AlpacaConnect

For the past two New Year Eve celebrations, several alpacas from Alpaca Angels of The Highlands, LLC have gone to meet the public by participating in parades as well as 'walk abouts" in various towns and events. The animals have won the hearts of many New Year celebrants who ask for more information, such as how to get to the farm in the near future. CNN gives coverage to many New Year's Eve events and covered our first major "alpaca concert" in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2007 where thousands of people hummed "Alde Lang Syne" with eight alpacas in the famous tennis stadium of the All-American town. This year, CNN has a "Team Ireport" staff reporter that called me to do an interview, and created two areas for viewers to write in regarding the alpacas' events this year. One is on the blog sight of the "Team Ireport," about A Furry New Year and the other is in the Ireports section of three days ago, called "Annual Alpaca New Year's Eve Walk," which had over 9,000 hits. You too can add to the story there, by creating a screen name when you log in with your email address and password. Of course alpaca people also give the story a FIVE STAR rating...and then write about how well alpacas can behave in public and on the farms. It's a golden opportunity for alpaca owners to log in and share our experiences globally, for a few days at the start of what needs to be a great year for us all. If you will take a few moments to go to cnn.com and find these ireports, likely you'll be glad you did. Have a "Happy New Year" indeed!

Does the lack of sunlight during winters in the Pacific Northwest result in weaker bones in llamas and alpacas? That was the basic question asked in a research project performed at OSU by a group of faculty in both the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of College of Health and Human Performance. The results of this project, which was funded by the Willamette Valley Llama Foundation and Morris Animal will be published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, one of two veterinary scientific journals published by the American Veterinary Medical Association.^a

As I wrote in the May-June 2001 Llama Letter article about fractures and their management ("The Nuts and Bolts of Broken Bones"), llamas and alpacas seem to fracture bones fairly often, and some breaks seem to occur with little trauma. That led Dr. Karen Timm to wonder whether the development of some of these fractures was due to decreased bone strength associated with seasonal changes in vitamin D levels.

From previous research in llamas and alpacas, done at OSU, led by Drs. Brad Smith and Bob Van Saun, we know that vitamin D levels in the blood varies by season, with the lowest levels in the winter and highest in the summer. This change goes along with the changes in sunlight in parts of the Pacific Northwest. Inadequate vitamin D causes a condition called hypophosphatemic rickets, which shows up as limping, poor growth, joints that appear swollen, and crooked legs. We know that supplementing vitamin D prevents this condition, and corrects it if it is not too advanced. Since this discovery, most crias, particularly those born in fall or winter, receive vitamin D supplementation, and as a result, the number of animals with crooked legs or other signs of rickets seems to be far less than only a few years ago. Although some vitamin D is contained in the diet, most vitamin D is created in the body by the action of sunlight. That is how inadequate sunlight can result in low vitamin D.

Vitamin D stimulates absorption of dietary calcium within the intestinal tract. Calcium absorption also causes an increase in phosphorus absorption. So if there is not enough vitamin D, there will be less calcium and phosphorus absorbed. Because calcium is so important to many body systems, not just strong bones, the blood levels of calcium generally stay in the normal range, even when intake is low. This occurs by increased bone breakdown when calcium levels drop, resulting in release of both calcium and phosphorus, the major minerals in bone. The extra phosphorus is eliminated in the urine, while the calcium is retained. This causes the low phosphorus levels seen with hypophosphatemic rickets. Hypophosphatemic therefore refers to low phosphorus.

If enough calcium and phosphorus are removed from the bone, the bone density will decrease, and consequently bone strength will decrease. This could lead to fractures, and may explain why some llamas and alpacas develop fractures with minimal trauma.

With that in mind, we performed the study I mentioned earlier to find out if bone density changes in llamas and alpacas in association with the seasonal changes in vitamin D, as well as changes in calcium and phosphorus levels.

To perform the study, we measured bone density in the left cannon bone (metacarpus) in five alpacas at four different times during the course of a year. We used alpacas for the study, rather than llamas, because alpacas were small enough to fit on the "Dual-Energy Absorptiometer," which was the machine used to measure bone density. We expect the same changes in bone density to occur in llamas as well as alpacas, and hypophosphatemic rickets has been seen in both. This machine uses X-ray technology to measure bone density, and it is the same unit used to measure bone density in people. This technique of measuring bone density is considered the "gold standard" in people, and has been useful in determining the risk of hip fractures in women, for example. It has the advantage of being non-invasive and therefore nonpainful, as well.

The alpacas in the study were all adult geldings. We avoided growing animals because of the effects of growth on bone density. However, younger animals would likely have greater changes in bone density with season, particularly if these young animals did not receive supplemental vitamin D. We included only castrated males because pregnancy in females can influence bone density. All of the animals were relatively light colored and all were sheared twice during the study to allow similar skin exposure to sunlight.

In addition to measuring bone density, we measured serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. We also kept track of daily solar radiation and analyzed the feed the animals were eating. We wanted to meet all nutrition requirements without providing dietary supplementary vitamin D, because some vitamin D is absorbed in the intestines.

There was seasonal variation in bone density in the alpacas, with the density being lower in May (after the winter season) compared with the previous October (after the summer season). Bone density measurements also varied between individual animals. Some had higher bone density than others at each measuring time, so measuring the bone density of an individual animal may not be helpful in predicting fracture risk, but this has not yet been studied specifically. As with bone density, we found that vitamin D levels varied between individual animals, and that vitamin D concentration decreased between October and January, as sunlight decreased, and it increased from May to the following September, as sunlight increased. As expected, calcium levels did not vary. Also as expected, sunlight varied over the course of the year, being highest in July and lowest in December. The changes in bone density lagged behind the changes in vitamin D, which lagged behind the changes in solar radiation. This makes sense because it takes time for bone to release calcium and phosphorus in sufficient amounts to change bone density, so this effect would be seen later than the decrease in vitamin D.

