Rotavirus in Alpacas

After our debut at an alpaca show in Denver last week, we brought home not only a blue ribbon but Rotavirus.  It had spread throughout the show and many animals began to show symptoms on the last day.  While the event veterinarian confirmed several days after the show that is was Rotavirus, sickness had already begun to spread through our weanling herd.

Our young alpacas showed signs of fever (102 F to 106 F) with diarrhea and lethargy.  We isolated this group from other alpaca herds and gave them antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, Pedialite and Gatorade to help with dehydration.  

Many adults will be exposed to the sickness but already have the antibodies in their systems to fight any infections.  Alpacas under one year of age are at a higher risk without the previous exposure to build up immunities.   It is often not the virus that will kill an alpaca, but the secondary problems caused by the sickness.


With Rotavirus, there are two main concerns - 

1.  Respiratory infection can be lethal and those most vulnerable can die in 48 hours.  Most will receive high temps, snotty nose, diarrhea causing dehydration.  They can show one or all of these signs, or be so stoic they simply tip over and die. 

2.  The virus attaches to the inside layer of bowel wall, causing leakage of diarrhea resulting in bacterial infections and inhibits absorption of nutrients and liquids.  

According to the CDC website:

• The incubation period for rotavirus disease is approximately 2 days.
• The disease is characterized by watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days, and occasionally fever and abdominal pain.
•  Immunity after infection is incomplete, but repeat infections tend to be less severe than the original infection.
• Younger animals seem to be more severely affected (because many older animals will have some immunity if previously exposed)
• The virus is stable in the environment and resistant to various chemical disinfectants and bleach
• Because the virus is stable in the environment, transmission can occur through ingestion of contaminated water or food and contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
• Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limited illness, lasting for only a few days. Treatment is nonspecific and consists of oral or IV rehydration therapy to prevent dehydration (especially in young animals) and supportive care such as anti-diarrheal medications and probiotics.
• Rotaviruses are generally species-specific and the transmission from animals to humans is very rare
• Even with good biosecurity measures on the farm it is difficult to prevent the infection of naïve animals due to the shear number of viral particles shed during clinical disease and the fact that the virus is stable in the environment. 
• There is no rotavirus vaccine approved for use in camelids and the vaccine for cattle/neonatal calves is not recommended.

Although most animals recover without veterinary intervention some animals may need more aggressive supportive therapy.  Thus, be sure to monitor temperatures and ensure they are getting plenty of liquids.  You may need to give a water bath if their temperatures get too high.  Quarantine the sick animals and talk to your vet about  antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

We Just Won First Place! Now What?

About an hour ago, I received a call from James saying that we had just won first place at the Great Western Alpaca Show.  Yippee!  I texted many friends and family members the good news.  Almost everyone of them wrote, "Congratulations!  What does it mean for your farm?"  Good question.

How much stock should we put in alpaca shows and winning a ribbon?

The goal for us heading to the show was to see where we are at at a national level with the rest of the alpacas out there.  Our goal was never to be the best of the best.  That is a lofty goal that I cannot finance.  However, I want to be competitive in the fleece market.  I want to know that our work is heading in the right direction.  I want my job to last for years to come.  Thus, winning a ribbon helps add validity to our breeding program that we are in the running for fiber quality.


However, you need to see where the ribbons came from to see how strongly they may impact your fiber and marketing program.  We have one girl who took first place at the Sun City Sizzle...the what?  It is a lower level show - level 1 or 2.  The National Shows, such as the Futurity and the Great Western Alpaca Shows, are level five shows and some of the largest and best out available.  There are more alpacas, great judges and excellent competitions.  Many of the biggest and best farms are there.  One competitor noted that it wasn't fair that the "big boys" were winning all of the ribbons and some of the smaller farms should get to win.   I believe in the opposite.  We want them there.  They do set the bar high.  True, I may get intimidated that with 19 animals one farm already had 8 blue ribbons on the first day.  But, they are a worth "opponent" if one would call them that.  They increase the meaning of my ribbon - or even placing.  With hundreds of alpacas comes a lot of overhead so they need to win ribbons to sell and pay their bills, just like we do.  If I want to win all of the time, I need better animals.  With that, you either buy them or breed for it, just like I did.  As I stated above, we cannot finance that type program, so we need to breed on our own farm for better progeny.


