Boot Camp in Alpaca Husbandry, Winter Session, 2014-15

Boot Camp in Alpaca Husbandry, Winter Session, 2014-15

Syllabus and Schedule

Instructor: Stuart White

Introduction

The llama and alpaca were domesticated from the guanaco and vicuña, respectively, about 4000 years ago in the central Andes. Husbandry of the two domestic species subsequently diffused north and south, and by the early 16th century the camelid culture area encompassed the mountainous regions of modern Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, plus the irrigated coastal valleys of the desert Pacific Rim. Llamas and alpacas permitted the successful occupation of a vast area of the Andes, often too high and too dry for agriculture, but productive when occupied by these hardy herbivores. The transformative impact of the llama and alpaca, however, was halted by the demographic collapse of both human and camelid populations following the Spanish Conquest in 1532. Due to introduced disease and the displacement of camelids by Old World domestic animals, by 1650 the llama and alpaca population had dropped by 90%, associated with many local extinctions.

The demographic bottleneck was exacerbated by a loss of quality, as llamas were allowed to breed with alpacas (producing a fertile and undesirable hybrid) and as indigenous husbandry practices were abandoned. Camelids persisted in remote pockets away from Colonial activity, but their quality as well as their numbers continued to decline. The camelids now grazing the Andes, with localized exceptions, are a major retreat from the genetic and productive levels obtained after millennia of selection, culminating with the Incas. Recovering the pre-Columbian quality of llamas and alpacas therefore becomes the major challenge for contemporary herders and indigenous communities in the Andes.

This course will permit students to become accomplished in the principal alpaca husbandry practices through daily work with a large alpaca herd on the Mazar Wildlife Reserve (MWR), and will place alpacas, llamas and vicuñas in their historical and geographical contexts.

Setting for the Course

We will have access to a herd of 500 alpacas in a beautiful setting in Ecuador located between 10,000 and 12,000 feet elevation. The landscape includes alpaca pastures, montane forest, and grassland páramos above tree line. The host ranch is part of a private conservation area, the Mazar Wildlife Reserve (MWR), owned and operated since 1982 by the instructor and located 50 km to the northeast of Cuenca. Various sites within the MWR, separated by walking distances of 1-5 hours, will be used for husbandry practices.

Students will be housed in rustic cabins. Basic services (flush toilets, running water, road access) will be available at both the páramo and lower camps, and electricity at the lower camp. Internet access will be limited to the beginning and end of the session, during stays in urban areas. Hikes between sites that traverse forests and grasslands will be used to discuss the conservation opportunities provided by alpaca husbandry.

Although most of the course will take place on the Mazar Wildlife Reserve, where the alpacas ranch is located, a short field trip to central Ecuador will focus on llama husbandry by indigenous communities, and provide a unique opportunity to view vicuñas at close range on the high páramo within the government’s Chimborazo Faunal Preserve. For those interested, we will have the option to ascend to the climbing hut and spend a night in the shadow of Mount Chimborazo’s glaciers.

Instructor

The instructor, Stuart White, has lived in Ecuador for 31 years and raised alpacas on the MWR since 1985 after introducing them from Chile and Peru. He has also raised cattle, llamas and sheep. Stuart received a PhD in Geography at the University of Wisconsin in 1981 and subsequently taught Geography at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, until moving to Ecuador. In addition to raising alpacas, Stuart has spent his years in two pursuits: First, promoting the reintroduction of this camelid to the Ecuadorian rural economy; and second, as habitat conservation advocate, crystalized in the establishment of the Fundación Cordillera Tropical (), which he headed between 2000 and 2010. Since 2010 Stuart has been associated with the Geography Department at the University of Vermont, where he taught during 2011-2012.

Course Objectives

1. Understand camelid culture history in the Andes.

2. Learn the principal camelid husbandry practices: Handling and restraint, the parenteral and oral administration of pharmaceuticals, blood drawing, castration, placement of uterine boluses, toenail clipping, incisor trimming, use of a feeding tube, shearing, and fiber classification. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with large numbers of alpacas and will perform all of these interventions, some many times.

3. Appreciate herd management as practiced in the tropical Andes, including the use of infrastructure, routine preventive health care, major causes of morbidity and mortality, pasture management, and the construction of a salubrious and productive farm space.

4. Gain a practiced eye in the evaluation of fiber quality and conformation in alpacas, and review methods for genetic improvements. Students will learn to judge alpacas and to make on-farm selection of promising sires.

5. Know the principal parasitic and infectious diseases affecting alpacas, means of control, and treatment.

6. Observe the non-lethal methods employed to reduce predation by mountain lions and foxes, and the cost of these interventions.

7. Focus on the reproductive cycle, birthing and support for newborn crías and alpaca dams. For the Winter Session, we will have the opportunity to work with birthing mothers and alpaca newborns.

8. Distinguish llamas and alpacas in physical aspect, ideal types, and economic potential.

9. Evaluate the feasibility of alpaca husbandry as a tool for conservation and the protection of environmental services in the tropical Andes.

Course Structure

This course earns 4 credits.

