Merchandise Report May 2023

Hi Everyone.

Well, we have had a very busy time since our last meeting. It started at the Glenn Innes Ag show in February with sales totaling $925.00. Thanks to Sue and Dennis Boyle for bringing animals and to the Glasser’s and Bruce for helping both days.

The next show was the Toowoomba Royal at the end of March which was the first time we have taken the merchandise up there. It was two and a half days of sales that totaled $1611.90. This time thanks go out to the Glasser’s, Donna Crone, Di Smart and Bruce Robinson.

Then we had our local Ag show mid April at Bonalbo for a day. The sales totaled $805 and we started a major raffle with tickets sales of $119.00. Thanks to Maree and Peter Dobbins for bringing animals, Pauline, Bruce and some friends from Darwin that were staying with us for the weekend. They had a wonderful time and learnt alot about Alpacas.

The next weekend was Grafton Show, always a very busy time. With product sales totaling $1345.00 and the raffle sales at $136.00. Thanks to Donna Crone and Di Smart for helping with the sales and tickets. The Glasser’s were very busy doing other things.

Following on from that was the Celtic Festival back up chilly Glenn Innes. We had two huge days of sales totaling $3290.00 with the raffle totaling $228.60. Thanks again to Sue and Dennis Boyle for bringing animals both days and to Pauline Glasser, Judy Barlow, Donna Crone and Bruce for all their hard work. What an amazing festival, I can still hear the bagpipes in my ears:-)

So that has been 5 events so far with sales totaling $7976.60 amazing. In case you are wondering about the .60 cents, it was a donation:-)

As this gets sent out for the next meeting we will be at Wahgungurry Alpacas helping out for Mother’s Day again. Following that will be the Alpaca Show at Glenn Innes on the long weekend in June. See you all there.

ERWIN ALPACAS

Roland spent a very busy day at the Big Prawn recently. Promoting our Month of May Alpaca Awareness Month. The monkey was a take home from day care for a visitor. I wonder what the teacher thought of his outings Monday morning?

Book Review by Michelle Malt

“Glove Box Guide to Alpacas”,

by Jane Vaughan

Dr Jane Vaughan is the author of "The Glovebox Guide to Alpacas". She is an experienced veterinarian who has worked with alpacas for over 25 years, both in Australia and internationally, having graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 1988. Her work in “ET” (embryo transfer) and reproduction takes her all over the world, working with camelids. Jane is very knowledgeable about all aspects of alpaca medicine and has presented at numerous workshops and conferences over the years, and her presentation style is engaging and enjoyable.

Jane’s book is written in the same engaging manner and is set out in sections that are easily identified by a tab colour on the edge of each page and covering all the hot topics: Husbandry, Cria Care, Nutrition, Parasites, Reproduction, plus more specialised sections targeted at vets: Sick Alpaca, Treatments, Diagnostics and Miscellany. The inside cover contains a Table of Contents allowing the reader to find key sections quickly, along with the abbreviations used – this is particularly useful for the layperson.

The book is easy to read, and is produced on plastic pages with spiral binding, so it is practical to use in a paddock/shed/vet surgery setting, it can be wiped clean if necessary and will not disintegrate if kept in a glove box, vehicle seat etc. It includes a rough guide that outlines the husbandry and management requirements by season in the Australian climate

The ‘Glovebox Guide to Alpacas’ is an excellent reference for alpaca owners and veterinary practices. Veterinary students receive limited exposure to alpacas and camelid medicine during their studies, and many practices do not see alpacas on a regular basis. Add to that the uniqueness of the alpaca, and the fact that a sick alpaca is a very sick alpaca, , and they are stoic – a sick alpaca is potential prey, and they will mask clinical signs of illness to avoid becoming a target. Due to their origins in high altitude environments in South America they can mask clinical signs of anemia until red blood cell numbers are severely depleted, and can also mask signs of dehydration moreso than other livestock. These factors can make diagnosis and treatment challenging for vets. It should be noted that in Australia, there are no drugs registered for use in camelids – use is ‘off-label’ (there are no dosage rates for alpaca provided by the manufacturer). Administration of any drench, antibiotic, pain relief etc must be done under the supervision of a veterinarian, and there are potential risks that must be considered. Jane has drawn on her years of experience working with alpacas, farmers and fellow veterinarians to provide guidance on appropriate treatments and dosages, but meat, milk and fleece withholding periods are unknown, and all products are used at your own risk.

I purchased this book for myself soon after it was published in 2017, and my veterinary practice also has a copy, which I see on hand whenever I visit the surgery for a consultation involving my alpacas. I think that is a great recommendation!

The book is available for purchase from Beaufort Animal Supplies – https:// beaufortanimalsupplies.com.au/ at a cost of $110 (incl GST) plus postage.