Latest Articles
1: What should I do to get started?
10 things to do and think about before you buy alpacas - http://www.veneziadream.com/article1.html
2: Alpaca Delivery 101
On Saturday morning, our open house began at 10:00. About 10:30 or so, Steve and I noticed that Amber was rolling and hoping up and down. We both made a mental note, but didn't mention it
3: Leg Conformation
Correct leg conformation optimizes bone and joint health throughout the life of the animal and therefore is important to its well-being. An alpaca with crooked legs has a much greater chance of developing early "wear-and-tear" pathology of the bones and joints, such as joint pain and arthritis, than one with correctly aligned legs.
4: Tears of the Alpaca
"Dogs have breed standards, cats have breed standards, sheep have breed standards, and heck...," the speaker paused dramatically for added effect, "...even rats have breed standards." Laughter! Many of those sitting in the audience nodded in agreement. "It's time for the growing alpaca industry to formulate and adopt such a breed standard," those nods said.
5: Mr. Paca Pinto
Dear Ingrid,
I've read several articles on genetics and am still somewhat confused. What is a locus? Also, what is an allele? Can you explain these terms very briefly in layman's language?
Sincerely,
Not A. Scientist
6: From Peas to Shoes to Alpacas
You vaguely remember the lesson. While the biology teacher droned on about Mendelian Gene Action, you allowed your mind to drift. What was so important about Gregor Mendel's discovery anyway? You didn't intend to grow peas, no animals were being bred at your house, and you certainly did not intend to pick your future spouse based on Mendelian or any other genetic principles.
7: Breeding for Diversity
"The greater the variability of the genomes in a population, the greater the likelihood of survival of the species in changing and hostile environments."
-Mahlon B. Hoadland, 1981
8: Alpacas - Body Conformation
Conformation is the term that we use to describe the correctness in the body of the alpaca. Alpacas should have straight legs when viewed from the front and they should not be too close together. Many alpacas have front legs that turn out very slightly in the ankle and toe area.
9: Assessing Fetal Health: When is the Gestating Cria at Risk?
Assessment of fetal well-being is an area of on-going research at The Ohio State University. We have been concerned by the limited ability to determine if a gestating cria is OK.
10: Basics of Alpaca Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the major keys to animal health. Without a sound nutrition program, an animal will be unable to produce fiber or a cria to its maximum genetic potential. Limitations in the supply of nutrients can and do compromise an animal’s immune system. Therefore, having a working knowledge of the nutrients needed by the animal, and what feeds will supply those nutrients, is one of the most important steps in managing an animal.