None of the five animals sustained fractures during the study, and we were certainly not expecting any. However, the findings of this study show that seasonal changes in vitamin D are associated with a decrease in bone density. This in turn supports the theory that the decrease in bone density could make some animals more susceptible to limb. We are hoping to be able to evaluate bone density, as well as serum calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels, in llamas or alpacas with fractures. By comparing bone density in these animals with normal animals of the same age, we can find out if seasonal changes in bone density are associated with the development of fractures. A project to do this, funded by the Willamette Valley Llama Foundation, is in progress, and we are looking for llamas or alpacas to include in the study.

a. Jill E. Parker, Karen I. Timm, Bradford B. Smith, Robert J. Van Saun, Kerri M. Winters, Peerapol Sukon, Christine M. Snow. Seasonal Interaction of Vitamin D and Bone Density in Alpacas (Lama pacos). Am J Vet Res, accepted with minor revision, 2002.

College of Veterinary Medicine,
Oregon State University

Read this articl from the source

Who can blame an investor for taking to the bottle?

Andy Pick, a 49-year-old stay-at-home father in Atlanta, recently bypassed the stock market for liquid assets -- $120,000 in champagnes. He bought 400 bottles, mostly 1996 vintage, that he says he plans to "sit on" for 10 or 15 years and then sell at a profit.

"It sure beats looking at a Merrill Lynch monthly statement," he says, adding, "The worst thing that could happen is that I drink all of it."

Given the gyrations in the financial markets, some investors are abandoning stocks and bonds and seeking refuge in unusual alternatives -- parking spaces, for instance, and condos in Peru. Sales of exotic livestock are up. The U.S. Mint has seen a gold-coin rush.

Associated Press

Peggy Parks invested in alpacas, which she believes have a better outlook than most mutual funds.

Investors have long turned to hard assets in market downturns, the idea being that if you invest in something real, it won't disappear, even if its value declines. But analysts say this downturn is different in that real estate, the most traditional safe haven, is also sinking. Between July 2006 and July this year, home prices dropped 19.5%, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite home price index.

After the market dropped in January, Steve Borter, the 56-year-old president of a heating-and-air-conditioning company, did invest in real estate, but not the usual sort. He became landlord of a single parking space in Chicago. He bought a 12-by-20-foot spot in the Field Harbor Parking Garage for $29,000 and rents it out. "The stock market is indicative of a lot of uncertainty. With a parking space, at least you end up with something," he says.

Peggy Parks, a 49-year-old auditor in Johnstown, Pa., turned to an unusual farm animal. "I've lost a fortune in stocks, and my 401(k) is falling through the floor. I feel comfortable in alpacas," she says. She invested $56,000 in a small herd that she believes has a better outlook than most mutual funds because of the animals' breeding potential.

The national Alpaca Registry Inc., in Lincoln, Neb., says registrations are on pace to rise 7% this year and currently stand at 140,297. Ms. Parks says a female of "medium quality" can fetch $10,000 and that prices have been rising, supporting her hopes that she'll see a profit on her alpaca portfolio in five years.

Tangible Assets

Financial firms are reporting that a growing number of retirees are rolling their money out of ordinary individual retirement accounts -- commonly stocks, bonds and mutual funds -- and into self-directed IRAs, where almost anything goes. "We've had people invest in a cypress farm in Costa Rica, and a condo in Croatia," says Tom Anderson, president of Pensco Inc., a San Francisco firm that has $3.3 billion in self-directed IRAs under custody. He says 20% more assets flowed in over the past three months than in the same period a year ago.

The New Gold Rush

Pat Roque/Associated Press

See images from fortune seekers and spenders world-wide.

In Centennial, Colo., Tim Boykin, 56, a retired engineer, says he pulled his entire nest egg of nearly $1 million out of stock and bond funds in August and put it into a self-directed IRA. He invested some of the money in his niece's company -- which is building condos in Lima, Peru. While analysts warn that real-estate investments in emerging markets are risky, Mr. Boykin says he has done his research and remains confident: "I can see pictures of the land. I can see steel. I can see people working. When I put my money in a fund, I see a big list of things that don't sound good."

Ruff Times

Not everyone thinks alternative investments are a great idea. The Alabama Securities Commission over the weekend issued an "investor alert" urging caution. People are "panicking," says securities director Joseph Borg. He worries that investors who yank their money out of the stock market are prey for con artists hawking things like phantom oil wells.

Mr. Borg, past president of the North American Securities Administrators Association, adds that in past market downturns he saw people turn to chinchillas, worm farms and super-breeds of rabbits. Emus, too, were big. "Eventually, people got tired of them and just let them go," he says. "To this day, you'll be in West Texas and a big emu running wild will just come up next to your car."

Hard-asset gurus like Howard Ruff, a best-selling author who rose to fame in the inflationary 1970s, are convinced their moment has come again. "This is a big, big time, a very big time -- and this is just the beginning," says Mr. Ruff. He has been advising people to buy bags of pre-1965 U.S dimes and quarters, which are 90% silver and in limited supply.

Gold coins also are in great demand. Last week, the mint suspended sales of American Buffalo 24-karat gold coins because it can't keep up with soaring sales. Last month, a record 14,000 bidders -- 17% more than the previous high -- turned out for a coin-and-currency auction in Long Beach, Calif., that generated $35 million in sales.

Bob Sale

Bob Sale, a Blue Bunny brand ice-cream distributor in Colorado Springs, Colo., says he purchased American Eagle gold coins last week after his 401(k) retirement account tanked. "Holding them in your hand is like no other feeling," he says.

Mark Craddock, manager of Comic Book World, in Florence, Ky., says stock-market investors also are turning to superheroes. "There's kind of a buying frenzy" in vintage comic books, he says.

The "Silver Age Comic Book Pricing Index" of 32 frequently traded '60s comics, was up 14.2% in the 18 months ending in July, while the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index was down 11% in the same period. Mark Haspel, president of Certified Guaranty Co. in Sarasota, Fla., which grades comic books, often for investors, says it's on track to handle 200,000 books this year, up from 150,000 in 2007.

"Spiderman is going to be here in 20 years -- he's not going away," Mr. Haspel says.

