Caring for the Alpacas on our Farm..
We believe strongly that good health and happy animals are a vital part of our alpaca business. We are gathering some of the best bloodlines in the nation and believe that these wonderful animals deserve our best attention. Here are some of the things we do to ensure their well-being...
- All of the alpacas at Rose Crest have been DNA blood-typed per the Alpaca Registry requirement.
- Every alpaca on our farm has also been tested for BVD and has had a negative result .
- most alpacas on our farm have had a full blood panel run so that we have a baseline for their "normal" blood work in case an illness ever occurs.
- Fiber assessments are being done on an annual basis to monitor fiber changes that occur due to changes in food, weather, breeding locations, age, etc.
- Fresh water is provided daily and water & feed bins monitored for cleanliness.
- Pens are cleaned daily.
- The alpacas receive a special alpaca-formulated feed and fiber enhancer to bring out the best in their fleeces.
- The alpacas have a free choice mineral supplement available to them at all times.
- We search for the best hay available for our animals. Hay we purchase is core tested and lab analyzed for content.
- In order to make veterinarian and regular health care as stress free as possible, for both the handlers and the alpacas, we try to work with our alpacas on a daily basis to teach them trust, patience and acceptance.
- We are continually seeking to increase our knowledge of alpacas and their overall health. We have attended a number of seminars taught by such instructors as Dr. Norm Evans (a leading alpaca expert) and Dr. Susan McClanahan of the University of MN Large Animal Hospital. We have also been working with the U of M's vet student camelid field rotation so that vet students have the opportunity to come to our farm with a seasoned instructor and learn about alpaca care.
- We also greatly appreciate the valued insights of other breeders within the alpaca industry who have been so willing to share their knowledge of alpaca care with us.
Alpaca care is very important to us. Maintaining a smaller herd allows us the opportunity to get to know the unique traits of each of our animals. This knowledge can be critical in spotting changes in behavior, eating, etc. should an illness or problem ever present itself.