Alpacas
Preparing for a new arrival - Claire Waring discusses how owners of alpacas can prepare for the birth of their cria
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| The newborn cria needs to bond with its mother |
FEMALE alpacas should not be used for breeding until they are 16-18 months old or have attained a bodyweight of at least 40 kg. Gestation takes 335-355 days, which gives quite a wide window for the expected birth date.
It is well worth noting how long it takes for a female to give birth the first time. If she takes 342 days, for instance, for her first pregnancy, future ones are likely to be around the same length of time.
The greatest growth for the developing cria is during the last third of pregnancy and this is when there will be the greatest metabolic demand on the dam. During this period, unnecessary stress should be avoided and it is during this period that you may need to supplement her usual forage diet with concentrates. However, take care that she does not get too fat by body scoring her each time you handle her. During the last third of her pregnancy, you should be aiming for her to have a body score of three.
As far as mineral requirements are concerned, this is where you need to know your own particular area. You can then make up any deficiencies as necessary. Animals should be given a vitamin A, D and E supplement twice a year as part of general herd management. Vitamin D is obtained from sunlight so autumn-born cria will need a boost.
It is best to keep pregnant and lactating females in a group together if possible. They need sufficient forage in a paddock that is clear of debris. There must be a constant supply of fresh water and they should have some form of field shelter.
Currently there are no vaccinations licensed specifically for alpacas and data is extrapolated from those for sheep. You should discuss any vaccinations with your vet. Lambivac can be used against clostridial disease, which can kill if not controlled. It is advisable to vaccinate all alpacas at least twice a year whether or not they are breeding. Pregnant females can be given a booster one to two months before they are due to give birth. This stimulates a build up of antibodies, which are transferred to the cria in the colostrum. If the booster is given three to four months before the due date, the level of antibodies will have fallen before the cria is born and it will not benefit.
Your vet will be able to advise you if there is leptospirosis in your area and whether vaccination is necessary. Leptospirosis causes abortion some time after infection and usually six to eight months into the pregnancy.
When giving vaccinations, animals should be handled as gently as possible, particularly pregnant females within a couple of months of giving birth.
You should prepare the pasture where your new cria are to live. It should be as clean as possible with a low worm count as cria are more susceptible to worms than adults. However, some exposure helps to build up immunity. Cria can be wormed at six months of age if the egg count in the faeces indicates the need. Pregnant females should not be wormed during the first 60 days and the last 60 days of pregnancy as this can lead to abnormalities in the cria.
When an alpaca becomes pregnant, the foetus is initially carried high up in the pelvis. It drops after about three months. The normal foetal position prior to parturition (birth) is with the head towards the cervix and the front legs forwards. During pregnancy, the cervix is closed with a plug of mucous. Its discharge can indicate an impending birth although this may not happen for another few days.
As in many dealings with your alpacas, you need to be aware of their normal behaviour in order to spot something abnormal. The same is true during the birthing process.
A female about to give birth gives very little indication of the pending event. She often separates herself from the group and will find it difficult to settle, sitting and standing repeatedly. She will vocalise and you may see swelling and relaxation of the vulva. Labour almost always begins in the morning.
Stage 1 of the birth occurs internally. There are contractions of the uterus and the cervix dilates. The animal can occasionally be seen straining. This stage lasts two-three hours. The second stage can take less than 60 minutes. The cria moves into the birth canal as the uterus and abdomen contract. The first external sign is the amniotic sac and this is followed by the nose and both front feet. The cria is then pushed out with further contractions and falls to the ground.
The placenta is expelled in stage 3 up to six hours after the birth. If this does not happen, help should be called. If the retained placenta becomes toxic this will cause problems.
The cria should be on its feet soon after birth and should feed within the first few hours.
Be prepared for when your female gives birth. It is useful to gather together the items you might need in case things don't proceed as expected and you have to give assistance. A suggested birthing kit should contain:
Arm length gloves
An obstetrical lubricant to aid internal inspection
Lambing wire to manoeuvre the head
A torch
An antibiotic scrub
A bucket (to be filled with warm water)
Towels
Cotton wool to clean the dam's rear
Tincture of iodine
A stomach tube and catheter-tipped syringe
Feeding bottles with teats appropriate for alpacas
Frozen or powdered colostrum
Scissors
A thermometer
Contact numbers for your vet or another nearby experienced alpaca keeper
When the cria is born, first make sure its nose is clear and get it to take its first breath to clear its lungs of fluid. Rubbing with a handful of straw or a towel can help. Make sure that it is breathing through its nose rather than its mouth. If a membrane or bone is preventing it using its nose it will be unable to suckle and breathe at the same time. Surgery is the only option in such as case and this leads to facial deformity so humane euthanasia should be considered. The cria should be on its feet within about 30 minutes and suckling soon afterwards.
There are three blood vessels in the umbilical cord. The stretching and snapping during birth sends them into spasm and they close. If this has not happened, bleeding can usually be stopped by applying pressure. As soon as practical, dip the navel in tincture of iodine and rub it on the skin around the umbilical cord. This will dry the cord and prevent infection. The cord should be checked for infection over the first few days.
A newborn cria is at risk of hyperthermia (too hot) and of hypothermia (too cold). Both should be avoided but hypothermia is more common. In this case, the animal should be dried and put into a shelter. External heat can be applied with a heat lamp or with hot air, from a hair dryer for example. However, be careful not to overheat. The normal temperature is 101.5F. Cria coats are available and which will help keep the baby warm.
The cria needs to take in sufficient colostrum within the first six hours in order to obtain antibodies until its own develop after about two months. The antibodies supplied in the colostrum protect the cria for 6-10 weeks. The newborn animal has "holes" in its gut through which the colostrum passes into the bloodstream and there is a passive transfer of immunity. These holes start to close after six hours and if the cria has not had colostrum by then, it will be unable to absorb the antibodies and will be at a high risk of infection. Check that it finds the udder and is feeding. If its tail goes up it generally means that it has found the teat. If it is not feeding from the dam within four hours, administer warm colostrum with a feeding bottle or by using a stomach tube. The cria needs to pass its first faeces, the meconium, on its first day. These are dark greenish/black in colour. If this does not happen, you should seek advice from your vet.
The cria needs to bond with its dam. It should be lively and active and should double its birth weight in the first month.
The majority of cria births are trouble free with everything going to plan. However, there are times when things go wrong. It helps to understand what the problems are so that you know how to help and these will be covered in the next issue.
Claire Waring is the society secretary for the British Alpaca Society (www.bas-uk.com).
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