Keeping Them Warm

By Bev Henry

Camelid Quarterly, March 2009

Many areas of North America are experiencing severe and usual weather conditions, and this past winter was a harsh one. Most of us have some sort of shelter for our llamas to take refuge from the weather. But when sub-zero temperatures are accompanied by winds, a simple shelter, or even unheated barn, may not give enough protection. Deep bedding such as straw will help, but even that may not be adequate for our seniors.

Old llamas tend to have difficulty maintaining their weight at the best of times, with their worn teeth and less efficient digestive systems. Bitter cold weather will drain energy reserves and our faithful companions can drop weight very quickly under such conditions. A simple coat can make a world of difference, and now is a good time to start planning for next winter. There are many good and reasonably priced llama coats on the market, but for those of you who like to create, they are easy and relatively inexpensive to make. You will need:

• About 1.5 yards of 60” wide water repellant outer fabric.
• A single bed size gray wool army blanket or similar.
• About 6.5 yards 1.5” wide webbing and 2 or 3 one-inch Fastex buckles.

Check the outdoor wear section of your local fabric store for suitable fabrics. The remnant table is a good place to look for bolt ends at bargain prices. For the outer shell, you will want a tough and water repellant fabric such as ripstop nylon or Cordura, and those gray army blankets are perfect for liners. Try the army surplus stores and thrift shops for any sort of wool blankets — they don't have to be new. It's a good idea to wash them first, to allow for shrinkage.

The 1.5" polyester webbing is for binding the outside edge, and for tail loop, girth, and chest fasteners. There are several types of synthetic webbing available, but if you can find it, I like the soft polyester webbing rather than the stiffer and less Flexible nylon webbing used for halters.

The best way to custom fit your llama is to use an old sheet for a pattern. But for the average llama, a rough measurement from the base of tail to base of neck plus 12" will be fine. A llama weighing about 325 lbs and about 45" shoulder height with a back length of 38" will need a coat measuring about 50" along the bottom edge from chest to tail end. I use these measurements for a medium size coat. Add or subtract about 2" in overall length for larger or smaller llamas. Depth (top of shoulder to bottom hem of coat) should be 26" or maybe 28" For tall llamas.

Lay out the fabric for the shell, folded in half- the way the fabric came off the bolt and the way it will sit on your llama. Mark the start of the cut for the neck opening about 14" back from the neck edge. Make a second mark about 11" down from the front edge. Cut a smooth curve between these marks for the neck opening. Once you have the shell cut, use it as a pattern for the wool liner.

Lay the two pieces together right sides out and pin & stitch a length of web binding (about 1" ? width) folded over to bind the raw edges. I double stitch this for strength, with the two stitching lines ?” apart.

Or, if you don't want to bother binding the edge, you can just lay the two pieces together, right sides to the inside, and stitch around the edge, leaving a gap to turn the whole thing right side out. Finish with one or two lines of topstitching around the edge.

When I made my first llama coat, I patterned it after a standard horse blanket, with a girth strap, chest straps and straps to go around the hind legs to keep it in place. Llamas, however, are far more agile and flexible than horses, resulting in torn coats and spooked llamas. Being a packer, I then thought of the crupper strap (under the tail) used to hold some packsaddles in place. That worked perfectly.

For the crupper strap, cut a piece of webbing about 20” long, fold in half lengthwise and stitch securely to the tail end of the coat, about 2" down each side from the center fold line. Overlap the webbing onto the coat by a couple of inches to leave plenty of room to secure it.

Velcro fasteners on the chest straps tend to come undone on a very active llama. Better to use one or two Fastex buckles or a metal snap here. For the girth strap (belly band), I used a Fastex buckle as well, together with a slider for adjustment.

Stitch the chest straps to the coat so that the edges of the coat overlap an inch or two for warmth when the buckles are fastened. Check the girth strap for length on your llama before attaching it.

Webbing and Fastex buckles should be available in tack shop or army surplus stores, if you can't find them in your fabric shop. Or check the thrift stores - many kids backpacks are loaded with webbing snaps and buckles that can be re-used.

I do machine wash and dry these coats from time to time, and rejuvenate them with a spray on waterproof product formulate for tents and outdoor use.

Keep safety in mind. Make sure the girth and chest straps are snuggly fastened to lessen the possibility of the llama hooking a toenail in a strap. Unless you are sure the coat is totally waterproof, I would be very cautious about leaving it on for long periods in wet weather. I know from experience as a hiker that a leaky wet coat is a good way to get chilled in a hurry.

