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Friday, July 03, 2009

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Bottle baby



I've tried to run the math, but not sure Evans is accurate in all cases....stand to reason that they're all different. My little girl is up to 21 lbs at 2 weeks having started at 14.8, so I'm not complaining. Like you, I've had them gaining more like an average of 3/4 - 1 lb a day, so this is slow! She's active enough and starting to graze, so hope all of her 'juices' and mechanics kick in soon and she utilizes the solid food. The other cria this year was eating pellets by 2 weeks of age and doubled her birth weight at 1 month....Not sure we're going to do that well with this one, but at least she's looking good. Anyway, it was interesting that I had to be gone last Saturday and missed a couple of feedings. I tried to add them in, but couldn't..........and the next day she'd gained 1 lb! So, I keep flirting with the idea of keeping her at the 6 or so oz and going to every 4 hours...maybe Mom just needs to be pushed more.........I just don't want this apple cart upset right now since she's still so young and from what I can tell, looking nicely fibered. Besides, i thought her knees were on backwards when she was born and she has some vey nice straight legs now....and her poor ears were plastered to head and inside out -- and I just left them alone and they're fine now too...and she was 358 days gestation.......I'm sure she could have gone at least another week, but she came when she came and takes a baby bottle with gusto -- so again, no complaining!
 
Good luck with your little one.....too bad yours is rejecting Mom........at least we've got that much going for us. A maiden mother who loves her baby and works well with her, just not enough milk.....bummer!
 
Later,
Susan
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Bottle baby

I know, I wish there were more specifics out there! As it is, the is the only way to get the info! I've been told that my feeding every two hours is too often, and the rule of thumb of 10% of the cria's body weight just isn't enough for my cria. I'm probably feeding her 20% of her body weight, and although she is gaining almost 1/2 lb per day, we have others who are gaining 3/4 lb or more per day, who are fed by their dams. If I fed my baby only 10% of her body weight, I wonder if she'd be gaining at all? She seems to be utilizing every bit of it, she urinates well and there's very little poop at all. The milk replacer seems to be almost 100% digestible, although it's not forming firm beans.


I am keeping my fingers crossed for you! I wish I could convince my cria to love her mama! 

Heather


On Jul 3, 2009, at 4:37 AM, Susan Forman wrote:




Thanks Heather! The Evans book isn't very specific about when and how much past the early part of cria-hood. I'd love to get her to higher amounts less frequently, but....like you, don't want her going hungry and trying to see how much she can get Mom to produce. Her IgG was very low, but she had 12 oz of bovine colostrum, so I'm hoping that was enough to do the trick -- and from all appearances now, it looks like she's doing fine. I'll be able to watch a little closer beginning this afternoon since my daughter and her family have been here for over a week. I just haven't had time to sit and watch, but several days ago, I'd catch baby on Mm nearly every time I went out to the barn/pasture. I think she's doing her part, but I'm concerned that Mom's 'fat' status has impacted her milk supply. Then again, her mother didn't milk so well with her, but the 2 babies since she's been a good producer. Keep your fingers crossed for us! At least this baby sucks the bottles down without any fight or fuss....she comes running when she sees come into the pasture -- it takes longer to heat the milk, put some yogurt in and walk out there than for her drink it........so feeding is easy -- not going to complain!
 
thanks again!
Susan
 
 

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posted by Chaddo at 11:20 AM

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