Toe Nail Trimming:

 

What to use:                Sharp garden secateurs or similar – short straight blade

 

How:                   Toe nails should be trimmed flat to the bottom of the foot & level with the soft pad

 

                                    Bleeding will occur if nails are trimmed too short

                                    Bleeding should stop in a short time.

 

Weights and Body Scores:          

 

·      It is very important to keep track of body condition on both cria and adult alpacas.

·      Cria can be weighed simply using bathroom scales.  Weigh yourself and then weigh yourself holding the cria – the difference = the crias weight.

·     Adults are not as easy, large animals scales can be purchased but can prove to be costly.  The bodyscore method has been developed to assist.

·     Keep track of bodyscores and weights as this will help to pick up on illness and extra feed requirements.

 

Eartags:

 

Brass eartags with IAR numbers and applicators are available from AAA National Office.

 

Female eartags             -           Eartag is placed in the right ear.

 

Male eartags                 -           Eartag is placed in the left ear.

 

The lower edge of the ear towards the base is where the eartag is placed.  Two veins can be felt in the ear and the eartag needs to be placed between the two.

 

 

Feed & Nutrition:

 

What can I feed ?

 

*           Grass Hay         *           Lucerne Hay    *          Oaten Hay

*           Horse Muesli     *           Chaff – Oaten   *          Chaff – Lucerne

*           Bran                 *           Alpaca Pellets  *          Lupins (crushed/whole)

*           Oats                 *           Barley

 

When should I feed?

 

Dependent on farm or herd size – feeding requirements will vary.

 

Grass hay         -         Winter & Spring months when feed is green

 

Lucern hay        -        Summer & Autumn months when feed is dry

 

Oaten hay         -        Good bulking food for thinner animals or feeding mums

 

Grain mix          -       A nice treat to keep them keen & interested

-      Thinner mums feeding cria