Check your barns and paddocks for any places where a coat could get snagged. And do keep a close eye on llamas wearing coats, to ensure their comfort and safety.

Keepin' Cool

By Terry Miller, Snowshoe Farm Alpacas

It seemed as though it would never arrive this year, but summer is finally here! Even though Vermont's temps are usually comfortable for alpacas, we do, on occasion, get those hot and humid days that do not agree with alpacas and llamas. It pays to be prepared to keep your camelids cool.

Shearing, of course, is the first item on the agenda. It's wise to schedule your shearing date well before hot weather arrives. Mid-April to mid-June is generally shearing season in Vermont.

Shade is the next item you should provide for your alpacas. In this part of the country, most of us have barns or shelters for our critters to keep out the elements, so finding shade is usually not a problem. We have overhangs on both long sides of our main barn. The areas under the overhangs provide shade, yet are open to the breeze. They are very popular places for the alpacas to hang out most of the year. Trees in the pasture can also provide a shady refuge.

Cool, clean water should always be available — for drinking, of course, but also for cooling off. Most alpacas also enjoy a pool or sprinkler. We like to use the simple brass ring sprinklers (the plastic version does not stand up well to being stepped on by alpacas). These sprinklers have no sharp edges or moving parts to harm the alpacas that tend to cush on them. Turning on the sprinklers for 10-15 mins at a time throughout the day allows the alpacas to cool off and keeps them out in the pasture grazing when they might otherwise seek out the shade of the barn.

Fans can be a big help, especially on those humid days when the air is sluggish. Large fans that sit or hand at ground level work well to put a breeze where it most helps – the legs and bellies of the alpacas.

Avoid the stress of handling your more skittish alpacas during a heat wave. A relaxed herd will be cooler and more comfortable and will get through extremes of weather with fewer problems.

Winter Wear

By Cathy Spalding

During our more severe winter temperatures, some alpacas and llamas have difficulty keeping warm. Gradual changes in season and temperatures are seemingly handled more easily than those that are sudden and abrupt. Sudden changes in weather and temperature do, however, occur with sprawled bodies soaking up the sun one day and the very next bringing on endless hours of stinging sleet.

Many alpacas and llamas seem to actually prefer to be out in inclement weather as opposed to being locked in an enclosed sheltered area. We have noticed the difference in choice can depend upon how the particular weather affects their facial area. Overall body fiber offers a level of protection from the weather. However, they are not normally as well protected about the face—particularly the eyes. Unrelenting rains, ice pellets and harsh winds can often send even the hardiest soul off in search of shelter.

In weather extremes, it is key to provide the best opportunities possible to assist each alpaca and llama in its ability to regulate its body temperature. Adequate shelter, windbreaks, bedding, feed/nutrition, fresh water and overall good health are a must for each animal. Age and other conditions can compromise the ability to adequately regulate body temperature. The most obvious sign that an animal is having difficulty regulating body temperature is shivering; it is cold and needs warmer conditions.

There are a number of creative and clever ways folks have provided their alpacas and llamas a warm reprieve from harsher weather. While an enclosed barn would seem top-of-the-line ideal, there are many other creative ways to provide a warm and cozy area. Windbreaks and half walls can be made for three-sided shelters using bales of straw placed across a portion of the open side. Bales of straw are also useful for blocking drafty areas such as under stall doors. Sheets of plywood or tarps can be installed along the edges of an overhang to provide more protection under those areas. Deep bedding provides a barrier between bodies and the colder flooring. In some areas, owners do not regularly replace the bedding during the winter period but rather just add new bedding each time fresh bedding is needed. Heat is generated from the lower layers of composting manure and straw.

Assisting an alpaca or llama having difficulty by having them wear a coat or blanket can make a significant difference. An alpaca or llama coat and/or blanket can be purchased from a variety of vendors. They are offered in varying sizes from cria to adult and in a vast array of styles, colors and patterns. A web search should yield a wide range of available winter wear.

Both adult alpaca and llama winter coats and sleeping bags are available from Bobra Goldsmith at Rocky Mountain Llamas.

Another popular llama blanket is made by Kate Otey of Kate's Kreations, www.ktot.net. She makes warm blankets with a waterproof outer shell.