Write to Jennifer Levitz at jennifer.levitz@wsj.com

Wall Street Journal

Llamas and alpacas are domesticated South American members of the camelid family. These animals differ significantly from other species. Beyond the minimums required to sustain any life, the specifications for their care are unique. Llamas and alpacas can thrive in a wide range of environments, from ranches with vast open ranges to small suburban properties, and in almost every type of climate and geography. Some live in dry lot conditions and exist entirely on nutrition provided by their owners, while others live on properties with abundant pasture. These animals thrive in an environment where the relationship with humans and other animals is peaceful, basic security is provided, and life activities that fit their nature are included. With proper care from responsible stewards, alpacas and llamas typically enjoy good health, with an average lifespan of 15-to 20+-years.

This document was prepared by a committee of experienced llama and alpaca owners, and reviewed by veterinarians and representatives of various recognized llama and alpaca organizations. It contains recommended practices based on up-to-date scientific knowledge and community-wide husbandry expertise. It is intended as an educational foundation for recommended camelid care and, as such, to provide the basis for continuity and consistency in that care.

In addition to the general practice recommendations, region-specific conditions may exist, necessitating additional or differing measures in those locales to ensure the health and well-being of the animals. Where available, a camelid-experienced veterinarian should be consulted for local or regional needs. Additionally, consider joining one or more llama and/or alpaca organizations for continuing education, networking and local owner support. The references provided at the end of this document give more detailed and extensive coverage for various aspects of camelid care.

All animals deserve the best possible environment in which to thrive. There are many “right” ways to assure this. The purpose of Recommended Practices is to provide basic and important information on providing that environment for llamas and alpacas, beyond minimum requirements. Each camelid caregiver will have his or her practices to assure animal well-being, based on knowledge of the herd individuals, as well as sound husbandry.

Minimum Standards of Care for Llamas and Alpacas, a separate reference for officials responsible for assessment and intervention in cases of abuse, neglect or serious mismanagement, is endorsed as the uniform tool for judging that absolute minimal care is being provided .

NUTRITION

   1. Provide continuous access to potable water. The animals should not be required to break through ice or eat snow for their water. In extreme heat, water that is cool to the touch encourages consumption and helps avoid dehydration. In extreme cold, lukewarm water does the same.

   2. Provide daily access to quality, mold-free hay and/or nutritious pasture. In general for adult maintenance, total feed should contain 10-12% crude protein, dry matter basis, offered at the rate of 1.5% - 3% of body weight. Growing youngsters and late term pregnant or early lactating females may need 12-16% crude protein, dry matter basis. This may be obtained by using forage with higher protein content and/or a high-protein supplement. Because of subtle differences, llamas require the lower levels of protein while alpacas’ requirements are higher. However, individual animals can require more or less feed. Use Body Condition Scoring (BCS) (see page 4) and consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to determine individual needs.

   3. If not pre-mixed into a supplemental feed being offered, provide free choice access to minerals appropriate for the species and the region. (A loose form is preferred.) Take any known mineral toxicities into consideration (e.g., copper, selenium).

   4. Feed a cria that requires human intervention by utilizing a feeding tube or bottle regimen that minimizes human bonding. Supplemental feeding by humans should be done only when medically necessary and the cria should continue to reside with its mother and/or the herd to ensure appropriate behavioral development. Inappropriate animal-human bonding may result in severe behavior problems.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

   1. Provide natural or man-made shelter with sufficient ventilation and space to allow each llama and alpaca to find relief from environ-mental conditions (e.g., extreme cold, heat, humidity, precipitation, wind chill, waterlogged ground/standing water during periods of wet weather).

   2. Provide a heating source or cooling measures when temperatures reach extremes, whether at home or traveling. Heat stress (hyperthermia) and hypothermia are life-threatening conditions. (See Safekeeping section for more information.)

   3. In enclosed areas, manure should be routinely disposed of, mud prevented, and any urine build-up treated to prevent parasite problems and disease.
   4. Provide fencing of sufficient height and strength to safely contain alpacas and llamas in designated areas. Fencing design should prevent animals from becoming entangled. Barbed wire is not recommended.
   5. House only the number of animals per enclosure that allows free and independent movement of each animal when not at work with a human, as well as the ability to exercise each day. Space requirements for llamas are generally greater than those for alpacas. Physical location and conditions (i.e., terrain, vegetation, availability of pasture, etc.), as well as herd composition (males, weanlings, females, etc.) will dictate the appropriate number of animals that can live within a defined area. Also, know your local zoning laws.

   6. Llamas and alpacas are browsing and grazing animals. Where possible, provide them the opportunity to browse and graze daily.

   7. In temporary situations such as at shows, or in case of health problems, llamas and alpacas may be kept in small spaces for a limited period of time. For longer periods (e.g., animals that are in quarantine), they should be exercised each day.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

   1. Llamas and alpacas need to live in association with other herd animals, preferably at least one other llama or alpaca (unless a mature llama is serving as a guard llama). Without appropriate companionship, most will fail to thrive. Therefore, it is recommended that llamas and alpacas never live alone. A llama or alpaca should not be raised as a single baby away from any other camelids.

   2. Alpha or highly territorial males may need to be corralled separately, but should be within sight of other alpacas or llamas.

   3. Gelded llama males that do not exhibit breeding behavior or adult llama females can be used as single guardian animals with sheep, goats, alpacas, cattle or miniature horses. They cannot, however, successfully defend against such predators as cougar, bear, or dog packs without quick support from humans or guardian dogs.

   4. Crias should remain with their dams until at least four months of age. (Six months is recommended to promote normal behavior and to assure good nutrition (allow for maturation of the forestomach)). When deprived of this herd environment during their growth and development, they can develop severely abnormal ways of relating to humans at sexual maturity or earlier.

   5. Crias should never be sold as pets to be intentionally bottle-fed. Bottle-feeding should take place in a herd environment and only when medically necessary to ensure the health of the dam and/or the cria.

