Lama Wellness Service, Inc.

I hope all breeders are having a successful spring birthing season. While you are enjoying the crias, begin thinking of their winter needs with good quality forage. Forage quality is the ability of forage to meet the nutritional requirements. Forage should be 75 to 85% of the diet. Knowing the factors that affect forage and managing accordingly is paramount. The first step for good quality is preparing the soil. A soil test should be done and fetilized as needed. Be very aware of selenium, copper, and iron levels in your pasture as well as your hay. With the prevalence of chicken farms, producers may choose this economic means to fertilize. If you purchase hay from a farmer that uses chicken litter or dairy manure, higher than expected levels of cooper and iron, could be found in some hay samples.

TEST BEFORE YOUR PURCHASE. Check with your County Cooperative Extenstion office. Department of Agriculture programs provide data that will help you evaluate and improve forage management practices. Good alpaca hay will test 11-14% protein, 58-63% potassium and a RFV(Relative Feed Value)95-105. Be aware of all those supplemental extras that may be added in the form of paste, flax, and vitamin mineral. Make sure they are needed.

Locally, the condition of pastures is improving from last year's drought, with most rated in good to fair condition. Most hay is ready to be harvested and while yields will be good, hay quality will be down. Fields have been sodden by above average rainfall over the past 6 months. Delayed harvest due to rain probably results in more forage quality loss than actual rain damage during harvest. Quality decreases as maturity advances since the forage has a larger proportion of stems and is less digestible.

Because grain prices have tripled since November 2007, most farmers will turn hay fields into corn or grain fields, so start now to insure your 2009 needs. Speaking of grain prices......there have been numerous complaints from breeders and feed store outlets about feed supplements. Most everyone has cut their margin just to continue the business. Di-calcium or mono-calcium is an example of the escalating ingredient cost. A ton in Nov 07 was less than $300. By June 08 it will approach $1000.00 per ton, if even available after planting. You may cut costs however you choose, but poor doing animals are also expensive.

OTHER COMPLAINTS: The past few months breeders have experienced respiratory problems in their herds. Other herds have experienced diarrhea. Several different things have been implicated. Obviously, this is a a stress. Do not be surprised if you see fiber breaks after these illnesses. Abortion, weaken crias, and even deaths in some with a weakened system,(often juveniles and older animals) can occur. Watch carefully animals moving to and from your farm. Your herd may be closed, but remember that airborne viruses can spread 20 miles.


DO NOT under any circumstance vaccinate your pregnant females with Scourgard 3K/C to prevent rota corona virus or E coli. It can cause 30-50% of your pregnant females to abort. This happened in 1998 with similar diarrhea issues.


Norm Evans, DVM.