There are also a number of very inexpensive and quite creative ways to come up with fashionable alpaca and llama winter wear:

* Visit your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or Value Village. In addition to a possible great find to replace your own worn winter wear, you can often find inexpensive blankets, quilted sleeping bags, children's zippered vests, sweatshirts, jackets, and sweaters quite suitable for alpacas and llamas. For younger alpacas and llamas, slip the front legs through the sleeves of the vest, sweatshirt or jacket and then zip it up on their backside along the top line. Putting the jacket or sweatshirt on backwards so that the zipper runs along the top line makes it much easier to put on and take off.

* Some folks have cut the arms from a sweatshirt, jacket or sweater and used one of the arm pieces as a neck warmer. Just slip the sleeve--cut to the appropriate length--over the head, fit it along the neck, and tuck the lower end into the neck opening of the sweatshirt, jacket or sweater they are already wearing--right where the two pieces meet at the withers.

* If you do not entirely cut off the sleeves of the garment, be sure they are short enough to allow your alpaca or llama free movement. It is possible to become entangled in winter wear that is not properly fit. Once entangled, all manner of possibilities exist, including injury and the inability to poop or stand to nurse.

* Many look specifically for a jacket, which is Polartek on the inside, and waterproof Cordura on the outside. Children's polar fleece vests are also a popular choice.

* Blankets and quilted sleeping bags can be reasonably fashioned as warm winter wear for adults. There are a number of creative ways these can be altered. Some have simply cut the blanket or sleeping bag to the appropriate length, stitched and bound the cut end(s) and added a length of Velcro on each side at the mid-section. The blanket/sleeping bag is held in place by connecting the Velcro ends together on the side of the animal under the belly. Others have bought a length of webbing, sewn the appropriate length of webbing on each side of the blanket or sleeping bag and have attached inter-locking clips at each free end of the webbing to secure it. Some have simply cut a hole near one end just large enough for the head and neck to slip through. This allows for a bit of the blanket to also hang down over the chest area. Sometimes, however, without some mechanism to hold it in place, winter wear will slide to the side and the alpaca or llama can become entangled.

* It is recommended to have several "coats” and/or blankets available. As one becomes soiled and/or wet, it can be replaced with a dry, clean one. The “used” one can be thrown in the wash.

* A very creative friend shared that she buys all manner of sweaters at her local thrift store. She takes them home, unravels each one and then uses the yarn to knit a whole new sweater or blanket for her animals.

* A variety of clever sewing patterns exist for making your own cria coat. There are a number of delightful materials, colors, themes and schemes to explore at a fabric store.

* Fit can be modified using safety pins. Be sure the safety pins are indeed "safety" pins such as those used for securing infant human cloth diapers (I know, who uses THOSE anymore!).

Many alpacas and llamas have truly appreciated their winter wear. Some have even put on that "special" attitude when wearing their "coats." Some, however, are not so willing. It is not uncommon for a mother to reject her younger offspring when a winter garment is first worn. While the passing of time will often cause a mom to suddenly recall that this is, indeed, her own baby, the recognition/acceptance that her baby is wearing something may be hastened by rubbing the baby with the outside of the garment. Once mom sniffs the outside of the garment that is now holding the smell of her baby, she will often immediately accept that this young one is indeed hers. Allowing a mother to sniff and thoroughly inspect any garment, as well as be present when it is fitted to her baby, can help to alleviate any initial rejection.

Older animals that are not comfortable with having their legs touched or are not generally very comfortable with human touch may find it difficult to accept winter wear. In this instance, it can be useful to halter your animals and attach a lead rope in an enclosed stall or catch pen. Take a towel, coat… most anything made of fabric… and let them smell/ inspect it. Drop it on the ground before them, again allowing them the opportunity to sniff and inspect, then place it on the middle of their back. Do not tie your alpaca or llama, but let them move freely about the enclosed area as you provide guidance and controlled movement through the lead rope. Allow the fabric item to slide off the back. Let them react and inspect it. Try it again. The whole process should become a non-issue very shortly. Next try something larger such as a blanket or bath towel. Repeat the steps until there is no reaction. Normally, after a very few times, alpacas and llamas will become quite easily accepting. It is now time to introduce the winter wear. Having already gone through the above steps, by the time you introduce the winter wear, there is usually no further reaction.

All winter wear can become wet and soiled. When washing, it can be useful to run it through the rinse cycle several times to remove as much of our laundry perfumes as might be possible. And, remember--remove that winter wear when the weather warms!