ROUTINE HUSBANDRY

   1. De-worm and vaccinate as needed in your locale to control parasite infection and disease. Seek guidance from knowledgeable local sources. Specific geographic areas are infested with meningeal worm, (P. tenuis) which can cause fatal damage to llamas and alpacas. Seek veterinary advice for preventive measures.
   2. Hands-on physical assessment of each animal should be done regularly, at least twice a year. This should include weighing and/or body scoring (See Fig. A), mucous membrane color check (inner eyelid or gums), condition of incisors, and fiber coat evaluation. Weight loss, body score changes, pale color, listlessness or clumped stool should be cause for a more detailed health assessment such as fecal analysis, veterinary exam, and blood analysis. Excess weight gain should prompt a review of diet and activity.

©Ingrid Asmus, Used by permission

   3. Trim toenails if growth threatens lameness or compromises sound-ness. (See Figure B)

   4. In warm to hot and especially humid climates, shear the fleece of most alpacas and thick or long fibered llamas every year. Animals with thin or slow-growing fiber may be shorn every other year. Animals with matted fleece should be shorn if prevention of heat stress or control of infestation by external parasites are issues in their environment.

   5. Geld non-breeder males no earlier than 12 months, with 18-24 months recommended. Most geldings may be safely penned with either males or females once sufficient time has passed after gelding to ensure infertility. (To be safe, about 2 months.)

   6. Do not breed animals with genetic defects or place them into situations where they can reproduce.

   7. Provide immediate veterinary care for an ill or injured alpaca or llama, including dental care if the animals’ ability to properly process food is compromised.

SAFE HANDLING

   1. Fit halters on llamas and alpacas so that the nosepiece allows for chewing, yet cannot slide down onto the soft cartilage of the nose and cut off breathing. Crown piece should be snug, holding the noseband in place. Improperly fitted halters can be life-threatening because, unlike some animals, camelids must breathe through their noses.

   2. Because they are often transported, train llamas and alpacas to halter, lead, and load into a transport vehicle. This will result in less stress and simplify transport activities.

   3. Avoid wrapping a lead rope around your hands or body in order to prevent serious injury in the event a llama or alpaca suddenly takes flight.

   4. Exercise great caution when transporting llamas and alpacas during extreme weather, either hot or cold. The transport vehicle must be well-ventilated, and it is essential to check for signs of heat stress (flared nostrils, lethargy) and/or hypothermia (shivering) at reason-able intervals, both while on the move and when parked.

   5. Leave llamas and alpacas untied during transport. Llamas and alpacas tied during transport can suffer severe injury or death. On rare occasions, it may be prudent to tie animals for safety, as when transporting in a vehicle they could jump out of (not recommended).

   6. Do not leave llamas or alpacas unattended in a livestock chute.

   7. Before packing with llamas, take time to learn the saddle system to be used, how to secure it without causing injuries, and how to balance and pack it with weight appropriate for the specific llama. Do not load a llama under the age of two years, and do not fully load a llama until it is well-trained, well-conditioned, and near physical maturity, usually reached at 4 years old.

   8. Select only alpacas or llamas that interact appropriately with people for use in making direct contact with the public. Props and settings should be safe for the animal, the handler and the public.

   9. Spitting is part of a highly sophisticated body language used by camelids to express displeasure, to establish and maintain social order in the herd, and to respond to a serious threat. Camelids accustomed to positive interaction with people will not normally spit at humans.
 

Llama Expressions

©Steven and Annie Segal, Used by permission

Fig E

 
 
SAFEKEEPING

   1. Never leave halters on unsupervised llamas or alpacas when they are released to their living environment.

   2. With proper halter fit, animals that have been trained for tethered grazing can usually be left unsupervised for short periods of time, such as while on a pack trip, but must not be left staked out full time.

   3. Intact males, if kept together, should normally be penned according to age, size, and disposition. Their behavior should be monitored to guard against excessive fighting. When fighting or intimidation threatens any individual llama or alpaca with malnutrition or serious injury, change the grouping.

   4. Examine the “fighting” teeth of group-housed males at least once per year and trim when needed to prevent injury to one another.

   5. Provide multiple feeding stations to ensure that passive animals have equal access to hay and to reduce possible conflict over food.

   6. Intact males, beginning at 6-8 months of age, should be kept separate from females of all ages. It is possible for a precocious male to impregnate a female. Exception: a stud kept with his females for breeding purposes.

   7. When introducing a female with a cria at her side to a stud for breeding, take care to ensure that the stud does not breed or injure the youngster.

   8. For the safety of other livestock, blunt the canine or “fighting teeth” of male llamas and alpacas as soon as they fully erupt through the gum line. This generally occurs after two years of age. Trim every 1-2 years until teeth no longer grow (7-8 years old).

   9. Llamas and alpacas must be safeguarded against eating poisonous plants or other dangerous materials, both at home and on the road-side or trail. Owners and caretakers of llamas and alpacas should make a point of becoming knowledgeable about the plants that are toxic or deadly poisonous.

  10. Camelids must never be used for human activities that will inevitably lead to the animal’s trauma and/or death, such as being hunted, used for roping practice, or used as live prey for “ranch” predators.

  11. The rare llama or alpaca that becomes completely unmanageable should be placed with an experienced rescue person or group, rather than given away or sold without disclosure of the problem.

  12. Hyperthermia (HEAT STRESS) and hypothermia are life-threatening conditions requiring immediate recognition and response, at home or while traveling.

    a. Initial and often subtle signs of heat stress are elevation of core temperature over 104 F (normal is 99.5- 101.5 F), heart rate over 80/minute (normal is 48-68 beats/minute), increased respiratory rate over 40/minute (normal is 10-30 breaths/minute), panting, flared nostrils, lethargy, decreased appetite, reddened skin, and swollen scrotum. Intervene with rapid cooling, using cool or cold water, on front of neck, legs, armpits, underbelly. groin and under tail. Do not wet topline. Also use shade, fans and cool drinking water. Important: Use a rectal thermometer to monitor core temperature of afflicted animal as treatment progresses, as well as to check temperatures of other animals in herd. Consult your veterinarian for assistance.

    Far more ominous signs of advanced heat stress are de-creased urination progressing to renal shutdown, open mouth breathing, trembling, weakness, abortion, decreased mental function, and convulsions. Death can follow quickly without immediate veterinary intervention.

