Lakeland Veterinary Association Meeting
On the evening of Thursday, 24th May, WhyNot Alpacas were privileged to play host to a meeting of the recently re-vitalised Lakeland Veterinary Association (LVA).
More than twenty vets, from practices as far apart as Workington, Penrith and Garstang, gathered to hear Dr Gina Bromage, one of the country's best-known and most respected experts in camelid veterinary work, and author of that excellent book "Llamas and Alpacas ~ A Guide to Management".
For the half hour immediately preceding the meeting, Ghyllas, which had been bathed in glorious sunshine all day, was deluged by a torrential thunderstorm, which almost washed us all into the valley bottom.
Fortunately, the weather cleared as quickly as it had broken; and we were able to start the meeting with a walk around the farm, seeing and discussing various groups of alpacas, from stud males and pregnant females to 2011's crop of now-yearlings.
Following a very good supper provided by LVA, Dr Bromage examined and advised upon animals exhibiting a variety of problems, some common and some less so; and commented upon such important aspects of husbandry as foot trimming and condition scoring. The audience raised their own questions; and were able to discuss and obtain clarification on many points of interest.
Happily, by this time the farm's electricity, which had been summarily cut off by the earlier storm, had clicked back in, enabling the Guest Speaker to give her main, illustrated talk, which ranged from the history of camelids through the principles of welfare, feeding, reproduction, treatment of sickness and general management; and touched on keynote topical issues such as TB.
Saturday 26th of May 2012
