The BLS board is working hard to look after the interests of all members and their llamas. To do this it is vital that the llama register is accurate.  In other species identification measures are enforced.  For example all cattle must be registered with the national cattle movement services before they are two weeks old, must carry a passport, must have pre movement bTB test and must report all movements on or off the farm to the central registry; all equines must carry a passport and be microchipped; there are movement restrictions on pigs; and even sheep will have to be compulsorily microchipped from next year.
The BLS argue that we hold the national registry, can contact all owners and breeders quickly in the event of an emergency and that outside intervention is not necessary.  If members are failing to register all births and sales, especially to non members, that argument begins to break down.  If we cannot hold that argument, we cannot hope to represent the industry and protect our members from restrictive legislation.
Please register your cria NOW.
To record a Llama born after April 2009 and new cria, they must be microchipped. If your Llama was born before that date, you should still register but it is not necessary for the animal to be microchipped unless you wish to transfer him/her to a new owner.

It is recommended to microchip cria’s at six months old plus. To register your cria prior to the age of six months, just allocate a microchip to that animal and record it on your registration form. Don’t forget to get the cria microchipped once it is six months old.

Chips from BLS cost £4.15 each which is an extremely good price. To obtain your microchips please send a padded self addressed stamped envelope, with a cheque made out to British Llama Society to Liz Butler, Nutfield Park Farm, South Nutfield, REDHILL, Surrey, RH1 5PA. Chips will be sent out within 48 hours.




LIZ BUTLER
Vice Chairman BLS & Health & Welfare Representative

Up to date information and contact details are available in the members only area of the Forum under Llama Health - Info

Members will shortly receive a letter and short questionnaire from 
Jacqueline Lusat of the University of Bristol, on the subject of worm 
control in camelids.
 
Jacqueline's previous questionnaire study, on mange in camelids, received a 
great response, and led to some important findings. These have now been 
published, and a copy will be enclosed for those who are interested in the 
outcome.
 
The worm questionnaire will try to find out how common health problems due 
to worms and coccidia are in camelids in the UK, and what management systems 
are commonly in place to control them. This is especially topical, with 
drug resistance, and particularly dangerous parasites such as Haemonchus, 
apparently on the rise in recent years. As with mange, there is a lot of 
anecdotal information about, but not much solid data, hence the need for 
this study.
 
We hope you will respond to the questionnaire if you are able, since the 
results will really help to provide a basis for better parasite control 
recommendations in camelids in the UK.
 
The study is being performed by Jacqueline Lusat
 
at the

Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Group
School of Biological Sciences
University of Bristol
Woodland Road
Bristol, BS8 1UG
U.K.
 Tel   : 00 (44) 117 954 5948
 FAX   : 00 (44) 117 925 7374
 Email : Jacqueline.Lusat@bristol.ac.uk
 

Given the recent emergence of several infectious diseases in the UK and the unknown effects of these diseases on South American Camelids, it seems prudent that camelid breeders take stock of their approach to biosecurity in order to protect these animals from disease This may mean changing some existing practices but the benefits of avoiding contact with disease should far outweigh any inconveniences faced. Members lo the British Veterinary Camelid Society have put these recommendations together,

The aim of "biosecurity` is to prevent the introduction and spread of disease in susceptible populations or herds lo animals. Mainly we are talking about viruses, bacteria and parasites Below is a list of potential diseases and organisms that may be spread from animal to animal:

Gastrointestinal parasites (including worms coccidia and fluke)
Skin parasites, especially Chorioptes mites
Bacterial pathogens (e.g. Strap zooepidemicus Salmonella)
Mycobacteria (including M bovis (TB) and M avium subsp paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease)
Viruses (e.g. llama adenovirus, respiratory viruses. equine herpesvirus-1)
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus?
FMD?
Blue-tongue?

