PRE-BIRTHING TIPS FOR ALPACAS

Joy Whitehead says be prepared.

Understanding the signs that show the alpaca may be close to birthing plus having already prepared essential birthing equipment will give you confidence when this exciting season starts. It’s also especially helpful to be prepared if the weather is not spring like or its pitch dark. So what are the things to look out for?

Gestation

The average time for this is 343 days, but parturition may occasionally occur earlier than eleven or longer than twelve months from last mating dates.

Bcs

Regularly Body Condition Score. Ideally this should be recorded monthly throughout the year. Loss of body condition should trigger increased feeding to maintain pregnancy and avoid abortion or premature birth, as foetal growth occurs mainly in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Colostrum

This is the name of the first milk the dam produces and it is rich in antibodies. Colostrum is essential for all alpaca crias, and if a cria either doesn’t get enough, or it is of poor quality, then they may fail to thrive. It is good to have some frozen alpaca colostrum available, especially in case of premature birth. A very good alternative is a Colostrum Replacer called Immucol Platinum, available from www.ukalpacavet.com

Birthing kit

Have this ready well before your birthing season. Include a towel, weighing scales and sling, umbilical clamp, iodine solution, ear tags and applicator. You should also have to hand: a thermometer, a lamb tubing kit, a lamb feeding bottle and teats (a baby bottle and teat will do, but the hole in the teat will need to be enlarged), a cria coat and a hair dryer in case you have a hypothermic cria. A very comprehensive birthing kit is available from www.ukalpacavet.com.

Observation

Try to have your females nearby for observation from at least a month before the first crias are due and check them more regularly as they near their due dates. Most crias will be born between 08.00 and 13.00 hrs, but this is not guaranteed. It is wise to monitor your females every few hours when they are due to give birth.

Sacrotuberous ligament

At three to five days before birth a ligament just beside the tail and between the two sides of the pelvis will relax to allow the cria to pass through the pelvis. It’s possible to feel this change in tension, and so you can monitor this to get a clue of when birth may occur. Stand by the hips facing rearwards: the ligament runs from the base of the tail to the point of the hip. Compare with a non-pregnant female if you're not sure! It feels like a thick guitar string.

Birthing imminent

Quite near to parturition the dam will probably visit the poo pile more than usual: she may roll, or she may go off on her own apart from the herd. The majority of alpaca births will be straightforward and trouble-free, but will still require monitoring.

Online training courses

For an unparalleled learning opportunity look out for the popular online training courses to be offered by specialist camelid vet Claire Whitehead later in the year. The Camelid Health Care course will be starting in late August, followed by the Breeding Management and Cria Care course starting in October. Please follow the Camelid Veterinary Services Ltd Facebook page for the latest information on courses for owners and vets.