    NOTE: Heat stress risk is higher in (but not limited to) humid areas. Factors such as obesity, heavily matted fiber, age (old or very young), illness and strenuous exercise add to the risk in any region. When it is hot, check your animals carefully!

    b. Hypothermia can occur when temperatures dip to extremes. Wind and wet weather, combined with low temperatures, greatly increase the danger of hypothermia. Most at risk are newborns, who have minimal insulation and poor thermo-regulation, and the very old, very thin or light-fibered animal. Signs include decreased body temperature, shivering, de-creased heart rate, depression and, in extreme cases, slow and shallow breathing. Intervention includes providing deep straw bedding in a dry shelter with protection from wind, blankets, coats, hair dryers to warm wet exposed areas such as ears, lukewarm drinking water and close proximity to the warmth of other animals. Warm water enemas may be helpful in severe cases. Alpacas and llamas may need extra calories from supplements (e.g., corn) in very cold weather, but use in moderation to prevent acidosis.

    Shearing the fiber in early springtime, ahead of severe heat, is a preventive for heat stress and also gives time for adequate fiber to grow for winter warmth.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Books

Caring for Llamas and Alpacas, A Health and Management Guide, Clare Hoffman, DVM & Ingrid Asmus; Rocky Mountain Llama and Alpaca Association c/o Janice Adamcyk, 39420 Olson Court, Kiowa, CO 80117-9604, (303) 621-2960; 2nd Edition 1998.

Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care; Bradford B. Smith, DVM, PhD, Karen I. Timm, DVM, PhD, Patrick O. Long, DVM. www.bixbypress.com, 1996.

Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, Murray E. Fowler, DVM; Blackwell Publishing, 2121 South State Ave., Ames, Iowa 50014-8300 (515) 292-0140, 2nd Edition 1998.

The Complete Alpaca Book, Eric Hoffman, Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 426-8649, bonniedoonpress@bonnydoonalpacas.org, 2003

Pamphlets and Periodicals

Alpacas Magazine & OneVoice

5000 Linbar Drive Suite 297, Nashville, TN 37211

(615) 834-4195 www.AlpacaInfo.com

American Livestock Magazine

PO Box 578 Gatesville,TX 76528

(888) 439-2748

Backcountry Llama

2857 Rose Valley Loop Kelso, WA 98626

(360) 425-6495 llamapacker@kalama.com

ILR Educational Pamphlets: Obtain from www.lamaregistry.com

PO Box 8, Kalispell, MT 59903

(406) 755-3438

International Camelid Quarterly

Rysko Pearson Productions 70 MacEwan Ridge Pl. NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3K 3MI

(403) 275-5170 cq@llamas-alpacas.com

Lamalink.com

470 Riverside Road, Kalispell, MT 59901

(406) 755-5473 www.lamalink.com

Llama Banner

P.O. Box 1968, Manhattan, KS 66505

(785) 537-0320 info@llamabanner.com

Llama Life II

5232 Blenheim Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 286-2288 LlamaLife2@aol.com

Teaching Programs at Schools of Veterinary Medicine

Colorado State University Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital

(970) 297-4471

www.cvmbs.colostate.edu

Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

(614) 292-6661

www.vet.ohio-state.edu

Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine

(541) 737-2858

www.vet.orst.edu

Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine

(508) 839-7926

www.vet.tufts.edu

Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine

(509) 335-0741

www.vetmed.wsu.edu

Websites of Organizations

www.alpacainfo.com Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assn. Inc. (AOBA)

www.galaonline.org Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Assn. (GALA)

www.icinfo.org International Camelid Initiative

www.l-a-m-a-s.org Lama Association of Middle Atlantic States (LAMAS)

www.llamainfo.org Llama Association of North America (LANA)

www.rmla.com Rocky Mountain Llama Association (RMLA)

Registries

www.alpacaregistry.com Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI) (402)437-8484

www.lamaregistry.com International Lama Registry (ILR) (406)755-3438

Acknowledgements

These Recommended Practices were developed by the Standards of Care Committees charged by Camelid Community with writing and gaining broad-based consensus on those practices. They are based on detailed input from a wide range of llama and alpaca owners, breeders, academics and veterinarians from across North America who offered suggestions as part of extensive outreach.

Support for the project has come in various forms – responses to questionnaires, donations of seed money, research, writing, editing, discussion, donated graphic arts and production, and veterinarian and legal document review. To all those who participated in the development of this document, the Standards of Care Committees, which became the Camelid Community Standards of Care Working Group, extend a sincere thank you.

Appreciation is extended to the following individuals, who have made special contributions in their areas of expertise.

David E. Anderson, DVM, MS, DACVS, (OH); Karen Baum, DVM, (VA); Patrick Long, DVM, (OR); Leah & Allan Dewald, MD, (SD); Bob Mallicoat, JD, (CA); Murray Fowler, DVM, (CA); Ty McConnell, DVM, (CA); Nancy Irlbeck, Ph.D., (CO); Jeanne Rankin, DVM, (MT); Michelle Kutzler, DVM Ph.D., (OR); Cheryl Tillman, DVM, (OR).

Camelid Community Standards of Care Working Group members are: Joyce Abrams (OR) and Hilary Ware (ME), co-chairs; Alvin Bean (NC); Dave Belt (Canada); Ruth Epstein-Baak, Ph.D. (CA); Barbara Greer (MO); Julie Ann Jarvinen, DVM, Ph.D. (IA); Judy Morgenstern (NJ); Teri Nilson-Baird (CO); Sherry Sheridan (OR); Norma Stevens (CA); Debby Ullrich (CA); Marsharee Wilcox (MD)

This document may be reproduced without permission, in its entirety only, as long as the copyright citation is included.

