Camelids

List the new world camelids

Alpaca: Huacaya, Suri

Llama

Vicuna (wild ancestor of alpacas)

Guanaco (wild ancestor of llama)

What is the adult bodyweight of alpacas?

48-84kg

What is the difference in the ears of alpacas vs llamas?

Alpacas have pointy ears, llamas’ are banana shaped

What is the adult bodyweight range of llamas?

130-200kg

What is a male alpaca called?

Macho

What is a female alpaca called?

Hembra

What are the young of alpacas and llamas called?

Cria

What is a young vicuna called?

Fawn

How long are they pregnant for?

About 11.5 months

What is the normal TPR?

100F 37.7C

HR 80bpm (50-110)

RR 10-30bpm in alpacas, 40-60 llamas

When are they sexually mature?

2 years

Are they seasonal breeders?

Non-seasonal/reflex ovulators but should breed so they give birth in spring so the young can withstand winter

What type of housing do they need?

Must be kept in groups (5-7 per acre)

Shelter must be available

What kind of feed

Forage - hay, short grass

Added vitamin D

Can give supplementary vitamin ADE

What type of management practices should owners be doing?

Shearing

foot trimming

Vaccination

Worm/fluke treatment

What medicines are licensed?

None - usually try to use cow or sheep meds

What kind of digestive system do they have?

Pseudoruminant - foregut fermentation

Describe the structure of the digestive tract

C1 largest (like rumen)

C2 mixes (like reticulum)

C3 absorbs nutrients and secretes acid (like abomasum)

No gallbladder

Small omentum

Large spiral colon absorbs water (like omasum)

How do you restrain them?

Wrap one arm around neck and place other on shoulders

Apply pressure in lumbar area to induce cushing

Can use head collars - need to be high up on nose

How do you draw blood?

Very tight neck - difficult to see jugular groove so just stab where it should be

Jugular - high on RHS or low near thoracic inlet

How long after parturition can they be re bred?

3-4 weeks

How much colostrum do cria need?

10-10% BW within 6hrs

How much do cria weigh at birth?

5.5-10kg

What is different about caesareans on alpacas vs farm animals?

Sterility is more important

How are alpacas castrated?

At 18mo-2+ yrs old

Either GA and do pre-scrotal like dog or local standing like a calf

What diagnostic tests are done for a sick alpaca?

PCV, bloods, urine, FWEC, US - often get parasites

How do sick alpacas usually present?

Dead, moribund, recumbent

They hide being sick until they are very ill and difficult to see if they are losing weight due to thick fleece

What are the most common conditions alpacas get?

Parasites!!! dietary insufficiency, C3 ulcers, hepatic lipidosis, infections (pneumonia, enteritis, Johnes, TB, BVD), tumors, pain

What are the most common causes anemia?

Trace element/dietary

Mycoplasma haemolamae

Haemeonchus contortus

What are the most common causes of hypoproteinemia?

Endoparasites

Enteritis

Johnes

Kidney disease

Liver disease

What are the most common causes of scabby skin? Where on them does it usually occur?

Ectoparasites

Lower limbs, face, ears

What other conditions might you see?

Colic

Locomotor problems (nail and pads like dogs)

Ocular problems - conjunctivitis, naso-lacrimal duct blockage

Neurological problems - CCN, Listeriosis, Meningitis, injury/abscess

Tooth abscess

TB

BVD

Are they legally defined as livestock? What is the significance of this?

No which affects compensation for slaughter like for TB

Microchipping is not mandatory

What drugs should you not use?

Macrolids

Metronidazole