Comprehensive Alpaca Record & Evaluation (CARE)

Compiled by Laura Coussens, Kissin' Coussens Alpacas (KCA), 2000

The assistance of a qualified veterinarian is required to safely and accurately complete the evaluation. The CARE is a useful tool for identifying strengths and weaknesses for purposes of buying, selling and breeding alpacas. However, it is not assumed to be exhaustive. Related animals may be evaluated on their own CARE. Animals may also be re-evaluated as they mature. See references, section 15. Revisions will be available in the AOBA Library or by contacting KCA.








(Affix full fleece photo here) (Affix shorn photo here)









1. General Information

Registered name: _________________________________ Date: ________________________
Sex: ___________________________ DOB: _______________________________________________
ARI reg. no.: __________________ Microchip/Tattoo: _______________________________
Country/state of birth: __________________________________________________________
Type: (Huacaya, Suri or cross): __________________________________________________
Color/markings: ___________________________________________________________________
Breeder: ___________________________________________________________________________
Owner/farm: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ Fax: ___________________________________________
Email: _____________________________ Web site: _____________________________________
Months/years at current residence: ___________________________________________
Type of housing: __________________________________________________________________
Companions (species/number): __________________________________________________
Previous sale price(s)/date(s): ___________________________________________________
Previous owner(s)/date(s): _______________________________________________________
Full siblings/ARI nos.: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Veterinarian: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________________

2. Fiber [A44-84; H102-5; J; F; S]

Uniformity (consistency of length, fineness, crimp and color): ___________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Staple length (_____mos. growth): ______________________________________________
Fineness: __________________________________________________________________________
Crimp style (shoulder, side and rump): ________________________________________
Luster: _____________________________________________________________________________
Tensile strength: _________________________________________________________________
Guard hair: ________________________________________________________________________
Handle: ____________________________________________________________________________
Lock formation: __________________________________________________________________
Fiber Coverage: __________________________________________________________________
Weathering/dry tips: ____________________________________________________________
Cotting/matting: _________________________________________________________________
Annual fleece weight (skirted prime/total): __________________________________
Histograms (consider sex, age, diet, location of samples): _________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Behavior [A26-42, 142, 173; M49-50, 54-55, 390; C37; J]

Temperament: ___________________________________________________________________
Caught/haltered/lead easily? ___________________________________________________
Aggressive to other animals or people? ______________________________________
Evidence of vices? _______________________________________________________________
Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Diet [A126-138; M12-44; C33-39; J; V]

Type of pasture: _________________________________________________________________
Hay: ________________________________________________________________________________
Pellets: ____________________________________________________________________________
Grains: _____________________________________________________________________________
Vitamins and minerals: __________________________________________________________
Dietary changes/dates: __________________________________________________________
Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________

5. Medical History [C41-2; A, M]

Weight at birth/1 mo./6 mos./1 yr./18 mos./2 yrs: __________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Full term/normal birth? ________________________________________________________
Began nursing @ (hrs/min): _____________________________________________________
IgG: ________ @ (hours/days): _____________________________________________________
Transfused? ______________________________________________________________________
Post-transfusion IgG: ____________________________________________________________
Bottle fed/reason? ______________________________________________________________
Neutered/reason? _______________________________________________________________
Disease resistance: ______________________________________________________________
Thermoregulatory adaptability: _______________________________________________
Previous medical conditions/illnesses/prognoses: __________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Current medical conditions/illnesses/prognoses: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Injuries/surgeries/prognoses: _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Vaccines given and dates: ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Dewormings (types and dates): _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Allergies? _________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Fecal exam(s)/dates: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Urinalysis: _________________________________________________________________________
Blood tests - Serum Chemistry: ________________________________________________
CBC: ________________________________________________________________
Thyroid: ____________________________________________________________
Trace elements: ___________________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Locomotion [A85-6, 93; M70, 528-30; H104]

Gaits - Walk: _______________________________________________________________________
Pace: _______________________________________________________________________
Trot: ________________________________________________________________________
Gallop: ______________________________________________________________________
Do feet track in a straight line? ________________________________________________
Cross over at midline? ___________________________________________________________
Free and flowing? ________________________________________________________________
Stiff or lame? _____________________________________________________________________
Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. Physical Evaluation [A, M, C, V, S, J]

