Thursday, June 24, 2010

Good Animal management is


Providing and offering-:

* Regular Feeding schedule, ....daily
* regular dental checks
* adequate worming
* providing a good water supply of clean water
* making any changes in diet gradually
* a regular exercise regime, if space is limited, take alpacas for walks, they just love it, if not, make access to a larger paddock
* feeding good quality feed, lucerne is one of the alpacas favourite, althoug I recommend lucerne chaff, as there is less wastage, make sure the feed is not mouldy, or musty* do not overgraze pastures
* regular rotation is essential of your paddocks.
* if space is restrictive, Pick up Poo piles regularly
* Regular Body scoring, this is essential if you do not have scales to weigh your alpacas regularly, at the same time just roll your hand over the body just feeling for any lumps, or abcesses.
* good record keeping
* regularly check in ears, (looking for grime guild up, which could mean mites).
* regularly check between the toes when you cjip their toe nails.
* if in doubt, always call your vet....other alpaca owners will always assist, but may not have the knowledge or experience your vet has....he is always your no 1 call
* check fences to make sure there are no sharp ends that could injure, and the fences are able to keep your stock in, and predators out.
Enjoy your alpacas.

TB the silent Killer

TB the silent killer is the name of this post.
I think this is very educational, for those who live in areas where TB can be a problem.
I know it is easy for me to make comments, as we do not have TB in Australia.
I just believe education is a major key in combating this problem.
The more assistance we can give those who have been affected, and for their brave efforts to educate, asist and support emotionally.
Thank you to these brave and honest people.
http://bovinetb.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post.htmlas an article by Diane, as she said this is the moral and ethical thing to do.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/8583936.stm
http://www.farminguk.com/news/TB-in-Alpacas---My-Story-So-Far_17047.html
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/tb-in-alpacas/
I take my hat off to these people who have tirelessly worked so hard to assist others.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Vitamin D Deficiency


This time of year again, In Southern parts of Australia, we have to really be vigilant about Vitamin D deficiency.
resulting in Rickets.
Vitamin D deficiency is a problem that affects alpacas far more commonly than other species.
Normally UV light acts on Vitamin D prescursors in an animals skin to make Vitamin D which is then stored in the liver.
A combination of a high Vitamin D requirement, thick fleece and low UV levels during autumn, and winter makes alpacas susceptible to this condition.
While more common in younger animals it will occassionally affect adults.
Signs include stiffness, lameness and failure of crias to grow.
Prevention involves giving an injection of Vitamin D3.
In Victoria, we are able to obtain a product called Vitadec.
We prefer Vitamin D3, which is a concentradted pure D3 product, but you can use Vitamind ADE combinations.
Vitamin D injections should be given on the 1st of May, 1st July, and 1st September, It is not normally rewquired over the summer months.
This is because the fleece is usually shorn, and there is less cloud cover.

Responsilbilty

Definition: That for which anyone is responsible or accountable;
The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie
An obligation to give duty of care to any What does having a duty of care to animals mean?
Dairy farmer with cows and bale of hay
Meeting your duty of care includes providing appropriate feed.
The duty of care is based on the internationally-recognised ‘five freedoms’ of animal welfare.

Having a duty of care for an animal that you are in charge of means you are legally obliged to care for it by providing for its needs in a reasonable way for:
* food and water
* accommodation or living conditions
* the display of normal behavioural patterns
* treatment of disease and injury * handling the animal.
The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 states that in deciding what is 'appropriate', regard must be given to:
* the species, environment, and circumstances of the animal (e.g. the age of the animal and where it lives)
* what steps a reasonable person would take in the circumstances.
People in charge of livestock need to understand some of the special circumstances that may apply to the duty of care for livestock.

It doesn’t matter why you are in charge of the animal, what you are using it for or how long the animal is in your care - if you are in charge of an animal, you have a duty of care to that animal.
Lack of proper care leads to neglect and animal suffering, and you may breached your legal duty of care.The animal’s owner, for example, is responsible for deciding what (if any) treatment that the veterinarian offers is given. The veterinarian is responsible for providing the owner with information on the animal welfare consequences of such decisions. If an animal suffers because of a decision (or lack of decision) by the owner who has been informed of the possible consequences, the owner is the responsible person.
the owner is responsible for the animal. A lack of ability to pay does not pass that responsibility to the veterinarian.
What does the ‘duty of care’ mean?

“Duty of care” is a legal phrase which means that someone has an obligation to do something. Prior to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, people only had a duty to ensure that an animal didn’t suffer unnecessarily. The new Act keeps this duty but also imposes a broader duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal to take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal’s needs are met. This means that a person has to look after the animal’s welfare as well as ensure that it does not suffer. The Act says that an animal’s welfare needs include:

* a suitable environment (how it is housed);
* a suitable diet (what it eats and drinks);
* the ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;
* any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals; and * protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.All people who have animals in their care have a responsibility to ensure that they have adequate knowledge, training and skills to apply in the protection of the welfare of animals. These people have an enduring obligation to seek expert assistance where necessary to ensure the welfare of animals.

I feel Duty of care when breeding alpacas.
IS the Owners responsibility, to make sure the alpaca is wormed regularly, or at least a faecal test to make sure the alpacs has not a worm burden, to innoculate against colostrial diseases, give vitamin ADE when indicated by the area or country you live in.Veterinary care should be given if necessary, and if uncertain about any reactions, or symptoms, call a vet immediately.Adequate housing and protection should be offered especially after been shorn, from all adverse weather conditions.
Adequare and safe transportation of the alpaca, ensueing the alpaca is able to get fresh air, is moved safely, there are no sharp objects in the area he is being transported in.
and is not exposed to exhaust fumes.
Access to freash, feed............no mouldy feed.
this is the obligation and responsibility of the owner, to make sure these vital needs of the alpaas are met.
Ownership is when the contract is signed, like a house contract, the responsibility, ongligation and ownership takes place on the signing of a sale contract.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Insight Peru

http://insightperu.blogspot.com/

For those that are interested, the team of eye specialist saw over 350 patients in 1 week.
More can be read on the Blog above.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

World Congress-Spain Update

I heard this event was a wonderful success, congratulations, Alan Stables, who went to a huge effort to organise this.
I have been given a copy of the notes, and it looks as though it was a huge success.
How i would have liked going to Spain.
Hope i get another chance one day.