Re: [Alpacasite] Parasite control

Hi David,

Thanks for those references, I have bookmarked them. I think one of the most interesting observations in the articles you have referenced is that diversity of diet is touted as beneficial at helping to control parasite populations. Diversity in pasture may be something we should all strive for. I have been very fortunate to have low levels of parasites in our herd. (I am knocking vigorously on our wood desk right now). Because we do not use herbicides, we have a diverse pasture, with several different grasses, annuals, and perennials growing.

Maybe it isn't such a good idea to spray the whole pasture with roundup and then plant only orchard grass so that this is the only forage available. Not only does this kind of monoculture obligate one to the use of fertilizers to keep the pasture growing, but it also exposes our animals to chemicals that may not be healthy for them. Maybe it is better to leave the pasture and drill in other grazing species allowing dandelion or other weeds to persist for they might offer more minerals such as calcium or micronutrients we aren't even knowledgeable about yet.

We have walnut trees and oaks in all of our pastures. We grow organically, so do not use any pesticides other than wormers for our alpacas due to m-worm. No herbicides here, so a wide variety of species are available to the critters for grazing. Oak leaves get snarfed up immediately with no problems. We have had wormwood growing wild in our pasture and it was eaten up pretty fast.

Diversity in soil and field has benefited our organic vegetable operation tremendously, decreasing insect pest problems and plant diseases. Perhaps wrongly, I empirically (and lazily) apply the same philosophy to our pastures and animals. We humans do not eat just one or two foods and would not be healthy if we did. I think that the same applies to all animals. The first thing to get snarfed up by the deer are the acorns. They love 'em and evidently thrive on them judging by our population (ours is an oak forest and few acorns are to be found on the ground).

Oaks, apples, and crabapples are fine for us, never removed from a pasture. Black cherry is not fine, but is a species totally different from the apple/rose family that produces eating cherries, pears, crabapples, and eating apples. The fact is that anything in excess will make us sick, so a diet solely of acorns or apples is not good, but a few here and there is not a problem.

Not sure where I am going with this, but monoculture is generally unhealthy, and so we encourage diversity and our alpacas seem to be thriving on that. It's great that we are living in a time when folks are open to alternative forms of dealing with issues. More are looking to homeopathy, naturopathy, integrated pest management, and other means of accomplishing goals that have less drastic environmental and health consequences. To that I say hooray!

Laurel

Tim & Laurel Shouvlin
Bluebird Hills Farm CSA & Alpacas
3617 Derr Rd. Springfield, Ohio 45503
www.bluebirdhills.com
bluebirdhills@voyager.net
937-390-6127 or 937-206-3936 (cell)

----- Original Message -----
From: D Colby
To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 10:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Alpacasite] Parasite control

Jan,

The excerpt (link provided below) is from an earlier post in response to
a Gary Kaufman post.

The practice of a low level of D.E (Diatomaceous Earth) in the feed has
been shown to be quite ineffective. It has also been postulated that the
D.E. is a non-specific absorbent of trace minerals and we may be doing
ourselves a disservice by sending them out to the gutter.

Such products as Walnut Hulls, which are very high in tannins, work
systemically. Also, walnut leaves are high tannin and are absorbed very
fast. Elecampane Root and Wormwood Root both are excellent wormers.
There are a lot of combinations being introduced that all have worming
properties. Some combine then with D.E. Most give the wormers orally for
three days and then re-worm in three weeks. There will be more products
introduced in the future. Find yourself one that works for you and watch
your young stock and timing.

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:gB-kJHJAUGIJ:www.organicvalley.coop/pdf/pools/intestinal_parasites.pdf+lime+%26+parasite+control&hl=en&client=firefox-a

I have seen prior references to tannins as a parasite control. Black
walnut shavings are a problem with bedding for horses and the tannins in
oak leaves, bark, and acorns can be a problem when ingested apparently
in large quantities. From Drs. Walter & Knight, "The principal toxin
[of oak] is gallotannin, a polyhydroxphenolic combination of tannic and
gallic acid. The tannins found in the leaves, bark, and acorns of oaks
produce poisoning through their effect on the intestinal tract and
kidneys. Gallotannins are hydrolyzed in the rumen to smaller molecular
weight compounds including gallic acid, pyrogallol, and resorcinol.
These compounds react with cell proteins to denature them, with
resulting cell death. Most severe lesions occur in the kidneys, liver,
and digestive tract. In small quantities the rumen microflora detoxify
the tannins, and only when large amounts of tannic acid are eaten and
bypass the rumen does poisoning occur. Goats and wild ruminants are
apparently better able to detoxify tannic acid than other livestock
because they have a tannin-binding protein in their saliva that
neutralizes tannic acid. Goats have been used effectively to browse on
oaks thereby reducing the spread of the oak and increasing the grazing
capacity of the range. Oaks at any stage of growth are poisonous, but
they are particularly toxic when the leaf and flower buds are just
opening in the spring. Consumption of oak buds can be markedly increased
in a heavy, late spring snowstorm, when cattle browse the oak that
protrudes above the snow. As the leaves mature they become less toxic.
Ripe acorns are less toxic than when green. Cattle sheep, horses, and
pigs are susceptible to oak poisoning."

I think the interesting part is the reference to goats and "wild
ruminants" being more tolerant to tannins. Is it possible to classify
alpacas as wild ruminants? For those out there that have oaks trees
accessible to alpacas, it may be interesting to note the relationship of
oak consumption to parasite infestation.

David Colby
Weminuche Huacaya Alpacas
Platteville CO 80651
970.405.4597
dcolby@direcway.com <mailto:dcolby@direcway.com>

Jan Sherrill wrote:

> Many, many thanks for posting such an interesting and useful article.
> I will enjoy reading it through and see what can be applied!!
>
> Cheers,
> Jan Sherrill
> Celestial Alpacas
> Central Coast of Calfornia
> Templeton
> 805/238-2628
>
>
> >Here is an interesting article from the Organic Broadcaster, Vol13 #6.
> >
> ><http://www.mosesorganic.org/ob/intparisites.htm>http://www.mosesorganic.org/ob/intparisites.htm
> >
> >David Colby
> >Weminuche Huacaya Alpacas
> >Platteville CO 80651
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