For the latter 3 viral diseases, the pathogenesis of potential disease in camelids and the effects of these viruses in terms of causing clinical disease in our species is largely unknown Further research is needed, but in the meantime, it would be prudent to include them in biosecurity considerations to try and minimize their effects. Essentially, biosecurity means protecting your existing herds from exposure to disease that may be brought in by new animals. and minimizing the risk oft spread of disease amongst newly introduced animals while also minimizing exposure to potential pathogens (disease-causing agents) that already exist on the farm. It is important to understand that animals may be clinically normal and showing no signs of disease while actually either incubating disease or being sub-clinically affected ‚ for example shedding coccidia although not having diarrhea. Therefore, it is not adequate merely to exclude animals that appear to be unhealthy as those that appear healthy (and may have passed veterinary health examinations) may still introduce disease onto your farm. A veterinary health certificate only shows that the animal appeared to be healthy at the time of the examination and does not certify the animal as free from disease It is also important to realize that the stress of moving animals from one farm to another, attending shows, changes in environmental conditions and social status can cause immune system suppression such that an animal that was previously healthy may be more susceptible to development of disease or may start to excrete the virus, bacterium or parasite, For example, it is quite common for an animal to have a negative fecal evaluation for parasites prior to transportation, and then several weeks later to find that the same animal has a clinically significant parasite burden, Commingling of animals at shows or while visiting breeding farms increases the potential exposure of animals to disease while also causing a certain degree of stress-induced immunosuppression For comparison, imagine a night spent on an aircraft traveling back from holiday - the effects of sleep deprivation (a stressor) suppress your immune system such that your body is less able to prevent the development of a cold from exposure to a cold virus breathed out by someone on the plane nearby.

We suggest following these practices:

1. Avoid introducing any animals that do not appear healthy to the rest of the herd.

2. Know the disease status lo any herd from which you are buying animals, or where your animals are being temporarily housed. Ask about current health status on the farm, but also previous problems with diseases such as gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, parasites…) respiratory disease, abortion, ill-thrift or failure of passive transfer. Knowing that a particular farm had a problem with diarrhea for example is not necessarily a problem; knowing that the problem was identified, diagnosed and correct treatment and prevention measures employed should be reassuring and also shows that the farm knows what they are doing!

3. Insist on the pre-movement testing (PMT) and treatment of animals prior to their arrival. This is to show that they are at least as healthy as your own animals and requires that you have that same knowledge of the health status of animals on your own farm. There is little point in demanding testing of incoming animals unless you know that your own animals are healthy! Testing might at a minimum involve PMT for bovine TB by the comparative intradermal skin test or blood test as agreed, for BVD antigen (not antibody), and the treatment for endoparasites if required. No farm without an obvious chorioptic mange problem should accept a new animal with active lesions.

4. Isolate and quarantine all new animals before introducing them to the herd This includes animals that have been to shows or off-farm for breeding purposes since they have been commingling with other animals. lf you are introducing solitary animals, you may wish to place herd animals in the quarantine area to reduce the separation stress - choose less valuable animals for this such as geldings, avoid using breeding or lactating females.

a) Recommended quarantine period 30 days. This is the gold standard DEFRA and WAG may well in future introduce post-movement standstill orders of 5-7 days

b) Operate an all-in, all-out policy such that all animals housed in the quarantine area leave quarantine at the same time The quarantine period only starts from the time the last animal entered. Do not have animals moving in and out of the quarantine area on an individual basis.

c) The location of the quarantine site should be physically separate from the main herd as well as its handling facilities and housing. Ideally this should be several hundred yards away if possible and positioned such that it is downwind from the main herd but at the very least. there should be a double fence-line between the groups in order to prevent direct contact.
d) On a larger facility, have different staff working with the quarantine group and do not have the same staff return to the main herd. If this is not possible, tend to the main herd before tending to the quarantine group.

e) Wear clothing and footwear that is dedicated to the quarantine group when tending to this group - must be washable (e.g. wellies okay suede or fabric workbooks are not) Color coding of overalls is an obvious and visible reminder.

