docCreating a Home for Your Herd –
download 
Report Transcription
Creating a Home for Your Herd –
Creating a Home for Your Herd – Facilities, Fences, Pasture Layouts & Nutrition 2 Facilities Adequate feeding/lounging space important 3-sided building facing south/east adequate for males Breeding females require full enclosure due to cria needs Overhangs greatly increase “living” space Alpaca like to be outside unless it is extremely cold 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 3 Facilities Inexpensive Innovative Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas 3/23/2016 4 Facilities Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas 3/23/2016 5 Facilities – Inside layout Options Permanent Flexible 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 6 Facilities – Storage Storage Needs Grain & Supplements Hay Equipment Medication 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 7 Facilities – Workflow Weighing Scale Catch Pens 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 8 Stocking Density Depends of pasture quality Generally, 4-5 per acre If more, supplement with hay Barn/Shelter Space 18-20 sq. ft./alpaca If building new, increase size by 25% for work area/ storage 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 9 Fencing Many Fencing Options Woven Wire Chain link Farm fence No-climb horse or goat fence High Tensile strand Vinyl or Board Fence One or more electrified wires 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 10 Fencing Most Secure Option Woven-No Climb 4-5 foot high Wood and/or Metal Posts Most Expensive ($2-3/ft.) Justification Perimeter Predator Control Males next to Females 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 11 Fencing Electric Netting Quick Fence Sub-dividing pastures Portable 12” gap between bottom strand and ground Less Expensive ($1/ft.) Caution: make sure it’s always charged If not, alpacas can get entangled 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 12 Fencing Bottom Line – What risk level are you willing to take Predator prevalence in your area What’s your budget? 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 13 Pasture Layouts Plan for enough pastures to rotate alpacas every 3-4 weeks Design with small catch pens near barn Rectangular pastures make it more difficult to herd animals to the barn “Wagon Wheel” layout is very efficient 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 14 Pasture Layouts 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 15 Pasture Layouts “Wagon Wheel” Layout 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 16 How to Create Your Own Layout Find your property on Google Maps Select the satellite view Right Click and select Print Choose orientation as appropriate and print Using a copy machine, adjust setting to Light and make test copies until the map is light enough to draw on top of but dark enough to see detail. Once you have the correct setting make several copies and begin laying out your new farm! 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 13 Nutrition “Anyone can feed but nutrition requires some effort” Dr. Norm Evans Healthy immune system=healthy alpaca=healthy fiber Testing hay and forage is important Feeding should be based on body condition score, frame size, exercise, use and age 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 14 Nutrition Find a good source of forage/hay Know what you’re feeding Test your hay and pasture Supplement with grain Fomulated for alpacas Other supplements Mineral Blend Fiber nutrients Vitamin A,D,E for crias 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 15 Nutrition How much to feed? Forage – 80% of diet Alpacas will consume daily 1.6% of their body weight of dry matter 150 pound adult – 2.5 pounds per day hay/forage Males consume slightly less, nursing dams more Grain supplement ½ pound daily Nursing dams may need up to 1 pound daily Cold weather increases need for more calories Take body score into consideration 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 16 Nutrition Sources Hay/Forage and water testing Holmes Labs – www.holmeslab.com Grain Supplement Kent (Blue Seal) – Maintenance and Growth Formulas Mazuri – Maintenance and Growth Formulas Hubbard and Others Minerals/Fiber Nutrients Llama Wellness – Alpaca Minerals “E” & Fiber Nutrients (also available through Kent) 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 17 Forage Pasture and Hay make up total forage Testing is a necessity for alpaca health Need good drainage Spring lush pastures Controlled grazing time 3-4 hours/day Can lead to obesity Always use endophyte-free seed! 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 18 Forage Ideal Properties for Hay/Forage Protein 10-13% Total Digestible Nutrients 55-63% Relative Feed Value 97-104% Calcium:Phosphorus 2:1 or less Potassium 1.75% or less 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 19 Forage Orchard Grass Ideal for alpacas Good for pasture and hay Mixes well with other grasses & alpha Seed at 10-15#/acre 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 20 Forage Brome Grass Used in pasture and hay Cool season grass Highly palatable Seed at 15-20#/acre 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 21 Forage Kentucky Bluegrass Pasture only Tolerates close grazing Mixes well with Orchard and Brome Seed at 10-15#/acre 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 22 Forage Timothy Grass Hay only Use at 20% or less with other grasses Sensitive to heat Seed at 2#/acre 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 23 Forage Alfalfa Perennial Legume Pasture and Hay Very Palatable High Protein 17-20% Limit feed Use at less than 20% Seed at 2-4#/acre 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 24 Forage Forage “No-No’s” Perennial rye grass – can contain a neurotoxin Clover – can cause excessive salivation which may lead to ulcers KY-31 Fescue – contains endophytes 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 25 Forage Midwest Hay Mix Orchard Grass 60% Timothy 10% Brome 20% Alfalfa 10% 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016 26 Forage Midwest Pasture Mix Orchard Grass 60% Timothy 15% KY Bluegrass 20% 2016 AOA National Alpaca Show 3/23/2016