A great part of the show is learning about the animal you have brought.  Supposedly, the animals brought to the show are the pinnacle of what your breeding programs has worked toward. When Hooligan won the ribbon, the judge stated he had super soft fleece, fine crimp and overall the best fleece he had seen that day.  Now that says something about your farm.  Unfortunately, if you do not place, they rarely comment on the animal.

But, the best education is going around to other farms to see what is out there.  See who did and did not win a ribbon, check out their fleece and talk to the owners.  Have them tell you about their alpaca.  There is a wide range to see and experience.  If they do not win a ribbon, or receive 3rd or 4th, go and see who the competition was.  Talk to the judges if possible.  You paid for the event - an education - go get the most out of it.

Our farm often buys herdsires who often won ribbons.  A ribbon count isn't the determining factor, but it certainly helps in knowing for that day with that certain competition, that alpaca was decidedly better than the others around him.  That is who we need on our farm to move forward.

That is what it means for our farm.  Getting better fleece production with the right animals.  Packaging great color, conformation and fiber and hopefully passing it on to their offspring.  Yes, we will likely ask more for Hooligan's sale price.  But a ribbon helps represent that we are doing well with our goals of producing great cria.

Can Alpacas and Horses Be Put Together?

Can Alpacas and Horses Be Put Together?

Many people have asked if alpacas can be put with alpacas, either as companion animals or to help share a pasture.  Continuous, I highly discourage this. 

First, alpacas – and horses and everything else – need to be with its own kind.  Who wants to be the only one out there?  Alpacas are herd oriented and need to be with at least one other alpaca.  This is the same with horses or other livestock.  Eventwo alpacas together, while being better than a single alpaca, are not very happy. They become very fearful and panicky when alone or in low numbers. When we put alpacas and sheep together, they may intermingle, but the loyalty lies within their own kind.

Next, I do believe it is a safety issue.  We have two very gentle horses, but alpacas do not stand a chance if they would ever bully them out of the barn, water or off of the food.  On occasion with a 10-acre, lush pasture, we have put horses and alpacas together for the daytime where there is plenty of food and each goes their separate ways.  We bring everyone home at night.  One kick, or even a push, can injure or kill an alpaca. It’s not worth it to me.

Llamas are a different factor.  They can stand up to a horse a little more effectively and have the size and confidence to do so.  Keep alpacas safe and out of the horse pastures.

How to Have An Effective Farm Visit

One of the best ways to have people truly learn about you and your alpacas is through a farm visit. But, what is the most effective way to get the most out of your and their time?  You pick up the phone and you have someone on the other end asking for a farm visit.  Or, you get an email asking if they can come by and see the alpacas.   

Here are a few tips to go through to help the visit be smooth and effective.

What kind of visit do they want? Is it a grandparent with little children wanting to pet alpacas, or are they interested in raising a herd of their own?   These are two very different meetings.

The casual afternoon visit.   

For the casual afternoon viewing, I schedule about an hour and greet them on the porch so they do not need to come inside. We start off with the Anatolian Guard Dogs greeting us at the gate.  This is great segway for predator control and alpaca safety.  Next, we walk in the female pasture towards the barn.  We stop as the ladies approach us and, if I am prepared, hand visitors grain in my hand for them to feed.  The ladies can get a bit “enthusiastic” about the pellets, so I limit the amount offered.   If there are any babies, I do my best to catch one or two, scratching up the backs and necks of the more friendly adults. We head to the barn and I explain our housing system for weaning, training, shearing and such.   The boys are always fun, as they are more rambunctious and confident than the girls.  One of our older males LOVES the pellets and will do tight circles around anyone with feed in tow.

This round leads us back to the house where I offer to show them our alpaca products.  Many are interested in the creation of these products from animals right outside the doorway.  The visitors are usually on their way after this.

