AlpacaWatch News

Some people have been signing up on the Membership page.  This only adds you information to the list of members on that page.  It DOES NOT add you to the AW Early Warning System.  To sign-up to receive emails notices and alerts you must complete the short two field, farm name and email address, form in the lest menu.  If you do not you are not officially a members.

 Thank you,

Janet Morrow

AlpacaWatch has started an evacuation database. This will provide alpacas owners an emergency resource for both transportation and hosting farms in the event of an emergency evacuation. Please sign up now!

Janet Morrow
Alpaca Watch

The numbers of reported viruses are very low. At this point I am beginning to focus on some reports AlpacaWatch has received from some of our members. There have been a number of deaths due to BVD and EPE. Yes, I know. There are both conditions that alpaca owners have known about for a while.

However, it appears that many people are purchasing alpaca without having them tested for these killers. The report that have come in are about alpacas that were ill before they were purchased, and died shortly after moving to their new homes.

I am adding articles on them both to the library. Please be sure to have alpacas tested before you purchase them.

If you are a member of AlpacaWatch keep us informed of concerns in your area: fires, extreme weather conditions, hazardous storms, illness such as the virus, and any conditions that effect the health and safety of alpacas.

We are still looking for people willing to send necropsy reports to be posted on AW. Remember they do not have to be attributed to the virus. We are trying to cover a wide range of causes of death. Once we have some more our medical advisors to categorize then. This will then give vet students and new Camelid vets to review them.

Cheers,
Janet Morrow
www.AlpacaWatch.com

With all the discussion about barberpole worms, Haemonchus contortus,
I thought that some articles on the topic might be helpful. I
currently have three in the library. If any of you have another one,
or have an article they have written about their personal experience
please let me know. I would like to have articles by our members
about their personal experience. For example: I have and excellent
one up about one farms experience with BVDV.

Please let me know if there are any other topics of concern that you would like added to the library.

Cheers,
Janet

AlpacaWatch is continuing to more forward. Our membership is now up to 682. Today the AlpacaWatch Yahoo list was organized. The list will allow members to discuss health and safety issues that may affect their herds. It will be the sounding board for the group, and give members a chance to provide their input. We also hope that as the group progresses that more vets will join the list.

AlpacaWatch is designed to give alpaca owners, veterinarians, and universities exchange ideas and work together for the betterment of the alpaca herd.

Our library is continuing to grow. The topics are varied, but all reflect on the health and safety of Camelids. If you have a topic that you would like to see added to the library let me know. A number of the articles were written specially for AlpacaWatch by one or more of our consultants.

On the Members’ page I have a map showing where we currently have members. Please not that I have not complete the map, and need some help from our Canadian and Australian members. Please check out the map, and let me know if you feel that your location is not accurately marked.

On the Members’ page I am also adding a list of members by state. If you want your name added to the list, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page. This can be used as a quick reference for team members to contact each other in their state or region.

Thank you for your support, and team work!

Cheers,
Janet Morrow
AlpacaWatch

One of our members sent me an email about BVDV. There have been a fair number of alpacas being purchased that have not been tested for BVDV. Unfortunately this has resulted in some PI cria being born after a sale, and the buying farm being exposed to the virus.

This is a reminder that it is well worth the cost of BVDV testing before you purchase an alpaca. If the seller does not have test results to show you, then ask to have them done. If the seller will not pay look somewhere else, or pay for the testing.

BVDV testing should be routine in all animals being sold. The alternative can turn into a real nightmare!

BVDV and Alpacas - The Detective Story
Our BVDV Story

I am continuing to collect reports on the ARS virus. At this time is does appear that things are slowing down. There reports are still coming in, but they are slowing down.

We currently have 673 members. I would like to see the membership at 1000, world wide, by the end of the month. Send out the web Site address to any farms that you can contact information on. www.AlpacaWatch.com

Please note that I am making some changes to the site. All of the ARS material is now under one link. You will still find all the same information there. This is part of setting AlpacaWatch as a long-term alert system.

Go to our ARS page for more information.

Thank you,
Janet Morrow
AlpacaWatch