Several internal and external factors can influence animals’ hormonal activity. Cortisol level in hair and wool
determines chronic stress, which is connected with the long-term HPA axis effect. Wool cortisol levels in alpacas
have never been determined to this time. The study aimed to assess the influence of selected factors on wool
cortisol concentration in alpacas. The study included 36 alpacas. Wool samples were collected during shearing in
June 2021, cut with an electric clipper from the right shoulder and the rump. Wool samples were fragmented into
proximal (winter-spring regrowth) and distal (summer-fall regrowth) segments. Alpacas’ Heat Stress Index (HSI)
for the summer of 2020 was 139.4, and 116 for the winter of 2021. The cortisol levels in the wool samples were
determined with the General Cortisol ELISA Kit assay.
The most significant differences in wool cortisol concentrations were caused by two factors: the wool segment
(P < 0.001; η2 = 0.889) and the region on the body (P < 0.001; η2 = 0.876). Wool cortisol level was higher in the
distal segment (referring to the summer-fall season) than in the proximal one (referring to the winter-spring
season). It is suggested that alpacas can feel heat stress in summer (HSI = 139.4), which could influence
higher cortisol levels in the distal segment. The wool cortisol level was higher in the rump samples than the
shoulder ones. Therefore, it is essential in future studies that wool samples from all tested animals should be
completed from the same body region. Differences among age and sex groups were also observed. Wool cortisol
level was higher in older animals, as differences between age groups were observed in samples from the rump in
the distal and proximal segments (distal, the rump younger*older: P < 0.001; η2 = 0.321; proximal, the rump
older*younger: P = 0.007; η2 = 0.195). Males showed higher cortisol levels than females, as a difference between
sexes was observed in samples from the rump in the proximal segment (P = 0.001, η2 = 0.271). This study
emphasizes that various factors may significantly influence wool cortisol levels, which can be helpful in alpacas’
welfare estimation using this hormonal indicator as a noninvasive long-term stress assessment method.