The raising alpacas visit

There are three types of alpaca buyers 

1)  Family project – 4H, pets, love of animals.

 2) Fiber processors – creating their own hats, sweaters, socks. 

3) Wanting alpacas as a business/ income. 

The three are not mutually exclusive to each other, and all involve learning how to keep an alpaca alive and well.  I set out significantly more time for this meeting – usually 3 to 4 hours. Both types of meetings are just as important, but we begin our visit in the house, sitting down and talking about what they are looking for, their ideas and how we can help them.  This group receives an alpaca farm packet, overviewing the market, husbandry and the care needed for raising alpacas.   When the initial set of questions have been answered, we head outside in the same route, visiting the guard dogs, females, barn and the males.   However, it takes several hours to go through, explaining the hay and watering systems, pasture layout and general upkeep of a farm. 

I found that about 3 hours and 10 alpaca fleeces is about the maximum before the brain starts to melt.  Visitors tend to get the glazed-eye syndrome and are done.  At this point, ask if there are any other major questions, and wrap-up your visit for the day.

Preparation Tips for the Visit:

• Ensure they have good directions.
• Look at the weather ahead of time and have the visitors dress appropriately.  We have several sets of muck boots that we offer so they do not have to drive home with alpaca manure on their shoes.
• Greet them at the front door. Do not have your visitors come and find you somewhere on your property. 
• Offer information and really listen to the types of questions they are asking and what they want alpacas for – money, fun, clothing?
• Ask about their farm layout, timeframe, future growth plans.
• Help them understand why the alpaca industry is strong and how it can work for them.  If you do not understand it, why are they interested in you?
• Convey that they will not be alone when buying these animals.  Reaffirm that you will be there to help out with any and all questions they have about alpacas.
• Be able to catch and feel the alpacas.  If your alpacas are shy or skittish, have a few already caught so visitors can feel the fiber.  Or, have bags of fleece on hand.  An alpaca visit is a very tactile experience. 
• If you do not know an answer to a question, say so and then go find it for them.

Farm visits are fun.  Everyone is enthusiastic and take away something they didn’t know – even the kids.  Enjoy the variety of people and the many ways alpacas can be enjoyed.  Just because you are utilizing them one way, expand other’s opportunities on how they want to enjoy this unique lifestyle.

Alpaca Marketing - Creating an Image

Marketing - Creating an Your Image

Marketing is all about building an image that catches our prospects’ attention and holds it long enough to make them interested in becoming your customers.  Your prospects’ perceptions of you form impressions in their minds that position, or brand, your business.  Whether the impressions are good or bad is your job to convey.  Powerful and long-lasting, these impressions may or may not be what you had intended, yet it is these very perceptions which influence whether or not your prospects will ultimately pursue buying from you - or from someone else.

A significant amount of this impression-building happens long before your prospects ever get close enough to interact with you personally.  Your goal before they actually make contact with you is to project an image that will make them want to meet you, visit your farm, and become your customer. 

What often happens is that as breeder and alpaca products creator, you work so hard on face-to-face marketing, you overlook the impression you are giving to those you have yet to meet.  While focusing on the big picture of marketing – getting business cards, placing strategic ads, going to shows, getting on-line, etc. – it’s easy to overlook the little things that can change a good impression of you and your farm into an image that causes the prospects NOT to take action to pursue doing business with you. 

“Little things are not little things.  Little things are everything.”  Harvey MacKay

Print Materials 

What do your marketing materials say about you?  Cheap?  Sloppy?  Tacky?  Professional?  Informed?

