Llamas and Alpacas: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure and Profit

356 Pages·2011·11.321 MB·English

by  Weaver, Sue

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Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE - Meet the Lama
LAMA HISTORY AT A GLANCE
LAMAS 101
THE WILD ONES
EVERYDAY LAMAS
BASIC LAMA PHYSIOLOGY
CHAPTER TWO - Buying a Lama and Bringing It Home
FINDING A REPUTABLE SELLER
BUYING FROM BREEDERS NEAR AND FAR
PRODUCTION AND DISPERSAL SALES
INTERNET BUYING
SALE BARNS
REGISTRATION PAPERS
METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING LAMAS
WORKING WITH LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTERS
CHOOSING YOUR OWN CONVEYANCE
MANAGING STRESS
FINDING AND WORKING WITH A
VETERINARIAN
VISIT THE CLINIC
SCHEDULE A ROUTINE FARM VISIT
GENERAL ADVICE
CHAPTER THREE - Handling Llamas and Alpacas
UNDERSTANDING LAMASPEAK
LAMA VOCALIZATIONS
BODY LANGUAGE
OTHER SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORS
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ABERRANT BEHAVIOR SYNDROME
WHAT CAUSES ABS?
IS IT ABS OR NOT?
CAN AN AGGRESSIVE LAMA BE SAVED?
THE KINDEST CUT—GELDING MALE LAMAS
WORKING WITH LAMAS
HERDING LAMAS
THE LAMA WHISPERERS
CHAPTER FOUR - Feeding Llamas and Alpacas
RUMINATE ON THIS
THE ABCS OF FEEDING LAMAS
PASTURE
HAY
CONCENTRATES
MINERALS
COOL, CLEAN WATER
HEY, HAY!
BIG BALES—OR NOT?
WHEN YOU CAN’T FIND GOOD BALED HAY
CHAPTER FIVE - Housing Llamas and Alpacas
HOME SWEET (LAMA) HOME
BASIC STRUCTURES
BEDDING
POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
DINING ACCOMMODATIONS
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO DRINK
PASTURE PERFECT
FENCING FOR YOUR LAMAS
WOVEN WIRE FENCING
ELECTRIFIED FENCING
FENCE POSTS
CATCH PENS AND RESTRAINT CHUTES
CHAPTER SIX - Llamas and Alpacas in Sickness and in
Health
KEEP YOUR LAMAS IN THE PINK
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SHEAR HAPPINESS
HAIRSTYLES FOR LLAMAS AND ALPACAS
DO-IT-YOURSELF (OR NOT?)
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
TO BE (OR NOT TO BE) YOUR OWN VET
BUILD A BETTER FIRST AID KIT
CHECKING VITAL SIGNS
WOUND CARE 101
JUST SHOOT ME!
ANTIBIOTIC PROS AND CONS
STOP DISEASE IN ITS TRACKS—VACCI NATE!
USING HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS
THE WORMS GO IN, THE WORMS GO OUT
DEWORMER-RESISTANT WORMS
THE SOLUTION TO DRUG RESISTANCE IS . . . ?
EXTERNAL CREEPY-CRAWLIES
NOSE BOTS
LICE
MITES
OPEN WIDE AND SAY CHEEEEESE
FIGHTING TEETH
OVERGROWN INCISORS
TRIMMING TOOTSIES
THE REST OF THE STORY
CHAPTER SEVEN - Breeding Llamas
CHOOSING A MALE
WHERE TO LOOK
A STUD MALE OF YOUR OWN
THE BIRDS AND THE BEES, LAMA STYLE
BEFORE YOU BREED YOUR LLAMAS
PREPARING FOR DELIVERY
A WELL-STOCKED BIRTHING KIT
ARE YOU READY FOR THE BIRTH?
STALL, PEN, OR PASTURE?
ARE WE THERE YET?
WHEN YOU MUST HELP
POSTBIRTHING PROCEDURES
COLOSTRUM
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DON’T FORGET THE PLACENTA
TAKING CARE OF BABY
MECONIUM HAPPENS
KEEPING BABY WARM AND DRY
GETTING ALONG WITH MAMA
CHAPTER EIGHT - More Great Lama Activities
ADOPT A LAMA
WHAT RESCUE IS AND ISN’T
ADOPTING LLAMAS
FOSTER CARE
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
GO LLAMA PACKING
WHY PACK WITH LLAMAS?
COMPETITION PACK LLAMAS
DRIVE YOUR LAMAS
SHOWING LLAMAS AND ALPACAS
GET A LLAMA TO GUARD YOUR GOATS, SHEEP,
OR ALPACAS
SELL OR SPIN YOUR LAMA’S FIBER
CHAPTER NINE - Making Money with Llamas and
Alpacas
BREEDING STOCK FOR SALE
ESSENTIAL STEPS
BUSINESS CONTRACTS 101
MORE GREAT WAYS TO EARN MONEY WITH
LAMAS
MARKET FIBER OR PRODUCTS CREATED WITH
LAMA FIBER
MARKET LAMA POOP
MAN A SHEARING AND TOENAIL-TRIMMING
SERVICE
LAMA FARM SIT
OFFER LLAMA TRIPS
BECOME A LAMA WHISPERER
TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS
CHOOSE A MEMORABLE BUSINESS NAME
PROMOTE !
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Acknowledgments
Appendix: Lama Maladies at a Glance
Glossary
Resources
Index
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Copyright Page
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This book is for Barbara Kimmel and Jarelle S.
Stein—thank you, ladies, for your encouragement and
endless patience—and for Deb Logan and Tina
Cochran, whose love of lamas shines in “Advice from
the Farm.”
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