©2005, Camelid Community Standards of Care Working Group

Before making the commitment of time and money in purchasing alpacas or llamas, please review the following points; you should be able to answer “YES” to all of these:

CAN YOU PROVIDE?
• Pasture: the general rule is (3-4) llamas per acre and (4-5) alpacas per acre, depending on condition of soil and quality of pasture

• Fencing: safe and secure fencing can be board, high-tensile wire, field fence or the like; barbed wire is not necessary as alpacas and llamas are not “pushers” and it can damage fiber and cause injury

• Shelter: should be adequate for local conditions and allow the animals to get out of extreme weather

• Clean Drinking Water: this is an absolute
necessity at all times

• Protection: from predators such asroaming dogs

DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO?
• Good quality hay: alpacas and llamas donot require a high protein hay in mostcases (pregnant or lactating moms being some of the few exceptions)

• Safe Transportation: alpacas and llamas can be transported in stock and horse trailers, and even in vans. They will usually lie down (“kush”) while transporting and should not be tied

• Access to Veterinary Care: while alpacas and llamas are generally hardy animals, access to a veterinarian with large animal experience (preferably alpaca or llama) or
one willing to learn, is very helpful in those situations where veterinary intervention is necessary.

• Annual Shearing: these animals do require annual shearing, usually in spring; it is a health issue as they are susceptible to heat stress. Either hand/electric clippers
  may be used. You can easily learn to do this yourself or there are a number of owners/breeders who will do this for a fee.

IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO THESE QUESTIONS….

PLEASE “DO”:
• Provide the right mineral mix; speak to your veterinarian or other camelid owners in your area

• Provide fans for summer heat and humidity relief
• Trim toenails as needed

• Provide properly-fitted alpaca or llama halters and use only when working with the animals

• Talk to experienced breeders or a
veterinarian about breeding and birthing

• Join an alpaca or llama organization to learn more and keep up to date; there are numerous local and regional groups as well as national registries and show associations

PLEASE “DON’T”….
• Have only one alpaca or llama; they need
  a ‘buddy’, preferably one of their own kind
• Leave halters on
• Keep them tied up
• Keep them locked in a stall or small space
• Keep an intact male with female(s)
• Breed alpacas or llamas in hot weather
• Tie during transport
• Bottle-feed an alpaca or llama unless it is a
  medical necessity

HEALTH AND MAINTENANCE….
• Find a local vet with alpaca or llama experience or a willingness to learn

• Talk to your vet about the recommended vaccinations and de-worming for your area

• Dietary requirements are simple: hay or pasture plus a mineral mix are often all that are necessary

• Pregnant or nursing moms and babies need more supplementation

• Alpacas and llamas will eat many types of plants, so talk to your vet or extension agent about plants poisonous to alpacas and llamas

Download at:
http://www.icinfo.org/media/Basics%20Of%20Care%20Brochure%20(Rev10-08).pdf

If you have not sheared yet, taking some time to clean the fiber before shearing can save a lot of effort later. First, decide on your show fleeces. Pick these alpacas clean. Do not blow them out. For all other animals, use a blower or vacuum to the fleeces while still on the alpaca.
While shearing, sort your fleeces into 3 bags- prime blanket(1sts), neck (2nds), leg and belly (3rds).

Once shearing is completed, you will have piles of bags. Now is the time to analyze what you have, and what to do next.
First identify and pull out your show fleeces. These should be the best of the best. You want to carefully skirt these fleeces to get them ready for shows. Set them aside until you have time to work with them.

The rest of your fiber is used to make money. All the fiber can be used. You just need to analyze the best use for each part or type.
CRIMP: Good crimp will give loftiness and body to your end product. Deep bold is best for knitwear. Wave or no crimp is best for drape.

SURI VS. HUACAYA: Suri is silky and best for lightweight garments with drape, not meant for high level of warmth. Think high fashion. Huacaya is a soft replacement for sheeps wool. The more crimp, the more loft, and the warmer the end product.

TENSILE STRENGTH: This is the amount of pulling a fiber can stand before it breaks. If the fiber breaks easily, your end product will shed and not last as long.
LUSTER: This is the light reflective quality of the fleece. It is usually associated with suri fleece, but can also be found in a fine quality huacaya. End products will look brighter and have shine to them.

HAND or HANDLE: This is the tactile "feel" of all the fiber characteristics combined. A good hand will make an end product more desirable to the consumer, and command a premium price.

CONTAMINATION: Impurities are present in all fleeces, after all, these are pasture animals. Skirting can remove most contamination. Commercial processing is more tolerant of these impurities, more than hand spinners. The cleaner your fiber, the cleaner your end products.

PRIME BLANKET: This is the best part of the alpaca. It has the most uses. Other fiber characteristics may limit your uses.
NECK: The neck can be as soft as the blanket, just shorter. If it is not too much shorter, it can often be combined with the blanket.

LEG and BELLY: The coarsest part of the alpaca, it is good for batting, stuffing, and felting.

MICRON: The micron is the thickness of the individual fiber. The finer the micron, the softer the end product, the higher a price you can command. But note that the handle can mean more to the end product than just micron. The preparation of the fleece for show, fiber co-op, mini-mill, or fiber artist is best demonstrated. Hands on work is best done in a class.

Check your local show listings for a hands-on class. If you have specific questions, check our website:www.alpacas-r-us.com for general information, email to solartsalpacaranch@yahoo.com for Blair's upcoming classes, or call 503 538-5673 for fiber processing information. Starry Nights Mill offers full processing, and answers for preparation questions.

In order to advertise your products to the largest possible audience you will need to know the most useful ways of promoting your web sites. This is a brief description of the most effective advertising methods for online marketers.

Advertising through pay per click is one of the more effective means of advertising. Listing your web site with a pay per click search engines will allow you to start reaching your targeted customers immediately rather than wait for months for search engines such as Google and Yahoo! to spider your web pages. Your advertising dollars are too important to waste time on ineffective means of advertising.

The three top reasons for advertising with pay per click are controlling your rank in pay per click search engines, reaching large numbers of online customers quickly and inexpensively, and the fact that pay per click advertising gets fast results and attracts traffic to your web site quickly.

Search engine optimization refers to the use of certain keywords on your web pages in order to receive high rankings in the major search engines. Each of your web pages will contain content on a particular subject.

There are certain keywords that are searched the most often by internet shoppers looking for information about a particular subject. Regardless of the subject matter of your web pages, finding the right keywords to include in your content will increase your search engine ranking and drive traffic to your web site.

