Re: [AlpacaTalk] New cria not quite right
hi Tony - it sounds like you've got a good handle on things now, but i thought i'd throw in my two cents worth too - i had a little guy born at the end of August, after a very rough birth (first time mom) - mom was not interested in him, and actually kicked him over when he finally wobbled to his feet - he lay for four hours as tried to get hold of vets (no answer), my husband (5 hours away), more experienced alpaca people (no answers), until finally i phoned a llama farmer (who i'd never met). I explained the situation and asked if he had any frozen llama colustrum (i was frantically reading my health care manual, and that's what was recommended) - he came right over with colustrum and feeding bottle, and showed me how to feed my little guy - he drank about 2 oz and didn't want anymore - but his little head was up, he was kushing, and an hour later he got up and nursed - this time his mom grudgingly allowed him. The llama colustrum had obviously done the trick. But before he left, the llama farmer told me to be prepared to check this little guy every couple of hours, and feed him a couple of oz every 3 or 4 hours for the first 24 hours.
Luckily mom took over, but as you were asking about a bottle feeding schedule, i thought i'd tell you his advice.
the next day, all the birthing and medical supplies i had ordered from Bickerson's farm supply arrived on my doorstep - it would have been too late for our fonzie if our kind "neighbor" hadn't helped out.
Now i have powdered colustrum called immu-start on hand, as well as powdered alpaca milk replacer, and kick-start for any future cria emergencies. I feel a bit more confident that i can handle whatever comes up, as most crisis seem to happen when i'm here alone.
i hope your baby thrives - i would like to hear how she does on goat's milk - i am fairly new to alpaca farming as well, and i'm always interested in others' experiences.
all the best,
Wendy
DreamWeaver Alpacas
Port Alberni BC
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Lowrimore
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] New cria not quite right
Thank you for all of your advice. She has greatly improved today and I do not think she will have any further complications. We brought the dam over this morning and she still showed no interest in her. This is the second cria she has orphaned with the last delivery being without complications. Do you know of a bottle feeding schedule for crias using fresh goats milk?
----- Original Message ----
From: Heather Zeleny <alpacatalk@westwind
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 4:55:28 PM
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] New cria not quite right
Hi Kristen,
I'm sorry your new cria doesn't seem right. Can you tell me what she's
doing, how she's behaving? Often deliveries at night are dystocias, and
also the crias can be compromised. You have 24 hours to make sure she
gets as much colostrum as possible, so try to make sure she's nursing
frequently. And, I don't know what your weather is like right now, but
it is imperative to make sure the cria is warm. We had a cria born a
month or two ago early in the morning. We were having some very cold
winds at the time, and it took all day to get her temp up after we
finally got her dry. After she warmed up, she appeared to be pretty
normal the next day. We kept a cria coat on her for a week at night,
because she was a bit compromised after her birth... She wasn't
discovered until around 10am when I was getting home from work as a
baker. Cria's temps should be between 100-102º.
So that's my advice for the short term, keep her warm and make sure she
nurses a lot! Definitely call your vet to come out as early as possible
tomorrow morning. Also, if necessary, bottle feed her some whole milk
or even milk plus whipping cream. She needs the fat to keep her warm. A
bit of Karo syrup on the tongue can give her some emergency energy if
she's hypoglycemic. ValleyVet.com and many local feed stores will carry
products made specifically for giving extra energy after birth and
delivery (for dam and baby). They're made for sheep and goats, one is
called "Nutri-Drench" or something like that. Very good products if you
need them! Also Nursemate for kids or lambs are very good for newborn
crias.
Best of luck and keep me/us posted!
Heather
Heather Zeleny
West Wind Alpacas
Eugene, OR
Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
Home of Avatar's West Wind Scirocco, El Bello's Padré, Pluro grandson
Sienna Illusion, and true black full Bolivian Cosby of Chelsea Farms!
http://www.westwind alpacas.com/
http://www.alpacana tion.com/ westwind. asp
http://tech. groups.yahoo. com/group/ AlpacaTalk/ join
> We are new to alpacas with a newborn from last night. It was a rough
> delivery and I do not think she is right. Kristen Lowrimore,Perry Farm,
> Greer,SC
>
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posted by Chaddo at 7:23 PM
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