Husbandry
Halter Training
All alpacas supplied by Alpha Alpacas will have been introduced to wearing a head collar and being led on a leading rein. This makes handling much easier for both owners and alpacas. Headcollars for alpacas are available from these suppliers.
Headcollars should not be left on alpacas when grazing in paddocks. Alpha Alpacas always have a small stock of Libby’s head collars for sale.
M R Harness
Mary Roach
Kingswood Hollow
Stanford Road
Great Whitley
Worcs, WR6 6JG
T: 01299 896 827
Polypads and Libbys
Unit 1, Kelvin Place
Thetford
Norfolk, IP24 3RR
T: 01842 752020
Please do take advantage of spending a half-day with us when we are carrying out basic husbandry. It need only last a few hours but in that time we can show you how to carry out many of the basic operations which will ensure that your animals are properly looked after by you without the need for calling out the vet for anything other than a true emergency.
Injections
There are a few ways to supply injections, all of which should be done when the skin of the alpaca is dry – to prevent abscesses. Below are the various ways to take care of alpacas.
Lambivac
This is a sub-cutaneous injection given six-monthly to protect your animal against the clostridial diseases. However, for it to work effectively the first two doses must be given one month apart, with all subsequent doses given six monthly.
The ideal regime would be:
Cria – Given at 1 month of age – 2ml
Cria – Given again at 2 months of age – 2ml
Weanling/Adult – Given every six months – 2 ml
Pregnant females – Given just one month before parturition – 2 ml
Lambivac
This is a sub-cutaneous injection given six-monthly to protect your animal against the clostridial diseases. However, for it to work effectively the first two doses must be given one month apart, with all subsequent doses given six monthly.
The ideal regime would be:
Cria – Given at 1 month of age – 2ml
Cria – Given again at 2 months of age – 2ml
Weanling/Adult – Given every six months – 2 ml
Pregnant females – Given just one month before parturition – 2 ml
Vitamins A, D, & E
Otherwise known as ‘liquid sunshine’ as it supplements the alpacas’ requirements for regular sunshine. This should be administered to all animals from about mid-September onwards every two months until March. The injection is given intramuscular and is measured at 1000 IU Vitamin D/Kg of body weight. The regime is, therefore:
Cria – Given at two months of age – 0.5ml
Weanling – Given at six months of age – 1.0ml
Adult – Given every two months – 1.5ml
You may experience difficulties in obtaining this through your vet as they have ceased making it for the UK market. However, our vet has sourced some from Europe and others have found supplies somehow; the vet will need plenty of warning to obtain it. It is very important to keep up to date with this one, particularly with Black alpacas and young stock. An alternative much preferred by us, is to use JG Animal health Camelid Drench which contains all the essential vitamins and mineral. For further details see www.JGAnimalhealth.com
Worming
You will find, if you ask around, that each breeder operates a different worming regime. Essentially you should worm according to advice given to you by your vet – for this, you will need to provide the practice with faeces samples on a regular basis and to watch out for any signs of problems either external (skin problems) or internal (diarrhoea). We currently use an injectable Ivermectin based wormer – there are a number of products available – Ivermectin, Noromectin, Cydexin or Verbamec, all of which are similar and administered at the rate of 2ml per adult alpaca delivered subcutaneously. Alternatively and we tend to ring the changes at Alpha a white drench such as Panamec can be used with the dose determined by the animal’s body weight.
Cria – at one month of age
All stock – given every six months or when there is a problem evident
Worming
You will find, if you ask around, that each breeder operates a different worming regime. Essentially you should worm according to advice given to you by your vet – for this, you will need to provide the practice with faeces samples on a regular basis and to watch out for any signs of problems either external (skin problems) or internal (diarrhoea). We currently use an injectable Ivermectin based wormer – there are a number of products available – Ivermectin, Noromectin, Cydexin or Verbamec, all of which are similar and administered at the rate of 2ml per adult alpaca delivered subcutaneously. Alternatively and we tend to ring the changes at Alpha a white drench such as Panamec can be used with the dose determined by the animal’s body weight.
Cria – at one month of age
All stock – given every six months or when there is a problem evident
Multivitamins
This is only given to stock that is under weight or may look like it needs a booster . Given either intramuscular or sub cutaneous at a rate directed by your vet. However the dosage for us is 5ml for weanlings and 10ml for Adults.