Heat Stress In Llamas and Alpacas

By Ross Free, Veterinary Student and David E. Anderson, DVM, MS, DACVS

Heat stress is a common occurrence for llamas and alpacas during the summer season. These animals originate from the Andes Mountains of South America, where high heat and humidity are not as common as in many areas of the United States. Llamas and alpacas are not adapted to handle these conditions, so it is critical to manage them in a way to protect them from heat stress. Heat stress can lead to poor growth, illness, and even death of the animal.

The key to combating heat stress is prevention. There are many practices to prevent llamas and alpacas from suffering the effects of heat stress. It is important to know when llamas and alpacas are most in danger for heat stress. Commonly used is the heat index, which is simply a formula to estimate the risk of heat stress. The Heat Index can be estimated by adding the temperature (F) and percent humidity (%). Typically, a heat index of less than 120 is safe, 120 to one 180 creates possible problems, and greater than 180 is the range where animals are in the most danger.

During the warmer months of the year, there are many ways to keep your animals cool. Shade is an easy way to keep them from getting too hot. Under trees is a great place for them to relax and stay cool during the heat of the day. If there are no trees available, artificial shade can be provided by putting up temporary devices such as shade cloth. When using artificial shade such as tents, barns, shelters, etc. you should try to recreate the "tree" effect. Trees are tall, allow nearly unlimited movement of air, and are broad. A tall roofed broad barn with excellent airflow creates a cool, comfortable environment. Animals that are kept indoors are out of the sun, but it is important to keep good ventilation and air movement in the barn. Fans are a great way to keep the air moving and keep the animals cool. Two issues should be considered when using fans: 1) barn ventilation, 2) animal ventilation. Tunnel ventilation barns are the most desirable because the "tunnel effect” maximizes cooling of the air. Fans placed in series (e.g. all facing the same direction) can create this effect and cool the barn. Keeping several doors or windows open in the barn can also help create natural air movement and cooling throughout the barn. If available, having an air-conditioned room or area of the barn can help keep animals cool, or be used as a place to move animals that begin to show signs of heat stress.

Giving llamas and alpacas plenty of fresh water also helps prevent heat stress. There should be multiple sources of cool, clean water so all the animals have a place to drink. If possible, water should be kept in the shade. Electrolytes can also be placed in the water to replace those lost during sweating. Electrolytes should not be placed in all the water sources, as some animals may not like the taste and prefer to drink unflavored water.

Shearing is one of the most important ways to help llamas and alpacas keep themselves cool. The fibers work to trap the heat close to the animal's body, so shearing helps the animal to lose heat through evaporation more effectively. If possible, shearing from head to toe (leaving about 1-3 inches of fiber on the body) is most effective, but barrel cuts (e.g. abdomen and thorax only) will help as well. Differences are observed amongst the various camelids (e.g. llama, sunri alpaca, huacay alpaca, guanacoe, vocuna) with respect to tolerance of hot and cold.

Proper management and husbandry can help prevent heat stress as well. If the animals need to be worked or handled for any reason, it should be done early in the morning in the coolest part of the day. Also, breeding to have crias born in the spring is important. Gestation and giving birth cause stress for the female, and during the warmer months, can cause considerable heat stress. Crias born in the warmer months are often born weak and can become dehydrated soon after birth. Weaning should also take place during the cooler months, as it is a stressful time for both the cria and its mother. The body condition of the animal also plays an important role in heat stress. Obese animals are more prone to the effects of the heat, so proper management of weight is a good way to help these animals cool themselves. Emaciated animals also have increased susceptibility to extremes of environment. Proper nutrition of the animals is also important. In particular, providing adequate selenium, vitamin E, copper, zinc, and B vitamins such as thiamine can increase tolerance of environmental extremes.

Having water available for llamas and alpacas to wade or lay in can also help keep them cool. Streams and ponds in the pasture are a natural place for them to wade or even swim in. If these are not available, setting up baby pools can also provide an area for wading. Llamas and alpacas that lay in the water can have their fiber damaged in the areas that are under water, so this alternative may not be useful when animals are to be shown or exhibited in other ways. Sand pits or concrete floors can also provide a place for the animals to lay and cool themselves. Wetting down sand pits or concrete floors throughout the day will provide a cool place for them to lie. Sand can also be better bedding than straw, as straw can trap heat under the animal and prevent ventilation.

