One of the most vital things alpaca owners can do is learn the basics of a physical exam. This ensures that one can have a precise conversation with a veterinarian while discussing the care of the animal. These skills are not meant to replace a veterinary exam but help one have a discussion about what may warrant a visit or what may be managed over the phone.More »

The standards provide a basis for developing and implementing and enforcing consistent legislation across Australia, and provide guidance for all people responsible for sheep. They are based on current scientific knowledge, recommended industry practice and community expectations. The development of these standards is part of a comprehensive program agreed by industry and governments to develop standards and guidelines for all commercial livestock species and at all points along the production supply chain.More »

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep and Cattle were endorsed by the Commonwealth of Australia in January 2016. The aim was to establish fundamental obligations relating to the care of sheep and cattle in Australia. Concurrently, the Australian Alpaca Veterinarians, a Special Interest Group of the Australian Veterinary Association, has compiled a code of welfare for alpacas and llamas in Australia to set out in detail minimum standards and recommendations relating to all aspects of the care of camelids.More »

Animal Health Australia (AHA) together with Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) have developed the Australian Industry Standards and Guidelines for Goats. The industry standards and guidelines apply to all goat farming enterprises in Australia from extensive grazing to fully housed systems to individually owned. The industry standards and guidelines apply to all those responsible for the care and management of goats.More »

From an animal welfare perspective, this process will cover all welfare aspects for sheep. The draft standards and guidelines for sheep currently include chapters on: Responsibilities Feed and water Risk management of extreme weather, natural disasters, disease, injury and predation Facilities and equipment Handling and husbandry Tail docking and castration Mulesing Breeding management Intensive sheep production systems Humane killingMore »

South American camelids kept as zoo or farm animals often display skin lesions, the aetiology of which remains unresolved. Mostly, only a few individuals in a herd are affected. The empirical treatment consists of oral doses of zinc (Zn), and lesions usually improve over two to three months. It is unclear whether the syndrome is a Zn deficiency or a disorder that responds to supra-physiological systemic Zn concentrations (Rosychuk,1994). Although it has been mentioned that males and animals of dark fleece colour might be more susceptible (Fowler, 1989; Rosychuk, 1994), no systematic evaluation of factors that predispose animals to the condition has been published.More »