Alpaca Husbandry Articles
1: Leg Conformation
Correct leg conformation optimizes bone and joint health throughout the life of the animal and therefore is important to its well-being. An alpaca with crooked legs has a much greater chance of developing early "wear-and-tear" pathology of the bones and joints, such as joint pain and arthritis, than one with correctly aligned legs.
2: Alpacas - Body Conformation
Conformation is the term that we use to describe the correctness in the body of the alpaca. Alpacas should have straight legs when viewed from the front and they should not be too close together. Many alpacas have front legs that turn out very slightly in the ankle and toe area.
3: Basics of Alpaca Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the major keys to animal health. Without a sound nutrition program, an animal will be unable to produce fiber or a cria to its maximum genetic potential. Limitations in the supply of nutrients can and do compromise an animal’s immune system. Therefore, having a working knowledge of the nutrients needed by the animal, and what feeds will supply those nutrients, is one of the most important steps in managing an animal.
4: Controlling a Kicking Alpaca
I have a yearling female alpaca that is a very sweet girl. She comes right up to you, and likes to be handled, touched, and stands easily to have her toenails trimmed. However, lately she has started to kick. Any time I, or anyone else, get behind her she lets fly. She also kicks at the other females in her pen. Can I correct the behavior?
5: Tacking Toenails with out Tackling your Camelid
When I teach clinics the topic that tops the list is trimming toenails and picking up feet. It is perhaps the most problematic aspect of camelid management. Understanding why it is so hard for llamas and alpacas to allow a human to handle their feet is a big part of moving through the problem so we will talk about understanding why... .
6: Solving Major Behavioral Problems in Thirty Seconds
I am only partly kidding. If you haven’t paid very close attention to halter fit and you are having trouble with one of your alpacas, you may be able to solve the problem in thirty seconds. I have worked with hundreds of difficult alpacas that were difficult only because they were in fear for their lives every second they wore a halter. I have seen problems from kicking to kushing evaporate because I changed or adjusted a badly fitting halter.
7: PLANNING STAGES OF HERD DEVELOPMENT
An agricultural endeavor such as alpaca ranching is not only possible but highly desirable both financially, (profits and great tax benefits) spiritually and emotionally. It is truly a stress free lifestyle and incredibly enjoyable.
8: Understanding Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Camelids: Reading Between the Lines
Trace minerals are indirectly or directly associated with a tremendous variety of metabolic processes.
9: Hypothermia — Treatment
Treatment of hypothermia involves warmth, nutrition, and correction of underlying problems (e.g. milk supplements for crias whose dam is not lactating). Critical hypothermia occurs when core body temperature drops below 90 F.
10: Hypothermia — Tips for Prevention
Camelids must be provided with a shelter from which they can seek protection form environmental extremes.
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