There are several ways to find the most searched for keywords. There are services that provide keywords to internet marketers for a small fee, usually on a monthly basis. You can learn to research keywords on your own although if you are a beginner it may take some time to become familiar with keyword research and be able to do this effectively.

Affiliate marketing programs are another method of increasing traffic to your web site. Webmasters can create affiliate marketing programs that will link their sites to the web sites of others. This enables an online customer to click on your ad from a web site belonging to an affiliate. You will pay the affiliate a small commission for each sale you make that results from the customer's click. Affiliate marketing programs allow you to increase traffic to your site and advertise your products and services through the web sites of other internet marketers. The small commission you pay your affiliates is well worth the increase in traffic and sales you may receive.

Internet marketing is like any other business. If you want to succeed and profit from your efforts, you must effectively advertise your products and/or services. You cannot expect to simply choose the products you will sell, build a web page, and watch the money roll in.

Advertising and web site promotion are critical to the success of your business. Utilizing the most effective means of advertising will greatly improve your chances of succeeding in your home-based business ventures. The most profitable internet marketers take full advantage of the advertising tools available to them.

The felting needle is a special needle about three and a half inches long that has reverse barbs along its shank.

They are used to compact and tangle fibers creating the felted look without the soap, water, and mess of traditional felting. They are very sharp and very brittle and this is not a craft for young children. However, children twelve or older should have no problem with them. The needles can be used individually or as a set in the felting needle punch. This is a wooden handle that locks in four to five needles at one time for faster felting on larger projects.

You will want to use a large sponge or piece of foam rubber for a working surface. It is best to use a piece three to four inches thick so that the needle is unlikely to punch thru to your leg or the table. Begin by rolling a stack of washed wool on your foam pad and just practice different techniques with the needle. Repeated stabbing in one area will create an ever deepening hole, stabs close together in a line will create a sunken line, and needling all over in an area will reduce and firm the area. Add colors and designs by stacking more wool in various areas and "stabbing it into place". You can also needle scraps of colored yarn into your piece to create lines.

Complete instructions for making a series of projects are included in our book, The Felting Needle by Ayala Talpai. The book includes four felting needles. Extra needles and the five needle punch are also available from Quality Llama Products, Inc. We also now carry a felting needle kit that includes instructions, needles and a supply of sheep wool for practice.

Felting for Fashion

Felting is the technique of treating wool so badly that it becomes beautiful. Felt is a non-woven fabric made from animal fleece. It is created using hot water, soap, and agitation. Once felted it is impossible to "unfelt" the fabric. The wool fibers have small scales, which cause the fibers to tangle and cling to each other during the felting process. Once felted, the material can be shaped and molded into a wide variety of products including hats, sweaters, scarves, and toys. Various colors can be felted together to create wall hangings and patterns in clothing without the use of seams.

Quality Llama Products, Inc. carries several books on felting that include such varied projects as hats, slippers, puppets and stuffed toys. Felting is a simple technique that can be mastered by young children and is a fun, safe activity for the entire family. Felting is an inexpensive hobby as it does not require any special tools or supplies to make beautiful projects.

Locker Hooking

Locker hooking uses raw wool and mess to make wall hangings, rugs, and bags. It is a great way to use up scraps and the not quite perfect wool and is easy enough for anyone to master. The material is similar to a hook rug canvas and generally has large, quarter inch holes. The needle is about six inches long and has a hook on one end and a large eye on the other end. Scrap yarn is threaded thru the eye for tying the wool in place. Raw wool is held under the canvas and using the hook end of the needle, pull a loop of wool up thru the holes and then pull the needle thru the loop. The yarn will hold the wool in place and prevent it from pulling back thru the hole. After the piece is hooked it can be left as is, felted, or brushed for varying effects. There is an excellent book on locker hooking available from Quality Llama Products, Inc and we also have beginning locker hooking kits as well as all the supplies you need.

Rope Making

The taravia is an ancient Egyptian leather spinning tool and is used today in Mexico to manufacture horsehair rope. Our modern taravia are handmade from hardwood and are sold in a set of three different sizes. This simple tool can be used to make everything from fine jewelry cords to heavy horse ropes. The material you used and the number of times you ply it will determine the size of the finished product.

To make ropes you will need roving, yarn, or poly cording. You need an anchor point for one end of the material. This can be a tree, a post, a doorknob, or a hook in the wall. Hook two pieces of roving or yarn to the base point and the other ends are hooked to the taravia. Once all cords are attached move away from the anchor point the length of your project and begin to rotate the taravia clockwise. Rotate until the pieces are wrapped and almost hard to the feel. Tie this piece to a second anchor point and make two more cords using the same technique. Next you can take these three cords and using the same process wrap them around each other counter clockwise. Tie off each end or attach a snap to one end and you have a rope! You can also take these lengths of rope and weave them into rugs or wall hangings. It takes some coordination to get the hang of the spinning and to learn how to keep the right tension but in no time at all you can be making your llama and alpaca wool into beautiful lead ropes, hatbands, or jewelry depending on the size and weight of material used.

If you and your friends would like to learn the ancient art of rope making first hand classes are available. Eight people or more can request a class in your area by calling Harry Hudlow at 509-787-3363. He would be happy to come to your area for a one day hands on class. Cost will vary with class size and location.

Rug Weaving

There are many ways to make woven rugs that do not require a lot of special equipment. The round wheel rug loom is the simplest loom available. You can use it to make rugs using the rope you create with the taravia, wool mill ends, yarn, or even raw wool that can be felted after it is woven. The round beginners loom can be used easily by children as young as four or five or can be used by seasoned weavers to make unique patterns and designs. Even the "non-mechanical" person can easily make simple looms from materials found around the house.It is limited only by your imagination. As your skills increase you may want to move up to the rigid heddle loom or the table top loom which can be used to make fabric in unlimited styles and designs. Quality Llama Products, Inc carries several books on weaving. One of our most popular books is the book Small Looms in Action which offers several projects for beginning weavers as well as instructions for making your own small looms. Another excellent book on weaving is The Ashford Book of Rigid Heddle Weaving.

