Taking Care of the Rumen
We’ve all experienced it at some point - some major stress in our life or we’ve altered our diet less than gradually or taken medication or something as simple as drinking different water while on...
View ArticleDo the Rot Thing - Composting Your Camelid Manure 101
Human society and its agriculture depend on the health of the soil and water. Your alpaca manure can either be an asset to your farm or a contaminant to the environment. By employing simple on-farm...
View ArticleHow to Take a (Much Needed) Vacation from the Farm!!
Farming is 24 / 7 / 365 and often physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. Perhaps more than any profession, farmers need a break; a vacation away from the farm for two days, a month or even a...
View ArticleMarketing Tip: Smile!
I was walking in town today with my husband and saw a woman walking along pushing a dolly. What grabbed my attention was her fantastic SMILE! It was so happy, sincere and infectious that I burst into a...
View ArticleSelect for Health and Longevity in Breeding Stock
Stepping Stone Farm Alpacas achieves high quality fiber through multiple aspects of farming. First and foremost, breeding stock should be selected by focusing on health traits. Sires and dams should...
View ArticleFeeding an Orphaned Alpaca Cria
It is unfortunate, but does happen sometimes, when a mother either dies or cannot nurse her cria. The good news is that there are options to keep your cria alive and well. One of the four major causes...
View ArticleEvaluating Your Hay - Quality Hay for Your Alpacas
You are what you eat. So are our camelids. Most alpaca farms rely on hay to feed their herd some or all of the year. It is important to feed them quality hay or you can end up with thin or unhealthy...
View ArticleBlood Draw on Alpacas - Do It Yourself from the Tail
There are certain things we can do as livestock owners and breeders that can save us a vet visit and bill and allow us to get things done on our own time with less stress for the alpaca. It is very...
View ArticleAlpaca Foot Rot
As the name suggests, it rots away the foot of the animal, more specifically the area between the two toes of the affected alpaca. It can be extremely painful. It is contagious. It is caused by a...
View ArticleControlling Alpaca Parasites Naturally
A Whole Farm/Organic Approach to Parasite Management Internal parasites are a part of most every livestock producer’s farm. Regardless of whether they are pasture raised or in a...
View ArticleUnhealthy Alpaca Cria Dies
Last year we experienced our first case of what vets call "failure to thrive" or "poor doer". Our star female gave birth to her 6th cria who was fully developed, a good birth weight but the cria...
View ArticleAlpaca Teeth Grinding
Alpacas are so stoic that it is often difficult to tell when they are not well or declining. One little behavior to let you know they are in PAIN is if they are grinding their teeth. Pay attention as...
View ArticleAlpaca Weight Loss - Could Be Mycoplasma Haemolamae
Weight Loss in Alpacas One of the More Unknown Causes: Mycoplasma Haemolamae Following is an article that I am reprinting with permission from the farm that wrote it, Morning Moon Alpacas. My first...
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