Class discussions on specific topics early and late in the day will be combined with sustained daily involvements with the alpacas as detailed in the schedule below. On most days, 2 hours will be dedicated to the instructor’s presentations, followed by discussions; and 5 hours learning husbandry techniqueswith the alpacas. An additional 1-2 hours will be needed to complete the day’s readings.

Students will be provided a spiral-bound volume with all required articles included, and from which readings will be assigned.

Grading will be based on participation in discussions, mastery of husbandry techniques, a written exam, and an end-of-session oral presentation to the class.

Readings

*Brown BW (2000) A review on reproduction in South American camelids. Animal Reproduction Science 58: 169-195

*Brush S (1982) The natural and human environment of the central Andes. Mountain Research and Development 2: 19-38.

*Carpenter L (2003) Bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 446-453. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Davis G (2003) Breeding to improve fleece quality. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 545-552. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Ellis R (2003) Clostridium perfringens enteritis. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 454-458. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Fernández-Baca S (1990) Llamoids or New World Camelidae: Llama, alpaca, guanaco and vicuña. In: Payne, WJA, An Introduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics, 4th edition, pp. 557-580. Longman, Essex, England.

*Fowler M (1994) Health care of the geriatric llama and alpaca. In: Johnson L (ed), Update on Llama Medicine, pp. 391-399. The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Food Animal Practice 10(2). Saunders, Philadelphia.

*Frank, EN, Hick, M, Gauna C, Lamas H, Renieri C, Antonini M (2006) Phenotypic and genetic description of fibre traits in South American domestic camelids (llamas and alpacas). Small Ruminant Research 61: 113-129.

*Giorgi J (1990) Trematodes. In: Giorgi J, Parasitology for Veterinarians, 5th edition, pp. 103-117. Saunders, Philadelphia.

*Hoffman E (2003a) Behavior and communication. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 33-56. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Hoffman E (2003b) Anatomy and conformation. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 57-82. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*IUCN (2013) RedBook listing for vicuñas

*Luteyn J (1999) Introduction to the páramo ecosystem. In: Luteyn, J (ed) Páramos: A checklist of plant diversity, geographical distribution, and botanical literature. Brooklyn, New York: New York Botanical Garden, 1-39.

*McConnel T (2003) Parasitology. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 423-426. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Smith B. Timm K and Long P (1996) Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care. Clay Press, Jackson, CA, pp. 1-112.

*Sponenberg DP (2003) Genetics of fiber type and coat color. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 523-544. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Sumar J (1996) Reproduction in llamas and alpacas. Animal Reproduction Science 42: 405-415.

*Thedford T and Johnson L (1989) Infectious diseases of New-World Camelids (NWC). In: Johnson L (ed), Llama Medicine, pp. 145-157 (The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Food Animal Practice 5(1). Saunders, Philadelphia.

*Tibary A (2003a) Obstetrics and neonatology. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 387-402. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Tibary A (2003b) Female reproduction. In: Hoffman E., The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 351-386. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Tibary A (2003c) Male reproduction. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 325-350. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*Tibary A, Vaughan J (2006) Reproductive physiology and infertility in male South American camelids: A review and clinical observations. Small Ruminant Research 61: 283-298.

*WheelerJ (2012a) Evaluación genética de las variedades de llama k’ara, suri y llamingo en Peru y Ecuador. PowerPoint presentation at the International Camelid Conference, Arica, Chile.

*Wheeler J (2012b) South American camelids: Past, present and future. Journal of Camelid Science 5: 1-24.

*Wheeler J Russel A and Redden H (1995) Llamas and alpacas: Pre-conquest breeds and post-conquest hybrids. Journal of Archaeological Science 22: 833-840.

*White S (2003) Sarcosystosis: A disease endemic to Andean alpacas. In: Hoffman E, The Complete Alpaca Book, pp. 427-434. Bonny Doon Press, Santa Cruz, CA.

*White S (2013) Grass páramo as hunter-gatherer landscape. The Holocene 23 (6): 898-915.

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Schedule of Activities and Topics

