in gestation is consistent with a llama about to give birth. Unlike most other mammals, camelids normally have a very low progesterone concentration for the last four weeks of gestation.

• Incorrect estimation of breeding date, embryonic loss, and ovarian disorders all may produce a "false positive" result. Note that gelded males, and females with no ovaries, may have slightly elevated progesterone concentrations  (0.5 to 0.9ng/mL).
• A few animals (about one in a thousand) carry to term with a progesterone concentration of 0.6-1.0ng/mL, and generally do so every year.
• Although camelids are induced ovulators, some will ovulate spontaneously.

• Unsuccessful breeding may occur when there is a residual progesterone concentration of 0.3ng/mL or more at breeding time. A sample drawn just prior to breeding will show if the llama is ready to ovulate.
• An intermediate progesterone concentration (0.3-1.4ng/mL) generally is present in a sexually immature female or a female who lacks ovaries. It also may indicate the presence of a uterine infection in an otherwise healthy female. A retained CL, which is common in some other species, but is rare in camelids, also can cause these intermediate levels.

• For additional information regarding these wonderful animals, contact Rocky Mountain Instrumental Laboratories or the International Llama Association.

Rocky Mountain Instrumental Laboratories, Inc.

108 Coronado Ct.

Ft. Collins, CO 80525