Height (34-40 in. adult): _______ Weight (105 lbs. min., adult/shorn): _________
Body condition (normal, thin, obese): ___________________________________________
Check: withers, between rear legs, behind elbow, chest, perineum.
Body temperature (99.5 - 102 degrees F, resting adult): ___________________
Head - Symmetrical and wedge-shaped? ______________________________________
Elongated/Shortened muzzle? _____________________________________________
Fragile face or Roman nose? ______________________________________________
Wry face? ____________________________________________________________________
Cleft palate? _________________________________________________________________
Abscesses? ___________________________________________________________________
Nostrils - Air movement through both nostrils? _____________________________
Discharge? ______________________________________________________________
Lips: ________________________________________________________________________________
Tongue: ____________________________________________________________________________
Dentition - Overshot/Undershot jaw? _________________________________________
Lower incisors trimmed? ________________________________________________
Retained deciduous incisors? ___________________________________________
Canine teeth erupted/trimmed: ________________________________________
Cheek teeth (Molars/Premolars): _____________________________________
Ears - Evidence of deafness(Increased visual acuity/tactile sensations;
responds to loud noises by sensing herd dynamics): ____________________
Normal (Symmetrical, spear-shaped)? _____________________________________
Long or short? ________________________________________________________________
Banana or pancake shaped? _________________________________________________
Forward set ears? ___________________________________________________________
Curled/Fused? ________________________________________________________________
Frostbitten? _________________________________________________________________
Parasites? ____________________________________________________________________
Eyes - Evidence of blindness? ___________________________________________________
Constricted pupil? ____________________________________________________________
Dilated pupil? _________________________________________________________________
Opacities? ____________________________________________________________________
Cataracts? ____________________________________________________________________
Persistent pupillary membrane? __________________________________________
Ectropion/entropion? _______________________________________________________
Lacerations? _________________________________________________________________
Tearing? ______________________________________________________________________
Iris color (brown, gray, mixed, blue): ______________________________________
Neck/Spine/Tail - Short or long neck? __________________________________________
Throat latch: swelling? _______________________________________________
Scoliosis? ______________________________________________________________
Long or short back? ____________________________________________
Swayed or humped-back? ___________________________________________
Crooked tail/no tail? __________________________________________________
Chest capacity - Deep with well sprung ribs? __________________________________
Hindquarters - Wide with a slight slope toward tail? _________________________
Tail set - Normal (sloped rump) or high (llama like): ____________________________
Legs - Knock kneed, bowed out at knee? _______________________________________
Calf-kneed, buck-kneed? _____________________________________________________
Cocked ankle or down in fetlock? __________________________________________
Base narrow or base wide? _________________________________________________
Camped forward/camped behind? _________________________________________
Post legged? __________________________________________________________________
Cow-hocked? _________________________________________________________________
Sickle-hocked, bowed legs? _________________________________________________
Luxating patella? _____________________________________________________________
Contracted tendons? ________________________________________________________
Short or long legged? _______________________________________________________
Feet - Toenails straight and trimmed? _________________________________________
Pads normal? _________________________________________________________________
Toe in (pigeon toed)/toe out (splayed feet): ______________________________
Syndactyly/polydactyly: ____________________________________________________
Bone size - Heavy, average or fine-boned: ____________________________________
Well-Muscled? _____________________________________________________________________
Heart - Heart Rate: _______________________________________________________________
Murmur? _____________________________________________________________________
Arrhythmia? _________________________________________________________________
Lungs - Respiratory rate: _________________________________________________________
Abnormal sounds? ___________________________________________________________
Skin - Pigmentation: ______________________________________________________________
Check for dermatitis, fiber loss, external parasites, etc.: ______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Teats - four(normal), functional, normal sized? ______________________________
Hernias - Umbilical? _______________________________________________________________
Scrotal? _____________________________________________________________________
Ulcers: _____________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Reproduction [A170-183, M381-429; C99-117, N]

Male - Testicles - Size (left, right): _______________________________________________
Consistency (left, right): _____________________________________________
Cryptorchid/monorchid? ____________________________________________
Scrotal edema/nodules? _____________________________________________
History or signs of heat stress? ____________________________________
Epididymis (left, right): ____________________________________________________
Penis - Preputial adhesions? ______________________________________________
Curvature? _________________________________________________________
Semen evaluation? _______________________________________________________
Preputial, urethral culture/results: ______________________________________
Libido (weak or strong?): __________________________________________________
Precopulatory behavior: __________________________________________________
Copulatory behavior: ______________________________________________________
Proper position/penetration? ____________________________________________
Bred/Impregnated first female (age): ___________________________________
Number of pregnancies confirmed: _____________________________________
Number of viable cria produced: ________________________________________
Number of cria in utero: __________________________________________________
History of milk production: ______________________________________________
Date last settled a female: _______________________________________________
Female - Current pregnancy status: ____________________________________________
Date of last parturition: _______________________________________________
Time between parturition and rebreeding: _________________________
Date(s) bred: ____________________________________________________________
Breeding behavior: _____________________________________________________
Pregnancy determination method: __________________________________
Due date: _______________________________________________________________
Service sire/ARI no.: ____________________________________________________
First impregnated (age): _______________________________________________
Number of pregnancies: _______________________________________________
Number of viable cria produced: _____________________________________
Dystocias: ________________________________________________________________
Vulva - Vertical or horizontal? _________________________________________
Discharge? _______________________________________________________
Clitoris - Prominent? ___________________________________________________
Intersexed? ___________________________________________________
Hymen - Present/absent? _____________________________________________
Partial persistent hymen/tags? ____________________________
Vaginal discharge? _____________________________________________________
Vaginal cultures/results/treatments: _______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Cervix - opening normal? _____________________________________________
Uterus - size (left horn/right horn): __________________________________
Ovaries - size (left/right): ______________________________________________
Mammary secretions/swelling? ______________________________________
History of milk production (incl. IgG): ________________________________
Mothering ability: ______________________________________________________
Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. Offspring [Photos attached Y/N?]

