further more to just a thought- BODY SCORE

The scale photo above shows the body score chart.
the first photo is emancipated, body score 1, as described in pictures below, you do not want your alpaca to display this body score...never
the photos below displays a girl that we assisted the owner to reverse her condition, although she did have many contributin factors which caused this, the main one was lack of worming, Vit D, and regular maintence of the female.
It is very hard and long hours involved in monitoring a female that is in this condition, it is totally unnecessary for the alpaca.....read the story below

Body score is one of the most important things that need to be performed on alpacas, at least monthly on animals that do not have any problems and are in good body condition, but weekly on those that you have concerns about.

the above pictures are the body score of an animal that arrived on our farm 2 years ago, which i was asked to assist, and try and make her better. photo tken day of arrival, with vet present.

in fact she had also been seen by the screening vet, and both vets did not give this girl a good prognosis

through intensive care and consultation with the vet, continual weighing, and alot of work we had a good outcome for this girl who then went onto to enter quarantine and is currently in UK.

Whose responsibility is the condition of this animal prior to arriving at our farm.

For Animal management some people would say the agistor who cares for the alpacas on a daily basis has a duty of care for her health and animal management, but the owner had a friend of the owner had visited the alpacas, and also knew of the condition of the animals, and so they too had a duty of care to move the alpacas from the farm asap, but they did not.

It was only when the owner wanted the alpacas screened for UK, were the alpacas moved off the original farm.

If i take on alpacas to assist owners, and for the sake of the alpaca, to give intensive treatment, and care, i also do not take the responisibility if the unforeseen happens, as i am not a miracle worker, if the animal is past the point of coming back, then there is so much i can do.

the responsibility is clearly spelt out to the owner and also is displayed on our website.

The responsibility is the owner to take out insurance, and organise a cover note before the alpaca arrives here.

When an alpaca of great value is sold, it is sold with a health certificate from the vet, and this certificate can be used for insurance purposes.

Ignorance is not acceptable as an excuse.

....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.