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Whilst winter is just departing and spring is not
quite here, the key thing to be doing is checking body score. Older
alpacas and nursing dams can quickly lose condition over winter, and fibre hides
it from view. So this is the time for weekly hands on. Have a look here if you
are not sure what to do.
http://www.alpacasnz.co.nz/articles-body-scoring.htm
Separate any alpaca that is rapidly losing condition (in body
score) and supplement with extra feed.
This is also maintenance time – toe nails, teeth,
inoculations, Tb testing, scanning for pregnancies etc.
Now is the time to plan for spring pasture and soil
management. Do soil, water and herbage tests, decide on replanting or top sowing
programmes, arrange fertilizers, book seed, book spray and seed contractors. It
is amazing how quickly spring creeps up on you!!!
With shows starting now, identify those Show cria,
work with them towards haltering. You can work with cria of 3 to 4 months of age
for small periods of time (shorter attention span), and being used to humans
makes haltering much easier.
And start thinking about your mating programme for
the season too. Book in your favourite stud male early.
