by GLAA members Lorrie and Randy Krause of Alpaca Acres

Each farm operates differently, but these are the routine care tasks we perform throughout the year and some of the supplies we find the most useful to have on hand.

Routine Care Schedule

Daily, ongoing

• Fill water buckets; wash if necessary
• Inspect and clean feces
• Feed hay, grain, minerals as needed
• Observe alpacas (ongoing)
• Dung clean-up (as needed)

Weekly

• Fiber inspection, picking, grooming
• Pasture inspection, debris removal (as needed)
• Record cria weights

Monthly

• Hands-on inspection
• Record adult weights
• Frame/body score
• Foot inspection, trim toenails if necessary
• Dental inspection, trim teeth if necessary
• Worm according to program
• Mow dung piles if needed

Seasonally

• Inspect shelters
• Test pasture, water, hay

Annually

• Shearing in spring
• Vaccinations according to schedule
• Begin insect control program in spring

Useful supplies

• Tack
• Halters
• Leads
• Catch rope
• First Aid kit
• Digital thermometer
• Gauze
• Stop bleed
• Enema kit
• Kaopectate
• Oxygen
• Dexamethasone
• Other
• Heat lamp or hair dryer
• Towels
• Fans
• Fly traps
• Measuring cup for food
• Livestock scale
• Shears
• Hoof snippers, toenail clippers
• Wormers (corid, panacur, dectomax)
• Insect repellent
• Syringes and needles
• Water buckets
• Food dishes