Hi Janice,
This is long but I think it is important. This is what we are going through
now.
I think you must keep the weanling away until the new cria has had a good
start and is starting to chew its cud. I think you need at least 6 weeks
before the dam delivers to insure the colostrums comes in for the cria so
the milk following is a good quality.
We thought last years cria had stopped nursing but realized she hadn't and
separated her from her dam 1 month before her dam delivered. The dam had
plenty of colostrum for her new cria but didn't seen to have enough quality
milk fast enough for her new cria. The new cria lost weight the first 2
days and gained very slowly. When we tried to supplement with a bottle he
fought tooth and nail. We started the dam on domperidone when her cria was
about 5 or 6 days old. Her milk improved and he started to gain.
When the first course stopped he only gained a couple tenths of a pound a
day or stayed the same. We put his dam back on domperidon again and he
started to gain again. My point in telling you this is that I think we
waited to long to take last years cria away for weaning. I don't know how
expensive domperidone is where you are but it is expensive in N.J. We are
now on the 2nd batch.
The dam had a lot of milk for her first cria and she had gained between 1/4
& 1/2 lb. a day after the 2nd day of life, she is now 1 year old and weighs
about 117 lbs. If we had realized the cria from last year was still nursing
and weaned her sooner I don't think we would have had this problem.
If you think you have 6 weeks to go and last years cria is still nursing my
personal opinion is to separate them to insure milk & colostrum for the new
cria.
Shirley Dillon
Alpacas of Gemini Farm
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
www.alpacanation. com/geminifarm. asp
908-647-2995
>
> I am operating under the assumption now that she is . I have very
> limited areas to separate the pacas. Just separating the male was
> quite an issue early this year, but I worked that out. Now trying to
> figure out how to separate the 11mo cria (are they still called crias at
> this age?) who still likes a snack from mom on occasion. Lucy
> shouldn't be due for another 6 wks give or take, but as we usually seem
> to have preemies I am going ahead and putting her in barn at night just
> to be on the safe side, one to help with the separations and two to keep
> her isolated from the pyr pups, who I am not ready to trust with a
> newborn cria (they are only 7mos old). It is not the best arrangement
> (for her), put it is all I can do. At least she will be safe, her cria
> will be safe. She can see her buddies and young un, but is fairly far
> from them. I just started this last night, the Pyr pups slept right
> outside the barn door, which is just a frame covered with chix wire,
> that is their usual spot to hang out as it is also right next to the
> chicken's night pen. Then we had quite a time getting them all
> rearranged to separate areas this morning. The male especially is a
> puh-tootie when it comes to walking on lead.....more like dragging.
>
> After separating the 11mo from her mom for a bit will she be considered
> "weaned'? I would hate to have to keep this up for the next 6-8 wks,
> for their sake as well as for mine. I am wondering if after a week or
> two the "baby" will forget about nursing? That sure would make life
> easier for us all these next few months.
>
> And yes, not planning on letting male in with female until spring!
>
> Janice
>
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