f) Monitor the animals in quarantine on a daily basis. Monitor attitude, appetite, water consumption, urination and defecation as well as for any signs of coughing, discharge from the eyes or nose, diarrhea etc. Animals showing any signs of disease should be further separated from the rest of the animals in quarantine and evaluated by a vet.

g) Evaluate a fecal sample on entry to the facility and 3 weeks later Ideally fecal samples should be collected every 3 days and stored in the fridge (Cebra 2007) If there is a subsequent problem with parasite-related illness or excretion then the source of the infestation can be determined. Treatment should be done if animals are found to have significant parasite burdens and their faeces retested 14-21 days later.

5. Minimize exposure of herd to human visitors. lf visitors come to the farm, question them about exposure to other livestock and where they have come from and make sure that they come to the farm wearing clean clothes and boots. Provide visitors with overalls and either Wellington boots or overboots kept on the farm for this purpose. Make sure that hand-washing facilities are available and that they are used.

6. Maintain optimum condition of animals in the herd. This will make them less susceptible to disease.

• under conditioning can cause problems
• are provided. Mineral deficiencies can be responsible for disease problems in herds. Also, ensure that young growing stock receive sufficient vitamin D to prevent rickets
• shelter from rain, wind, cold and snow in the winter. Appropriate bedding (e.g. straw) may also be necessary for protection from cold.

7. General cleaning and disinfection.

a) Personal hygiene to prevent transmission of pathogens between animals and from animals to humans (known as "zoonotic disease”).

Frequent hand washing with hot water and soap
Cleaning and disinfection of boots
Thorough washing of clothing used when caring for animals

b) Disinfection requires surfaces to be clean. All organic matter (faces, urine, milk, spit) must first be removed before disinfection can work on fences, floors, walls, clothing or hands. Disinfection may be difficult for certain organisms such as Cryptosporidia (which can also cause disease in humans) so is best avoided in the first place by following optimal biosecurity on the farm.

Barrington GM et al. Biosecurity and biocontainment in alpaca operations. Small Rum Res 61 (2006).217-225 Cebra C. Update on parasitology. International Camel Conference, Oregon 2007

Dear BLS Member

Bovine TB is spreading out of control. Llamas are susceptible to bTB.

As many of you are aware there are an increasing number of llamas being found to have bovine TB. Although the mode of infection is as yet unknown, it is likely to be either llama to llama, cow to llama or badger to llama. This is very concerning especially as we, as an industry, do not have any workable systems in place to reduce the risk of infection.

TB is not caused by the owners lack of knowledge or by bad management. If you have infected animals you should not be embarrassed or ashamed. Our llamas and your fellow members need you to stand up and talk openly about your particular situation. This is the only way that others can become educated about the problem, how to handle it and what our rights are as llama owners.
What is needed from you

The BLS and the BAS have a meeting coming up shortly about bTB with the Government Minister in charge to put the camelid case to her. It would be very helpful if I could go knowing what it is that the members want.

I need your help to understand the extent of the problem. Unless those affected tell me who you are, I have no way of knowing how many of our members are affected. Your information will be treated in the strictest confidence, and will be known only to those on the board who are actively involved. As a relatively small industry we are much stronger when we talk as one. I can only do this if all those affected as well as those who may be in a hot spot come together and define what is required.

The first step is to let me know in the strictest confidence if you are affected. Please get in touch even if you think I already know.

You can email me: llamaliz@hotmail.com or call on 01737-823375. Once again, your information will be handled in confidence.

We, as representitives of the Camelid industry, can't go forward with this unless we know what you want. Those with infected herds know who you are. You have a duty to the greater livestock industry to eradicate bTB from your herds, to do this efficiently and effectively everyone needs to work together. Herds do recover from TB and there is light at the end of the tunnel. The future of llamas in the UK could be seriously damaged if we do not get to grips with this issue.
Thank you.
LIZ BUTLER
Vice Chairman BLS & Health & Welfare Representative