Weaning
Weaning is where the dam looks you in the eyes and says "THANK YOU".
In the process of getting prepared to wean the first crias, there was a lot of reading and there was also a lot of controversy.
I am a believer that things will happen naturally when it's time. Some articles suggested that you let this happen and the dam will do the weaning, some said the alpaca owner should do the weaning. What do you do?
After having several discussions with mentor farms and my vet, I went against my instincts and did the weaning.
At seven months old, I removed the dam from the original herd hoping this would cause less stress on the cria. Here's where I got "the look," the dam actually thanked me and seemed very content. Our barn is set up so that the dam and cria could still see each other and they hummed back a forth for a day or so but then it was over. The cria now started a life of independency.
Prior to weaning, I made sure the cria was drinking water willingly, eating grain, and grazing. At this point, the nursing was a habit and security so, I knew it was time. I planned my weaning around the ages of the cria so that there would never be just one cria being weaned at a time. This way, they could "hum" on each others shoulders.
I separated the dam and cria for at least 2 months before putting them back in the same pasture. My oldest cria (9 months old) immediately went and tried to nurse but fortunately, the dam kicked her off.
As the weaning process is taking place, you should remember to check the dams udder for heat, swelling, or redness in the unlikely event of mastitis.
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