Registration Requirements

The Registry is currently divided into five divisions:

  • The Llama Division (Lama glama)
  • The Alpaca Division (Lama pacos)
  • The Guanaco Division (Lama guanacoe)
  • The Vicuna Division (Lama vicuna)
  • The Cross‑bred Division.

Alpaca Division (Lama pacos)

To be registered in the Alpaca Division, an alpaca must either have two registered parents in any alpaca registry, or have passed the current screening criteria.

1) Class R Requirements

Alpacas with two registered parents

Only the current owner may register or list an alpaca. The application must be submitted online or on the currently approved Registry application form (if the alpaca is already registered with the Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association or the Alpaca Registry Incorporated, a signed and dated photocopy of the alpaca’s current registration certificate will be accepted in lieu of the ILR application form) and must include the following information:

(a)  A valid proposed name (Section VII)

(b) The alpaca’s sex

(1)   Male – a male capable of breeding

(2)   Female – a female capable of breeding

(3)   Gelding – a castrated male (Alpacas designated on their certificates as “geldings”, but who are not castrated, can have their certificates corrected to “Male” upon receipt of a signed statement from a veterinarian verifying the alpaca has not been gelded or upon receipt of a written correction from the owner who made the original “gelding” designation).

(4)   Infertile – a female that is incapable of breeding

(5)   Non-breeder – a male or female, who may be capable of breeding, but who has been designated by the owner as a non-breeder. Only the current owner can designate an animal as a “non-breeder”, and no offspring from a “non-breeder” can be registered. Non-breeder status can be reversed by written request from the owner who made the original designation and payment of the appropriate fee.

(c) The name and identification number of the sire

(d) The name and identification number of the dam

(f) All required DNA records on file:

(1) Alpacas that must have DNA on record:

(a) A DNA sample must be on file with the Registry before a cria can be registered.

(b) The parents of the cria being registered must be parent verified by DNA before the cria can be registered. To qualify by DNA, each parent must have its blood compared to that of its parents and neither grandparent must not be ruled out as a possible parent of the cria’s parent on the basis of such comparison.  The normal requirement is that both grandparents of each of the parents of the cria being registered must qualify simultaneously to the respective parent.  

 (2) Alpacas that must have parent verification with qualifying DNA on record. To qualify by DNA, each parent must have its blood compared to that of the relevant cria and must not be ruled out as a possible parent on the basis of such comparison.  The normal requirement is that both parents of a given cria qualify simultaneously.  

(a)  There are two or more possible sires. One sire must qualify.

(b)  Sire’s age at the time of the cria’s birth was less than 20 months. Sire must qualify.

(c)  Dam’s age at the time of the cria’s birth was less than 15 months. Dam must qualify.

(d) The length of time between service and birth was less than 10 months or more than 13 months. Dam must qualify.

i)   The cria is the result of Advanced Reproductive Technologies (ART), which includes but is not limited to Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI). Both sire and dam must qualify.

ii)   The parentage of an alpaca has been called into question by successful petition.  (The Registry may require the owner(s) of the alpaca itself and of its parents to DNA test the alpacas involved.)

(g) Current owner and parent verification signatures. Signatures must be first-person handwritten unless the Registry has been notified in writing in advance that a stamped signature will be used. Electronic or faxed signatures submitted in accordance with current Registry procedures will also be accepted. Signatures will be accepted from authorized agents provided the Registry has been notified in writing in advance of the agent authorization. Registry records must include appropriate registration, listing, or transfer documents showing ownership by the person(s) signing the registration application as the owner of the alpaca being signed for. If Registry records do not confirm that the person(s) signing the application actually owned the sire and/or the dam when the dam was serviced or the dam when the cria was born, a confirmation of ownership must be filed and the appropriate fee paid.

(1)    The name, owner code, and signature of the sire owner at the time of service.

(2)    The name, owner code, and signature of the breeder (the dam owner at the time of service).

(3)    The name, owner code, and signature of the dam owner at the time of birth.

(4)    The name, owner code, and signature of the current owner verifying that the information is correct.

(5)   If all four of the above signers are the same person, the “current owner signature” will be accepted as fulfilling the requirement of all four signatures.

(h) Required microchip on file:

(1) All alpacas must have a microchip number on record before a Class R document will be issued.

(i) The appropriate fee

(j) Identification photographs are optional. If the owner wishes to submit photographs to take advantage of the search and advertising capabilities provided by the ILR, the photographs must meet the following criteria:

(1)   Two photographs are recommended - one of the left side and one of the right side.

(2)   Photographs must show entire alpaca close up, must be of sufficient quality to allow individual identification of the animal and should not include other animals.

(3)   Photographs must be 3” x 5” or 4” x 6”. Photographs that are not of the right size will result in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for trimming and/or cropping.

(4)   Digital photos can be submitted online or printed with sufficient quality and submitted on heavy paper stock. Digital photos received on flimsy paper will result in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for putting backing on the photos.

Alpacas to be screened

(a) The screening process is as follows:

(1)   An application if filled out and a fee paid to begin the screening process.

(2)   An ILR approved veterinarian with extensive camelid experience will evaluate each animal that passes the initial photo screening. The veterinarian will examine the alpaca for any medical or physical disqualifying characteristics and for evidence of llama or guanaco traits and he/she will make a report on his/her findings to the ILR board of directors. If any disqualifying medical or physical characteristics are found, the screening will go no further and the alpaca will receive a “D” (denied) status and cannot be registered in the alpaca or crossbred division.

(3)   Alpacas that successfully complete the screening process will be designated Class S.

(b) Offspring designations of screened parents.

(1)   The offspring of Class S alpacas will be given an R (registered) designation if:

 i) They have two (2) Class S parents.

ii) They have a Class S and a Class R parent.

(2)   The offspring of a Class S alpaca must be screened if the other parent is not Class S or Class R. If the offspring successfully passes screening it will be given a Class S designation.