Quarantine New Arrivals:  This is one of the most important things you can do to limit the spread of disease.  Even though animals returning from events or from other farms may be asymptomatic, they may be carrying parasites, bacterial infections or viruses.  The ideal quarantine area would be totally separate from the main herd.  Since this is not practical for most farms, the minimal quarantined area should be separated from the herd by a solid wall or at least 6 feet between pens.

Perform Routine Fecal Checks:  Checking fecal egg counts (either you or your vet) will allow you to identify parasite issues before the animals become symptomatic.  Checking the fecal first will help avoid the use of unnecessary drugs.  Deworming blindly can lead to overuse of dewormers and possible parasite resistance to that drug.

Weigh, Weigh, Weigh:  A livestock scale is very important to track weight gain or loss.  It was one of the first “tools” we purchased.  Alpacas are very good at “hiding” an illness and a sudden weight loss may be the first indication something is wrong.  Weight newborn crias every day for a couple weeks and adults at least every month.  A delay in the detection of weight loss may adversely affect the prognosis for survival.

Don’t Grow too Fast:  Many breeders plan their farm on the number of animals they have when starting out.  You should plan at least 5 years ahead and take into account that you need to keep the herd at a level that prevents deteriorating conditions in fields and allows for optimum herd health management.  Determine the maximum number of animals you can efficiently keep on your land and try to breed and sell to stay below that number.

When in Doubt, Call the Vet:  Establish a good working relationship with you veterinarian.  This should include regular preventative health care discussions.  Know your alpacas well so that you can detect signs of early illness.  At the earliest sign that something is wrong, consult with your vet by phone to determine if a visit is warranted.  You vet has years of experience and training in animal medicine and is an essential member of your heard health care team.

Selectively Breed Females:   Selective breeding applies to females as well as males.  Not every animal should be in the genetic pool.  A female with reproductive issues, lactation deficiencies, congenital defects and other deficiencies should not be a part of your breeding program.  They will very likely pass on these defects to future generations.  These non-breeding females can make very nice pets or fiber animals.

Hold Herd Health Days:  Once a month, set aside a day for body condition scoring, weigh-ins, toe nail trimming, behavior testing, veterinarian visits and ultrasounds.  Keep good health/breeding records.  An accurate history is extremely helpful to a vet and is sometimes the most important clue to a diagnosis.  You should also use this time to thoroughly clean and sanitize water buckets and feeding troughs and to remove dung piles from your pastures.

Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas | Tim & Beth Sheets | Flora, IN | www.OurHeritageFarm.com

Plan for Emergencies:   Have a set-up for a sick or injured alpaca or a cold or preemie cria.  Have a basic first aid kit on hand.  Know what to do if your veterinarian is not accessible.  Know where the nearest referral hospital is and how you would get there if the need arose.  Having all these things planned out in advance will give you the reassurance that you will be prepared for any emergency.

Ten Keys to Raising

Healthy Alpacas

Avoid Overstocking:  We recommend no more that 7-8 per acre of usable land.  Keep in mind while you are planning your pasture design and stocking density that your herd will grow.  High numbers compete for limited resources of food and shelter as well as increase the stress on the animals.  Proper stocking density will also allow for better control of disease and parasites.  While planning pasture use, consider how you will separate weanlings, maidens, pregnant females, nursing mothers and crias, and males.  Segregation will allow tailored care to each group’s needs.