Hand Spinning

Spinning is the most well known use of wool. Spinning can be done on a spinning wheel, with a drop spindle, or with a support spindle. It is the process of twisting strands of wool so that they lock together in a continuous strand. The resulting yarn can be used for weaving, knitting, crocheting, or other types of craft projects. For the beginning spinner the drop spindle or the support spindle offer excellent ways to learn the craft with the least financial investment. Drop spindles use the law of gravity to help create the spun fiber. Used by ancient shepherds, some form of drop spindle can be found in nearly every culture throughout history. You can create your own or purchase beautiful, hand made spindles in a wide variety of sizes and styles. The support spindle is similar to the drop spindle however, as the name implies, it is generally supported in some way rather than dropped. While drop spindles by nature general require that you be standing to make them work correctly, the support spindle can easily be used while seated. Again, support spindles can be as simple as a bowl or as complex as our precision travel spindle. An excellent guide to learn to use the drop spindle and the support spindle is the book Spindle Spinning from Novice to Expert found in the Quality Llama Products, Inc. catalog.

Quality Llama Products, Inc. also offers two different drop spindle kits. The basic kit has wool, spindle, and written instructions. The deluxe kit also includes an instructional video for the more visual learner.

Spinning wheels are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes. We prefer the Ashford spinning wheels for ease of use and its ability to ply and make novelty yarns. The traditional wheel is a great beginners wheel but is also preferred by many advanced spinners. If you travel a lot with your wheel the Joy spinning wheel folds into a compact package and can be placed in the cordura carry bag sold separately for ease of transport. The bag is well padded and has multiple pockets for taking all of your tools and supplies to class or on a trip.

Spinning classes are often available from craft centers at local colleges or thru the local spinning gild. To find a spinning gild in your area call your local chamber of commerce or county extension office. Spinning with a spinning wheel is very relaxing and once mastered, can be done while watching television or enjoying a day on the beach. There are many excellent books on spinning as well as some outstanding videos. Quality Llama Products, Inc. also has videos dealing with dying and weaving wool once it has been spun so that you can create an unlimited number and variety of projects. For production spinning, Quality Llama Products, Inc. also offers electronic spinners.

Weaving

Weaving can be as simple as inter-weaving rag strips into a rug to inter-lacing fine silk into elegant fabric. When purchasing a loom you need to think about the type of fabric you want to create. The loom will be identified by a size specification, such as 24 inch. This indicates the maximum width of the fabric the loom is capable of creating. The loom may also be identified by the number of heddles. The more heddles, the more threads you can string onto the loom and the more intricate a pattern you can create. Many people are intimidated by weaving as it has its own vocabulary and appears to be complicated. In reality, the hardest part of weaving is learning the vocabulary. If you start with a simple rigid heddle loom and understand the basic concept you will quickly be able to move to a larger four or eight heddle loom. Quality Llama Products, Inc. carries an outstanding book for beginning weavers title, Learning to Weave. This book begins with basic vocabulary and is full of detailed diagrams and photos in an easy to understand format. We highly recommend it for those ready to move to a full size loom.

Craft Stands

Quality Llama Products, Inc. offers two styles of craft stands for your hand work projects. The solid oak e-z stitch lap stand is made for doing needle work using both hands. The base is arranged so that you can sit on it to hold it firmly in place. 12 inch capacity can be increased to 22 inches using the adapter bars sold separately. Light weight and portable it makes a perfect travel companion.

The floor stand is for larger projects. Includes a 16" scroll frame with adjustable height and angle that pivots 360 degrees. Purchase just the stand or the complete set which includes optional supply box, graph holder, and storage bin. This is a perfect stand for locker hooking and needlepoint.

Nancy Chlarson - Quality Llama Products, Inc.

First Canadian export in 14 years to leave in 2008

Raelene Strong from Mariah Hill Alpacas & Exports, has learnt a lot since being the first alpaca breeder to earn the honor of accredited and licenced exporter for Camelids, in Australia in December, 2004.

Operating a purpose built Quarantine Facility specially designed for easy operation of handling alpacas and Llamas, in Nar Nar Goon.

With support and help from her husband Rob, and Daughter Elyse, the quarantine Facility has been considered by AQIS the best facility for exporting alpacas in Australia.

Currently Shipments leave on the average of every 6 weeks to New Zealand, and some then going onto the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Netherlands, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Norway, currently.

Raelene has been looking at new marketplaces, and their Protocols, to open up new marketplaces for the Australian Alpaca.

After 5 months of intense negotiations Raelene has had with the Canadian Quarantine Service, and confirming all agreed Canadian requirements meet the AQIS and Biosecurity Australia requirements, we received finally permission from both Australia and Canada to start this Canadian Shipment of Australian Alpacas which will start on September 2nd, 2008.

With excitement from our Canadian Friend, Tannis Froese, from Hummdinger Alpacas, Manitoba.

As I filmed the entry of these 16 alpacas entering the grassed area of the quarantine facility in Mariah Hill, gave me great pleasure for all the hard work that had been put into opening this protocol.

It is not an easy task to open up these marketplaces, as promotion of alpacas has to come first, and firm interest to purchase before the governments will talk protocols.

As with any government, this is a slow process to get any government to open up a new protocol.

Once the protocol is written, the exporter starts intense negotiations with the Importing country, which have to be dealt with delicately, with approval of the Australian Government.

Tannis also has had to negotiate with the Canadian Quarantine Service (CFIA), and still as we go through the process of the Australian Export/Canadian import, more clarification is sought from time to time, which we work through together.

Tannis has put in place a quarantine facility at her farm, to accept the alpacas, who will be in quarantine for a short time, once they arrive.

The Alpacas will be arriving in Vancouver, where she will meet the CFIA agent, with her specially fitted out 24 foot trailer.

Tannis has planned this shipment for the past 6 months, and a lot of preparation has been undertaken.

It is now becoming an exciting time, as the delivery date gets closer.

Keep an eye on this site, for further developments for this impending shipment.