• Does your ad speak to a prospect’s needs?  Does it say anything they didn’t know?  Even a small ad can ask a leading question what will entice prospects to pursue whether or not you can fulfill their needs and desires.  Be customer focused, not about how great you are.
• Use bullet points and headlines.  Realistically, they are not going to read your entire brochure – just like most people will skim this blog.  Get to the point.  Overloading with wording and photos can turn people off.  Use of essential photos is crucial.  Keep the brochure clear, flowing and uncluttered.
• Is your business card graphically consistent with the rest of your identity package?  Does it show clearly that you are in the alpaca business?  VistaPrint.com has excellent quality products, but no alpaca related materials.  You can get great business cards from them, but try to introduce your own theme into the cards.  * And use good card stock wherever you go.  Show prospects you are willing to put in a couple of extra dollars towards paper and gloss on your cards.  This small piece of marketing collateral can begin to build a positive image of you or it can make a potential buyer stop right there.
•  Is the sign on your vehicle in good condition?  Does it offer a phone number and website to contact you in LARGE, legible print?  Is the vehicle in clean and good repair?  If it is, your prospects will perceive that you take good care of your farm, animals and customers, too.

Think in your prospect’s perspective. How will he/ she perceive your print marketing materials?  Keep them prospect-focused, uncluttered, and consistent in design and brand imagery.  Always give prospects multiple ways to contact you and a directive call-to-action to do so.  The easier you make it for them to feel they can get the right product from you, the more likely they will be to move from distant viewer to interested buyer.

Online marketing

What is unique about your website?  Eighty-five percent of all prospects research on-line before making calls, attending shows and meeting breeders.  This is excellent.  It means they are interested and want to me more informed.  The Internet has become your filter to helping people see if it’s even an option before “wasting” your time.  By the way, talking to someone is never wasting time.  Even if they do not buy, there is a high chance that their sister / neighbor / cousin / friend-of-a-friend may be interested.  So always make your best efforts with every person you meet.

• Is your website easy navigate to?  Have friends and family test it out with a certain question they want answered in mind.  Is it graphically inviting?  Does it include photos of you living the lifestyle?  
• Does it have AMPLE ways to easily contact you – phone and email and mail?
• Does your e-blast have an attention-grabbing subject line that makes prospects want to open it at all? Does is offer links to your website or your inbox to make it easy to investigate further and speak with you? You need to be careful you do not fall under spamming regulations.  If your email is put on blocked lists, if falls back negatively on your electronic rankings.

Show and Event Booth

It can be overwhelming for prospects to walk into an alpaca show and know where to begin.  So, many of them initially keep their distance, slowly deciding what to see, and with whom to converse.

Walk the aisles slowly and see what makes you spot your own both.  Is there anything about it? Then think in your prospect’s perspective.  Would you approach your booth? Is it clean, uncluttered and inviting?  Does it offer take-away information about your farm and your animals?  Is it manned throughout the show?

Stand Out In A Crowd

• Have the names and ages of the alpacas posted on the outside of your booth.
• Wear your logo on your shirt.  Embroidery is about $10 and makes you look professional.
• Hand out an “Alpaca 101” or “Alpaca Fun Facts” sheet with your info on it.
• Approach people confidently but slowly with a smile, say “Hello”, wait another 5-10 seconds while they are still looking at the animals, and then start talking.  Ask them what they want to know. 
• Don’t overwhelm them with your knowledge of alpacas.  Help them get to know about alpacas, and you, without inundating them.
• Many alpacas like chew toys tied to the side of the pen because they get bored.  We often coat them with salt or molasses. This makes people smile and laugh, which is a good place to start a conversation.
• Speak up when a passer-by shows interest. Stand up and smile. You have a collective group going out of their way to learn about alpacas.  Use the opportunity to your benefit.

Farm Appearances

• You never get a second chance to make a first impression – and this is no exception.  Most farm visitors will form an initial impression of your farm within the first few minutes from the time they turn into your driveway. For those unfamiliar with rural living, they really do not know what to expect.  Little things they notice will have lasting impressions.  And all this will happen before you even get a chance to introduce yourself.
• Was the farm easy to find based on your brochure or website?
• Did you suggest cold/ warm clothing or farm boots?  Patent leather shoes love to retain the alpaca manure smell.  And for those having to get back on an airplane, no fore-warning is not appreciated.
• Is it smelly?  Our “Spring Thaw” is rough for a couple of weeks and many understand that. But do your best to keep “farm smells” to a minimum.
• Is your farm sign visible from the road?
• What can visitors see as they drive up your road?  Are the fences in good repair? Has the garbage been removed from the road?  Are the buildings in good condition?  Is your barn clean?
• As you there to greet your scheduled visitors or must they come find you?
• Inside the barn, are the alpacas approachable / catchable and is it clean and organized? 