Monitoring the animals is important during the summer months, and signs of heat stress can be observed early. Signs to watch for are nasal flaring, open-mouthed breathing, increased breathing rate and effort, drooling, depression or dullness, not eating feed, scrotal swelling in intact males, weakness, trembling, a rectal temperature greater than 104 degrees F, a heart rate over 90 beats per minute, or a respiratory rate over 40 breaths per minute. Taking temperatures often is a good way to learn what the normal temperatures of the animals are in the morning and afternoon, and helps the abnormal to be more easily recognized. It is important to monitor the animals and recognize the signs early, so that the problems can be dealt with before they progress to more serious signs.

Treatment of llamas and alpacas with heat stress should first be to cool the animal down. Calling a veterinarian should be the first action at the onset of signs, but steps can be taken to help the animal while waiting for the veterinarian to arrive. Hosing down the animal is one way to do this, but it must be hosed down all the way to the skin because moisture in the fiber and not on the skin will only act to trap more heat and make the condition worse. If possible, moving the animal to an air-conditioned room will help cool it down as well. Placing the animal in the shade or in water such as a stream, pond, or wading pool will also help cool the animal down. Dehydrated animals should drink plenty of water, but if their condition does not allow them to do so, they can be re-hydrated by IV fluids. Shearing of animals suffering heat stress can also be helpful if it can be done in a way which does not further stress the animal and further complicate the problems.

During the warmest months of the year, heat stress becomes common in llamas and alpacas throughout the country. However, with proper management and care, the effects and losses due to heat stress can be greatly reduced. Taking preventative measures toward keeping animals safe from the heat is the best way to deal with the heat during the summer.

Cold Weather Care for Alpacas

By Debbie Bratton of Maple View Alpaca Farm, Brandon, VT

Alpacas are remarkably adaptive creatures and can survive in a wide range of climate conditions. Still, to achieve the best results raising alpacas in cold weather conditions, a little extra care is required. And if this winter is like last winter, those extra measures will be necessary. So here are a few tips to keep your alpacas healthy and happy this winter.

Alpacas must have adequate shelter. If they are in a three-sided shelter, be sure that the opening is away from the prevailing wind and that it is deep enough so they can escape blowing snow. If you have the flexibility, move portable shelters closer to gates and main shelters, making them easier to service.

Plow or move snow if possible to permit the alpacas to have a clear area to get some exercise. On sunny days, place the hay out in the cleared area so the alpacas leave the shelters.

Provide insulation from the cold ground. Many breeders use straw as bedding; others purchase bedding products such as Hunt Club (recycled cardboard). A combination of thick rubber mats with bedding works particularly well in colder weather.

If weather is extreme you may want to consider hanging radiant heaters in protected areas of the barn. These are the most cost effective heaters but must be hung high enough to prevent injury or fire, yet low enough to provide adequate warmth.

Young crias may require special care during colder weather. Having a supply of cria coats in different sizes is a good idea. If there is a sudden, severe drop in the temperature or the wind blows and mom is not coming into the shelter, put a coat on the cria, at least at night. A cria cannot absorb the nutrients from the milk if its core temperature drops below 100F. In extreme conditions, it may even be necessary to layer the coats. But be sure to take the coat off if conditions improve.

And don't forget to check for frozen water during the winter. Alpacas may be cold, but they still need water. Some automatic waterers come with automatic heaters, but they still freeze, as will buckets. Heated water buckets can be used where electricity is available.

The most important food heat source is hay, not grain. Most breeders give free choice hay at all times in the winter. Check your hay bins regularly and keep them well stocked, especially at night. Some breeders add steamed oats and corn to their grain mixtures during the coldest parts of the winter.

Time Flies

It's amazing what a difference a year makes! Just twelve months ago, Ed and Debbie Bratton of Maple View Farm in Brandon, Vermont were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first 3 alpacas. The barn construction was complete, the pastures finally fenced, feeders and water buckets purchased, and even the farm store was stocked. All they needed was alpacas! Now, as they celebrate one year as alpaca owners, they find themselves with a herd of eleven huacaya and quite a range of colors. Certainly fellow lama owners can appreciate how that can happen!

Three cria were born on the farm this year, bringing the total to 6. The others came various ways and include a mom and 2 of her offspring, as well as other females ready for their first breeding. Sounds like things could get busy at Maple View Farm next year!

But the alpacas are so enjoyable and so easy to care for that the Brattons have hardly noticed the increase in "work". Ed often comments to people that morning chores started taking longer once the first cria were born, not because there was more work to do but because they would spend time watching them play and romp in the pastures each morning! Situated on 100 scenic acres in western Vermont, Maple View Farm is readily accessible off Route 7 just north of Brandon. Stop by if you are ever in the area!