....just a thought

Body scoring alpacas

We are often asked to view alpacas, or to assist in caring for alpacas, that have missed out on correct animal husbandry.

In the last 2 years we have had to care for approx 5 alpacas, bought here from a farm to being up to condition and give regular maintenance.

It takes a lot of work to bring any alpaca that has not had the right managment and thus have lost condition, to bring them back up to a healthy condition, and body score.

It is the owners responsibility of course to insure their alpacas, and if they choose not to, then they take on the risk of non insurane.

Cover notes are available whilst health certificates are arranged.

We are always available to assist and advice fellow breeders, but we do recommend the following.

Insure your alpacas.

Arrange cover notes whilst waiting for the health certificates from the vet physical exam.

Always have a regular worming program, that is supervised, or calculated by your vet.

At the same time, please make sure you give 5 in 1, innoculations, twice a year.

One of the most important things you can give your alpacas, and that is Vit D, (either AD & R

or straight D), especially during the winter months every 6 weeks is advisable.

If there are any lumps along the jawbone, and you do not like to clean these abcess out, then call a vet, as these lumps mean that they have an abcess, be it in the jaw or tooth, but you know how much an abcess hurts, well the alpaca are feeling this as well, and it hurts for them to eat.

If an animal is not eating or appears to be eating but not putting on weight, there is a reason.

CALL A VET.

Or if you cannot give injections call a vet.

Regular Body Scoring is advisable to monitor the condition and health of your alpacas.

It is always advisable to supplementary feed your alpacas.

Alpacas are easy to look after, they do not cost much to feed also, and you can get years of enjoyment out of your alpacas.

But as an owner or a carer of alpacas, it is your responsibility to care for them properly.

It is far easier to care and maintain an animal, rather than let it get skinny, and then send it off for others to try and get her back into order.