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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny

 



Hi Jim,
 
I agree the longer the better.  But 6 months is a little to short IMHO unless the cria is a male.  Females can and will nurse a little longer.  In my situation we thought the female cria had stopped nursing but had started again.  This is the first time we have let it go that long and wouldn't have if we had realized what was going on.  I think 9 months is a good amount of time to stop crias from nursing.  We wean the male crias at 6 months as they are mounting the open females and also the female crias.  This usually works for us.......
 
Sincerely
Shirley Dillon
 
Alpacas of Gemini Farm
Basking Ridge, NJ  07920
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny

I think that you need to wean cria long before that.  Most people I have talked with around here wean the cria around 6-8 months of age.  By then they are grazing and eating alpaca food on their own.  This give the mother ample time to re-coop from her last cria and get ready for her next one. FYI last year's cria will nurse through the fence if it can reach the mother .
 
The last few months of pregnancy is hard on any animal but one that is still nursing an older baby this can be extremely harmful to her as she is putting out so much energy nursing one and nourishing the other.
Jim Gregoryk
G&W Farm
--- On Sun, 11/15/09, shirley <shirl.temple2@verizon.net> wrote:

From: shirley <shirl.temple2@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 8:54 PM

 
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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__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

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posted by Chaddo at 6:30 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny

 

I think that you need to wean cria long before that.  Most people I have talked with around here wean the cria around 6-8 months of age.  By then they are grazing and eating alpaca food on their own.  This give the mother ample time to re-coop from her last cria and get ready for her next one. FYI last year's cria will nurse through the fence if it can reach the mother .
 
The last few months of pregnancy is hard on any animal but one that is still nursing an older baby this can be extremely harmful to her as she is putting out so much energy nursing one and nourishing the other.
Jim Gregoryk
G&W Farm
--- On Sun, 11/15/09, shirley <shirl.temple2@verizon.net> wrote:

From: shirley <shirl.temple2@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 8:54 PM

 
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
>

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 6:12 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny

 

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
>

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 5:54 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] RE: female acting funny

 

<<<< Your girl may very well be pregnant, and if the male is used to being
pastured with her, and he knows that he bred her, you're right, he is
likely not to even try to breed. He has learned his manners. Most
people keep their males separated from females after they're weaned,
and so they never learn how to act around girls. (Sounds like a lot
of humans!) They think that if they are put in with a female, it's
time to breed, at all costs!

You'll probably just have to wait and see. :) And if she does deliver
a cria, don't let the male in with the dam until you WANT to breed
them, so you'll avoid winter births.

Heather>>>

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

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 9:23 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] File - Rules Reminder!

Rules Reminder!

This file is sent to all members via Yahoo's automated groups messaging function once each month. Sometimes we all need reminders, or even a little nudge now and then. Occasionally, issues arise that upset some, and that upsets others. Let's all remember that everyone has a valid opinion, even if you don't agree with it. And some people express themselves in a way that you may not like. No one is perfect. My delivery frequently makes people angry. I don't set out with this as my goal, but sometimes it is the outcome. My goal is always to inform, and to start or continue discussion.

I feel that rules are really not needed when mature, thoughtful adults interact with each other. However, there are a few points that seem to need reinforcement.

1. No flaming or insults please. BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHER MEMBERS. Some people's opinions are not going to be popular with everyone. Some people's complaints will upset some other people. As a community, those voicing concern are actually asking for others to join in conversation to find a solution to the perceived problem. That doesn't require insults and mud-slinging. Defamation, libel, and character assassination will not be tolerated on this group, at all. I can't be more clear on this matter. Zero tolerance, period.

2. No attempts at silencing someone with a differing point of view. I think this is the most offensive thing one can do. Everyone is entitled to their point of view and opinion. Conversely, everyone has the right to offer a differing point of view, and to try to change the views of those they don't agree with. However, name calling and accusing others of this or that will not work. It will only make people angry. So that won't be tolerated on this group.

3. No hit and run posts. Those are posts in which only a link to a website has been posted with little or no information regarding the nature of the content, and frequently, no information as to the identity of the person making the post. Posts with links to your own website should include information relevant to a current conversation on the group, and your web page should be relevant. No links to sales pages of any kind are allowed (except on Fridays)!

4. Advertising is allowed on this group, only on Fridays. This includes posts for herdsires for hire, any animals for sale, anything alpaca farming related, for sale or hire.

5. Always identify yourself! Please make a signature block with your name, location, farm name (if any), along with your phone number and web URL if desired.


Thanks for being a member of AlpacaTalk!

Warmest regards,
Heather Zeleny
Moderator, AlpacaTalk

------------------------------------

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posted by Chaddo at 12:16 AM 0 comments