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Read the full article on the best formula to fee...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:16:24 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1601Did you know there may be times when you can help your adult alpacas by providing them with supplementation of electrolytes? It may be that dam who decides to give birth in the spring during an unexpected heat wave. It could be in a condition described to your veterinarian over the phone where the recommendation is to supplement your alpaca with an electrolyte. There is an easy recipe you can prepare and have on hand which can provide a quality, easily stored, and easily administered form of ele...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:16:11 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1602This case study is about Moon River, a beautiful alpaca cria that was born healthy. She appeared by all measures to be normal, but lived for only four short days. Moonie, as we nicknamed her, succumbed to an infectious process, the result of insufficient amounts of colostrum in the first hours of her life. All this was unbeknownst to her owners, until it was too late. My hope in writing this case study is that you develop an understanding of the consequences for a cria who fails to get enough co...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:15:55 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1603An EPD is an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD). It has been my experience that when you ask an alpaca breeder if their alpacas have been EPD tested and what are their herdsire's values, I usually get a look of utter astonishment. They have of course, heard of EPDs, but seem to be confounded by the thought that someone might ask. I doubt if a person was shopping for a bovine stud they would get the same response from a breeder.

...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:15:22 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1606In 1990, with lightning speed, the means for finding information for the general public went from the library to the Internet. The Internet started by linking universities and quickly spread to its use by the public. Hence came the vernacular "Google it". So when someone wants information about alpacas they will "google it". The words they choose to seek information will depend on many variables; however the results you want is for that person to link to your website. The only way to do that is ...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:19:11 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1607My husband Dave and I started a new alpaca business just like you. We were three months into the business and all I can say is what did people do before the Internet. Thank goodness for the Internet. Of course, it was a recession, right, we couldn't start with two alpacas like everyone else. No, no, we started with 10 alpacas and two llamas. You know the thinking, why start with two when you can get 10 for the same price. Sounds good, right? Who thinks like this? Someone with no knowledge about ...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:20:59 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1611There is an old saying in medicine, “When you hear hoof beats, don’t look for zebras.” It loosely suggests that, when a doctor, or in this case a veterinarian, sees symptoms of a disease, the most common cause of the symptoms is usually the culprit. In the case of a common infection this adage is a simple reminder for doctors that a fever is more likely a cold or flu – and not infectious endocarditis.

Which brings me to the purpose of my article which is to inf...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:22:58 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/1612The cost of veterinary services can be one of the most prohibitive expenses for the alpaca owner and breeder. During this recession, we all know alpaca sales are down, but expenses can be up. During these times, any way to save on costs would be welcome by any alpaca owner. One novel way to cut some of the costs is to allow veterinary technician students to provide some of the services that you would typically have your veterinarian, or paid ranch help, provide. Especially those once a year type...Thu, 09 Jan 2025 20:24:53 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/649Recently, we bottle fed a cria for 2 months with a unique formula which produced good results. I pursued further research to see if my choices of formula had real validity. I had read in multiple sources that cow’s milk was one of the acceptable choices for supplementation. I did however, not feel comfortable with that choice. As a Nurse Practitioner, I knew pasteurized cow’s milk as a sole source of nutrition has its limitations. Numerous sources recommended adding yogurt to increase the pr...Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:54:36 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/637Don't be left behind, the industry is rapidly changing. An EPD is an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD). It has been my experience that when you ask an alpaca breeder if their alpacas have been EPD tested and what are their herdsire’s values, I usually get a look of utter astonishment. They have of course, heard of EPDs, but seem to be confounded by the thought that someone might ask. I doubt if a person was shopping for a bovine stud they would get the same response from a breeder. Al...Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:54:56 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/16There is an old saying in medicine, “When you hear hoof beats, don’t look for zebras.” It loosely suggests that, when a doctor, or in this case a veterinarian, sees symptoms of a disease, the most common cause of the symptoms is usually the culprit. In the case of a common infection this adage is a simple reminder for doctors that a fever is more likely a cold or flu – and not infectious endocarditis. Which brings me to the purpose of my article which is to inform my fellow alpaca ...Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:10:43 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/17 My husband Dave and I started a new alpaca business just like you. We were three months into the business and all I can say is what did people do before the internet. Thank goodness for the internet. Thank goodness for the internet. Of course, it was a recession, right, we couldn’t start with two alpacas like everyone else. No, no, we started with 10 alpacas and two llama. You know the thinking, why start with two when you can get 10 for the same price. Sounds good, right? Who thinks li...Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:10:31 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/143An EPD is an Expected Progeny Difference (EPD). It has been my experience that when you ask an alpaca breeder if their alpacas have been EPD tested and what are their herdsire’s values, I usually get a look of utter astonishment. They have of course, heard of EPDs, but seem to be confounded by the thought that someone might ask. I doubt if a person was shopping for a bovine stud they would get the same response from a breeder. Alpaca Registry, Inc., (ARI) and Ideal Alpaca Community (IAC)...Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:26:02 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/144This case study is about Moon River, a beautiful ideal alpaca cria who was born healthy. She appeared by all measure to be born normal, but lived for only four short days. Moonie, as we nick named her, succumbed to an infectious process, the result of insufficient amounts of colostrom in the first hours of her life. All this was unbeknownst to her owners until it was too late. My hope in reading this case study, you develop an understanding of the consequences for a cria who fails to get enou...Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:25:18 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/200In 1990, with lightning speed, the means for finding information for the general public went from the library to the internet. The internet started by linking universities and quickly spread to its use by the public. Hence came the vernacular “Google it”. So when someone wants information about alpacas they will “google it”. The words they choose to seek information will depend on many variables; however the results you want is for that person to link to your website. The only way to do tha...Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:28:22 +0000https://www.openherd.com/article-list/434Make Your Own Electrolyte Paste By Sheila Scroggins Did you know there may be times when you can help your adult alpacas by providing them with supplementation of electrolytes? It may be that dam who decides to give birth in the spring during an unexpected heat wave. It could be in a condition described to your veterinarian over the phone where the recommendation is to supplement your alpaca with an electrolyte. There is an easy recipe you can prepare and have on hand which can...Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:06:57 +0000