If your prospects form a good perception of your farm appearance, it will support you in making them feel comfortable and confident about you as a breeder.  They will be likely to listen more intently to what you tell them, and to leave feeling good about their visit.

Customer Service

Once your prospect has become a buyer, she / he may leave your presence, but she will have a strong need to feel connected to you from a distance.  How you communicate with her after the sale is important to future business, as she becomes a potential repeat buyer and strong referral source.

• After the sale is finalized and alpacas are either agisted or delivered, what do you do to initiate regular contact with your customers?  We call about 3 days after they are on their farm to see how things are going and we also encourage them to call us.  Send them cria photos of their alpacas to give them a sense of history with their alpacas.  Offer to take them to shows, share herd management techniques and nutrition information.  Do you make visits to their property to offer pasture evaluation and layout?  Many buyers are happy to show you how they have developed their own alpaca farm.
• Share in shearing, tooth and toe trimming, birthing and farm operation.  They want to learn and we can all use extra help with husbandry.
• Help them to determine which male is the best choice for breeding their female.  Does she need density, coverage, staple length, fineness?  Who is the best match for each particular female?   

The relationships you build when your customers away from you can either create distance between you or bring you closer to future sales and referrals.

In a marketplace where actual distance between breeders and potential buyers is commonplace, the techniques you practice to close that gap will increase your chances of bringing those prospects face-to-face with you.  Practice these techniques and you will increase prospects’ intention of learning and wanting to buy from you now and in the future.

Cria Preparation

Cria Preparation

As I was flipping through our calendar of the upcoming weeks and months, I realized that we suddenly have babies scheduled to arrive in the next 3 weeks.  With an expected total of 42 cria this year, many of them are coming in late April and early May.  I prefer that most of our babies be born during June through August.  In Montana and with our small Summer window, we try to breed our girls a little earlier in case the pregnancy doesn’t take.  However, it seems that almost everyone took on the first go. So while we do have some that are due in later Summer, there are quite a few coming right around the corner. 

Preparation

Most of our girls will carry about 11 ½ months (341 days), give or take a week.  Usually they are quite consistent. If they delivered 3 weeks early last year, they will likely keep the same schedule.   

We have a cria kit that is always ready to go.  We put our supplies in a portable file folder so it is water tight, dust free and easy to carry.

One of the most important items we have are towels to dry the baby.  Hopefully, this will be the only item you use during the birth.  However, its good to have other items packed.

Birthing/ Cria Kit  

• Bottle of water-based, sterile, lubrication
• Plastic Gloves, both short and full arm length
• Iodine – preferably at least 2.5% solution, liquid, or a spray bottle
• Headlamp
• Thermometer
• Vet wrap to wrap the dam's tail out of the way
• Umbilical cord clamp - or clothesline clip
• Pocket knife
• Stethoscope
• Old towels if the cria needs to be rubbed dry and warm
• Scales – bathroom ones, or hanging cria scales
• Portable phone and vet's phone number
• Bucket and plastic garbage bag for placenta collection
• Cria coat – put on if there is any cool weather or breezy 

Because of the coolness of the Spring nights – and occasionally snow days in April and March, we also have an 8’ x 8’ pen set up in our garage just in case.  Many times if the weather is not cooperative, we have the mom and baby spend the night in the garage just to keep the baby as comfortable as possible. This is crucial for premature babies who have a hard time regulating their body temperature.

The best way to become prepared is try to make it to a birth off of the farm with an experienced breeder (duh-of course, but this usually isn’t an option).  A great book I would highly recommend to just about everyone is Llamaand Alpaca Neonatal Care by Bradford Smith, Karen Timm and Patrick Long.  It is informative, step-by-step in layman’s terms that everyone can comprehend.  Get it!

Watch for signs of the baby.  Most of the time, you will not need to do anything, but it is helpful to be nearby just in case.