From niche to notable: Population, husbandry and use of Austrian llamas and alpacas from a nationwide survey.

South American camelids (SAC; llamas and alpacas) have expanded across Europe, yet registration, traceability and husbandry evidence remain inconsistent. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey of Austrian SAC owners (61 items; Jan-Jun 2024) was distributed via associations, social media and direct outreach. Responses from 448 holdings in all nine federal provinces were analysed descriptively. Most holdings kept alpacas (alpaca only 70.5%; llama only 13.0%; mixed 16.5%). Combining registered holdings with reported herd sizes yielded an estimated national population of about 26,891 SACs-substantially exceeding previous figures, indicating under-ascertainment; non-probability sampling likely introduced selection bias (over-representation of highly engaged owners, under-representation of unregistered or less compliant holdings). Identification and registration were incomplete: 88.8% reported individual animal identification (61.8% microchipping) and 88.9% holding registration. Legal minimum standards were widely met, and meat production was negligible. However, gaps relative to expert guidance persisted: around half of holdings reported fence heights below species-specific recommendations, and isolated single-animal keeping occurred in some mixed-species herds. Predominant uses were fleece production, trekking/walking tours, landscape management and breeding, reflecting many small hobby or part-time farms. Findings indicate a need for individual animal registration, improved traceability with routine reporting of national SAC numbers, integration of administrative and breeder-association datasets, and the inclusion of SACs in national animal health surveillance. Standardised, mandatory owner competency training is recommended, covering the legal framework, husbandry, routine management and care measures, biosecurity and zoonoses. Priorities for research include longitudinal studies of infectious diseases (including zoonoses), uptake of welfare guidelines, and access to veterinary services.