TIME TO UNPACK T hough the weather would have us thinking it’s an entirely different time of year every five minutes, another exciting unpacking season is definitely underway. This means it’s time to refresh memories, restock, and get ready for an eventful summer.
Get your kit together
It’s the beginning of the season, so there is still time to curate the perfect unpacking kit and ensure that you have appropriate medicines on farm. Whether they’re anti-inflammatories, vitamins or antibiotics, be aware that your vet may have to perform a medicine check before dispensing – this is a legal requirement, and you don’t want to be conducting that visit in an emergency, so do have a chat with them to ensure you have what they recommend on the shelf. After medicines, I would suggest you have an unpacking kit that is available to be grabbed at short notice, comprising: • Disinfectant • Clean buckets • A lambing snare (if you have been trained to use one by your vet). This is a protected wire to help safely align the head in a difficult birth. • Towels • A clamp for rogue bleeding umbilical stumps • A lamb feeding oesophageal tube and syringe (again, something you could ask for training on usage) • Long armed gloves • Iodine for naval dipping • Plenty of lubricant (I favour a bottle with a long spout) • A head torch • Emergency vet contact details • Plastic sheeting (to keep a uterus clean in the event of a prolapse)
Watching and waiting
Normal unpacking generally occurs in daylight hours (around 10am to 2pm). And anything outwith that warrants a gentle investigation, and potentially more intensive care for the cria. The first stage of labour looks like general discomfort in alpaca; they may separate from the herd, vocalise and make repeated trips to the dung pile. This can last up to six hours, but if you have a gut feeling that something is amiss, do trust your instinct and either check the dam or call for veterinary advice. Stage two is where the cria makes an entrance. The dam will either lie, stand or squat, and make efforts to expel the cria. This can take up to an
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hour, but there should be meaningful progression every 15 minutes. If no obvious advancement is made in that time frame, a gentle, calm investigation (with a well-lubricated and gloved hand) could give an indication as to whether the position of the cria is normal. A ‘normal’ presentation is the front legs outstretched first, with the upright head in between. Anything other than this may require some help; whether that is lightly adjusting a folded foot, taking care to guard the uterus as you do so, or more intricate manipulation of the head into the right place, or delivery of a breech (backward) cria. For reference, the first two joints of the foot bend the same way on the forelimbs (making a ‘U’ shape), and opposite ways on hindlimbs (making a ‘Z’) shape. Correction of some malposition can be risky for the dam; as they have fragile uterine walls, and it is important to take swift advice from your vet as to whether the dam requires treatment under epidural for pain relief. Please do not be afraid to call your vet if you are at all concerned - many would much prefer getting on the road and having to turn around because the cria delivered itself, to getting on to farm too late. After the cria is born, the dam then enters stage three, where she passes the placenta. This usually happens within four hours, but if not passed entirely (check for missing pieces) in six hours, then make a plan with your vet as to more intensive monitoring or treatment.
Checking newborn cria
Make sure to remove membranes from the nose and mouth, and though it may be obvious, check for heartbeat and breathing. Sometimes breaths need a kick-start with some straw up the nose. Do not be tempted to swing the cria, as this can compress the lungs. Instead, place it on its chest, and move all four limbs so that they point forward (like a sphynx with straight back legs pointing forwards). This is the best position for lung expansion. Dip the navel in your chosen disinfectant, and clamp gently if bleeding.
About the author
A cria should also be checked to ensure patent anus, that it has normal genitalia, allowing it to urinate, and that its face is straight, with patent nostrils that allow airflow through both sides. You can check airflow with a mirror, or with a wisp of fibre in front of the nostrils – flaring nostrils do not guarantee airflow. Issues such as lax or contracted tendons should be identified, and the jaw checked for alignment, taking care to feel the palate is intact in the mouth too. Any suspected defects are best reported to your vet so they can advise on prognosis and care.
Post natal care
When the birth has passed without event, the dam should not need treatment. It is wise to check for any tears or bruising (that may warrant anything from pain relief to veterinary attention) and to check for an elusive twin, just in case. Check the udder for any heat, pain, hardness or swelling, and that colostrum is coming in, else you may need to supplement the cria. Cria absolutely must take on colostrum within the first six hours of life. Colostrum provides the building blocks for the immune system, and these cannot be absorbed via the gut reliably after this window. Of course, alpaca colostrum is the ideal source, but if you must seek alternatives, goat colostrum (from Johne’s disease free herds) is the next best thing. It may be if the cria has not gotten adequate colostrum, or if it was premature, dysmature, or had a difficult/ prolonged birth, that a plasma transfusion is necessary, which will be discussed in more detail in the next issue. I hope that your unpacking season passes without undue stress, and that we will see lots of lovely cria in the coming weeks. It goes without saying that your vets are always here for you if you are unsure about anything during unpacking, or if you need emergency help. We are still trying to ensure social distancing as best as possible to be able to safely attend to your animals, so please facilitate this on farms if you need a vet visit. Good luck and best wishes for a successful season.
Dr Ami Sawran graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2011 and works for Westpoint Farm Vets. She is head of the small ruminant and camelid working group, and head of the camelid specialist interest group for VetPartners, where she also sits on the production animal clinical board. She also has a certificate in advanced veterinary practice.