Date / AM Discussion / Daytime activities / PM Discussion / Reading
Friday,
Dec. 26,
2014 / Students fly to Guayaquil. . Students will be met at the Guayaquil airport by the instructor or hotel personnel, and be taken by shuttle bus directly to the Grand Hotel Guayaquil. [Internet access] / Orientation / Fernández-Baca, 1990
Franklin, 1982
Saturday, Dec. 27 / Course introduction and distribution of class reader / AM visit to Malecón river park in Guayaquil.
Overland trip from Guayaquil to Cuenca. We traverse the broad coastal plain, dominated by rice, bananas and pastures, and see Zebu cattle, then climb the steep western face of the Andes. Light picnic lunch in the páramo grasslands of Cajas National Park. Arrival in Cuenca (8,400’) by late-afternoon.
Night at Hostal Posada del Angel in Cuenca. [Internet access] / Invited lecture by Patricia Espadero, DVM
Sunday, Dec. 28 / Introduction to Sangay National Park / Cuenca to the Mazar Wildlife Reserve (MWR) and alpaca ranch: Three hours of mountain landscapes and exposure to sloped agricultural systems. Settle-in after arrival, and our first encounter with the alpaca herd.
Páramo. Origin of páramo vegetation; fire management; nutritional and husbandry considerations in páramo; watershed conservation; infrastructure
Parasitic Diseases I: Fascioliasis. Life cycle and role of swamps, infectious necrotic hepatitis, controls
Night at páramo camp (11,300’). / (1)Basic Andean geography
(2) Cultural and political chronology of the Andes / Brush, 1982
Luteyn, 1999
White, 2013
Monday,
Dec. 29 / (1) Predators
(2) Parasitic diseases / Parasitic Diseases II: Sarcocystiosis. Subclinical and acute forms; life cycle, control; using the microscope
Predators. Management practices to reduce predator losses to the puma, Andean fox, domestic dog.
Basic infrastructure and daily routines. Pastures, peripheral fencing, corrals, salt stations, ‘las puntas’. Help put alpacas into their night corrals.
Night at páramo camp / (1) Review of Fascioliasis y Sarcocystiosis
(2) Campfire: Alpaca husbandry as a conservation tool in páramo / Giorgi, 1990
McConnel, 2003
Thedford and Johnson, 1989
Ellis, 2003
Carpenter, 2003
White, 2003
Tuesday,
Dec. 30 / [Preparation for departure to lower camp] / AM: Hike or ride down through páramo and then tropical montane forest to lower-elevation pastures (3 hours).
PM (after arrival in Pilisurcu): Pasture walk-about and observations:
Observations of normal alpaca behaviorand physiological parameters: pulse, respiration, body temperature
Alpaca anatomy: sacrifice an alpaca / (1) Domestication and diffusion of domestic camelids
(2) Campfire / Wheeler, 2012b
Wednesday, Dec. 31 / Basics of alpaca physiology and behavior / Basic Husbandry I. Handling and restraint; toenail clipping; incisor trimming; oral delivery of antiparasitic drugs; and the provision of mineralized salt. / New Year’s Eve celebration in local style / Hoffman, 2003a
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 / Infectious diseases / Basic husbandry II. Parenteral administration (IM, SC, IV), taking a fecal sample; normal and abnormal feces; castrationThe geriatric alpaca. Productivity, support
Infectious diseases. Symptoms; treatments; management solutions / Objectives of contemporary husbandry / Wheeler et al., 1995
Fowler, 1994
Date / AM Discussion Topic / Daytime activities / PM Discussion Topic / Reading
Friday,
Jan. 2 / (1) The ideal alpaca
(2) Llama and alpaca—differences and similarities / Identifying the Ideal Alpaca
Fiber. Fineness, density, uniformity, crimp, sheen. Practice in estimating micron count; use of laboratory fiber analyses
Conformation. Common conformation defects;practice in evaluating conformation
Choice of sire. Evaluation of males for soundness and quality / Criteria for selection of sires
Genetic defects
PM: Alpaca al grill / Hoffman, 2003b
Sponenberg, 2003
Davis, 2003
Frank et al., 2006
Saturday, Jan. 3 / Care of dams and crías; common problems / Reproduction. Normal and abnormal female and male anatomy; normal birth process; dystocias and corrections of abnormal presentations; vaginal and uterine prolapses; use of the intrauterine bolus and prolapse retainer; feeding orphan alpaca crías by stomach tube. / Measuring your reproductive success / Tibary, 2003 (a, b, c) #s 10, 11, 12
Tibary and Vaughn, 2006 #__
Smith, Timm and Long, 1996 #__
Brown, 2000
Sumar, 1996
Sunday, Jan. 4 / Day for catch-up and additional husbandry practice
Monday, Jan. 5 / [Early rise to pack and depart for Salinas via Cuenca] / Overland to Salinas. From Mazar Wildlife Reserve to Salinas (eight hours), a town adjoining Ecuador’s “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. En route we will survey highland agricultural systems and their intimate relationship to changing natural environments, markets, and culture areas. Overnight at hotel in Salinas. [Internet access] / The Ecuadorian llamingo / Wheeler 2012a (ppt)
Tuesday,
Jan.6 / Llama husbandry in Ecuador / Visit with indigenous llama and alpaca herders in Bolivar Province. Invited lecture by Ing. Lizbeth Medina.
Night at Chimborazo climbing hut, or return to Salinas hotel PM.[Internet access] / Vicuñas / IUCN, 2013
Wednesday, Jan. 7 / Vicuña conservation in the Andes / AM: Trip to Chimborazo National Faunal Reserve to observe vicuñas in the wild.
PM: Visit Palacio Real, an indigenous community that manages llamas. Includes walking tour, meat processing plant and community museum. Llama lunch (vegetarian options available). PM: Overland return to Cuenca.[InternetPM] / [En route to Cuenca: Preparation time for oral presentations and exam]
Thursday, Jan. 8 / Course summary / AM early: Visit Cuenca’s animal market
mid-AM: Preparation for oral presentations and written exam.
PM: Exam and oral presentations[Internet access] / End-of-course farewell dinner
Friday,
Jan. 9 / 3 AM overland to Guayaquil airport / Student departures during the day and evening

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