ALPACA CheQA farm protect

Reference Document: Locate the appropriate application form in your state
Procedures: Attain a PIC from your state department of agriculture. It is compulsory for all livestock owners in every state to have a PIC. The PIC plays a vital role in tracing and controlling disease and contacting owners in emergencies.

Reference Document: eAlpaca
Procedures: Maintain accurate record keeping for all stock on farm.

Reference Document: National Vendor Declaration Animal Health Declaration
Reference Document: South American Camelid Declaration and Waybill Form
Procedures: All stock purchases should be from reputable and biosecurity-conscious suppliers. Request SAC Health Declaration for further information on herd health. Request appropriate travel documentation for each purchase or any incoming stock.

Reference Document: Stock Receival and Inspection Form
Procedures: Make every effort to assess the health status of incoming and outgoing stock. Pre-purchase inspection or veterinary inspection/certification is recommended.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Isolate and segregate for a minimum of 10 days (21 recommended). Alpaca of unknown health status should be kept separate from vulnerable stock (i.e. young or pregnant ones).

Reference Document: Studies on Gastrointestinal Nematodes ("worms") of Alpacas (2018)
Procedures: Refer to your veterinarian for specific medication procedure. 24-48 hours holding in yards for empty out post treatment recommended.

Reference Document: National Vendor Declaration Animal Health Declaration
Procedures: Isolate and segregate for minimum 10 days (21 recommended) on return. When taking animals to shows and sales, remember that your stock can be exposed to disease by mixing with other animals or coming into contact with contaminated pens, vehicles, people and equipment.

Reference Document: Other livestock declarations
Procedures: Determine the biosecurity status of other species on the property and be wary of parasites or disease infection.

Reference Document: Instructions to insert IAR tag
Procedures: Maintain accurate record keeping for all stock on farm. You can refer eAlpaca for IAR tag purchase. Every alpaca must have a tag (IAR, paddock tag, EID) to identify them. Replace lost tags promptly.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Conduct regular alpaca inspections. Discuss any unusual signs of illness with your veterinarian.

Reference Document: Birthing and cria care advice
Procedures: Increase routine alpaca inspections as required. Increased insect vector presence such as flies, mosquitos and ticks have direct impact on livestock welfare and disease spread. Weeds present risk for grass seeds in eyes and ears. Contact your veterinarian as necessary.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Ensure infrastructure is cleaned and checked regularly. Suitable size & height for all alpaca to access easily.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Regularly undertake maintenance to existing fences. Replace fencing where required. In some instances, double fencing is recommended.

Reference Document: Why do we need safe livestock feed practices?
Procedures: Producers must not allow Restricted Animal Material (RAM) to be fed to ruminants.

Reference Document: Page 9 of National Farm Biosecurity Manual Grazing Livestock
Procedures: Store feed in appropriate vermin proof bins or sheds. If stock feed is spoilt implement disposal plan.

Reference Document: Commodity Vendor Declaration
Procedures: Source stockfeed from manufacturers who operate under a quality assurance program that has a biosecurity component. Inspect stock feed on arrival and ensure stockfeed matches what was ordered. If stock feed is spoilt implement disposal plan. Store CVD for a minimum of three years or the life of livestock fed the stockfeed, whichever is the greater.

Reference Document: Animal Treatment Record
Reference Document: Internal Parasites and Worms
Reference Document: How to administer injections
Procedures: Plan inspections with your veterinarian to assist developing a herd health plan and address biosecurity considerations.

Reference Document: Alpaca Vets
Procedures: Schedule suitably qualified veterinarian to sight alpaca and observe BCS. If evidence of illthrift , including low body condition (BCS <2), weight loss, diarrhoea and/or dependent oedema, then your veterinarian can investigate cause (e.g. nutrition/parasitism/JD) which could include ration evaluation, FEC and larval culture.

Reference Document: Alpaca Digestion and Nutrition
Procedures: Veterinary investigation of any stock with unusual signs of disease or illness.
Reference Document: Body Condition Scoring
Procedures: Report notifiable disease cases as per state legislation. Consider dental review if cause of low BSC has ruled out issues with diet, worms or other illness.

Reference Document: Shearing advice
Procedures: Alpaca are fibre production livestock and generally require annual shearing for best welfare.

Reference Document: see page 59 in Castration methods of alpacas, AgriFutures, 2017
Procedures: Male alpacas are usually castrated when suitably grown, matured sufficiently for the testes to be located and farmers are ready to select breeding males based on attributes such as conformation, fibre quality and testicular size. Rubber rings are not to be used for castration. Males that are not sold for future breeding purposes are to be castrated, or arrangements made for them to be castrated, to maintain welfare.

Reference Document: Transporting alpacas
Reference Document: Is the animal fit to load? (2019) guide
Procedures: Alpaca should be fit and able to walk, load and travel without distress. Not late pregnant or too young to travel. Refer to Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock for specifics.

Reference Document: Emergency Animal Disease Action Plan
Procedures: Display emergency contact list in noticeable places on farm and ensure all personel know where they are. Veterinary investigation of suspect cases is mandatory. Report notifiable diseases as per state legislation.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Isolating sick animals will reduce the spread of disease. Maintain accurate record keeping for all stock on farm.

Reference Document: Ealpaca
Procedures: Recording cause of death allows easy reporting of significant increases in mortality and future research projects for the alpaca industry. Use ealpaca with cause of death "Other" to include more detail.

Reference Document: Basic Alpaca Health
Procedures: Most cases of alpaca death are known from prior veterinary attention. If unknown, then veterinary investigation of suspect cases. Report notifiable diseases as per state legislation.
Procedures: Maintain records of illness, treatment and post-mortem reports.

Reference Document: see Page 14 National Farm Biosecurity Manual - Grazing Livestock (farmbiosecurity.com.au)
Procedures: Carcase disposal may include burning, burial, composting, knackeries or vet.

Reference Document: Farm Biosecurity Sign
Procedures: By locking additional gates traffic flow can be kept out of paddocks and directed to house/office for sign in/out. Provide footbath/scrubbing brush or PPE (gum boots/clean overalls).

Reference Document: Visitor Register
Reference Document: Come clean and go clean factsheet
Procedures: Be aware of the potential for property contamination from visitors and their vehicles, including veterinarians, other producers, stock and station agents, staff, contractors, shearers, shooters and fishermen. Where possible, limit unnecessary movement of people and non-property owned vehicles, encourage the use of protective clothing and ensure routine cleaning of visitors’ boots and hands. Discuss expectations with persons moving onto the property.

Reference Document: Visitor / Staff Risk Assessment
Procedures: Undertake risk assessment and provide personnel training and instruction on animal health and welfare, including disease recognition and reporting.

Procedures: Staff should discuss with their GP if they have a need for Q Fever or tetanus vaccinations.

Reference Document: Pest Control Principles
Procedures: Coordinate action against ferals with neighbours to maximise effectiveness. Seek information on disease statuses of neighbouring herds and/or flocks. Utilise fenced corridors to allow for wildlife movements.

Reference Document: Disposal of food waste
Procedures: Prevent livestock and feral animals accessing carcases, placentas and food waste. Seek current government guidelines on waste management and regulation.