Number of male and female offspring: ______________(m) / ______________(f)
Names (reg. nos.): _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Overall health: ___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Fiber characteristics/statistics: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Colors/Markings: _________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of male offspring gelded/reason: __________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of female offspring culled/reason: _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Conformational flaws: __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Defects/abnormalities: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Show record: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. Sire [Photo attached Y/N?]

Registered name: _______________________________________________________________
ARI Reg. no.: ______________________ DOB: _________________________________________
Deceased? _________ Cause of death: ___________________________________________
Height, weight, color, photo: __________________________________________________
Sire/Reg. no.: _____________________________________________________________________
Dam/Reg. no. : ____________________________________________________________________
Fiber characteristics/statistics: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Conformational flaws: __________________________________________________________
Temperament: ___________________________________________________________________
History of milk production: _____________________________________________________
Abnormalities/Illnesses in sire? ________________________________________________
Number of pregnancies achieved: _____________________________________________
Number of viable cria produced (M/F): ________________________________________
Number of male offspring gelded/deceased (reason): ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of female offspring culled/deceased (reason): ____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Show record: _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Full siblings/Reg. nos.: ___________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

11. Dam [Photo attached Y/N?]

Registered name: ________________________________________________________________
ARI Reg no.: ____________________ DOB: ____________________________________________
Deceased? _______ Cause of death: _____________________________________________
Height, weight, color, photo: __________________________________________________
Sire/Reg. no.: _____________________________________________________________________
Dam/Reg. no.: ____________________________________________________________________
Fiber characteristics/statistics: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Conformational flaws: __________________________________________________________
Temperament: ___________________________________________________________________
History of milk production: _____________________________________________________
Abnormalities/Illnesses in dam? _______________________________________________
Number of pregnancies? _______________________________________________________
Number of viable cria produced (M/F)? _______________________________________
Reabsorbtions/Abortions/Stillbirths? _________________________________________
Dystocias? ________________________________________________________________________
Number of male offspring gelded/deceased (reason): _____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of female offspring culled/deceased (reason): ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Show record: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Full siblings/Reg. nos.: ___________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

12. Training [A139-143]

Halter: ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Performance: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Loading/transportation: ________________________________________________________
Clicker: ____________________________________________________________________________
TTeam: ____________________________________________________________________________
Mallon: ____________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

13. Shows/Awards [H]

Fleece: ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Halter: ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Performance: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

14. Additional records (note if attached):

ARI certificate: __________________________________________________________________
ARI records: ______________________________________________________________________
Health record: ___________________________________________________________________
Veterinary record: ______________________________________________________________
Blood tests: ______________________________________________________________________
Progesterone reports: __________________________________________________________
Semen evaluation: _______________________________________________________________
Breeding record: _________________________________________________________________
Sales Contract: ___________________________________________________________________
Breeding contract: ______________________________________________________________
Histogram reports: ______________________________________________________________
State Health Certificate: ________________________________________________________
References: _______________________________________________________________________
Other: ______________________________________________________________________________

15. References and Suggested Reading:

A) The Alpaca Book (E. Hoffman/Fowler)
M) Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids (Fowler)
C) Caring for Llamas and Alpacas (C. Hoffman/Asmus)
N) Llama and Alpacas Neonatal Care (Smith/Timm/Long)
V) Veterinary Lama Field Manual (Evans)
S) Secrets of the Andean Alpaca - The Field Guide (Krieger)
H) AOBA Show Handbook
J) The Alpaca Registry Journal (ARI, Inc.)
F) 2000 Clip Care Manual (AFCNA, Inc.)