Taking Your Cues From Alpacas and Llamas

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A Herd's Dynamics Will Provide Cues

A general knowledge of your particular herd dynamics can lend information - provide a cue - that something may require further investigation.

• Is one who is not a loner suddenly off by themselves?
• Is the herd queen suddenly seen to be weaker receiving spit from much more neutral herd members and backing away?
• Is the entire herd up and about grazing in the morning sun while one remains kushed in a shelter?
• Even more subtle, is the entire herd grazing and only one is kushed - kushed right there amidst the group?

A Case In Point

This herd is grazing with only one llama kushed.

It is a gorgeous day and all seems right with the world. Seeing this positioning from a distance, it is easy to assume that she is simply resting... enjoying the sun. She's right there with the group, but simply kushed. Though her neck in the photo is a bit forward, it would seem her facial expressions appear normal. Her ears are up and alert and she appears interested in her surroundings. The cue in this instance, however, is that she would be kushed at all when the entirety of the herd is up and grazing. Acting upon this subtle cue to investigate further, we go out to the field and get her to rise. Taking a closer look will help us determine whether she is fine or whether there might be a potential problem.

Once up, it is clear that something may not be well with this llama. Her overall body stance is somewhat out of balance and hunched. Her eyes are not as bright and alert as we had first thought. Her ears are held at half-mast and she does not hold her neck upright. Her facial muscles are tense and she seems to keep her head lower than normal.

Then she begins to graze. Or does she? It appears she would like to, but is simply nosing the ground. Her face remains tense pulling back her lower lip somewhat. Her eyes are dull and partially closed. This llama is not feeling well.

Understand Behavioral Cues

An often-repeated phrase throughout both the alpaca and llama community is: "They are so stoic. Once they show that they are ill, they are really ill." Gaining a better understanding of their many subtle behavioral cues adds an important dimension to our skills as herd managers and trainers. The above behavior (only one kushed while the rest are grazing) was our cue to simply explore further. Does what we see or think we see mean that it is? Perhaps... and then again, perhaps not. Behavioral cues can mean different things at different times though they should always give us cause to pause and consider the possibilities. It is important to consider the positioning and surrounding circumstances in which particular cues are noted. At one time, a combination of cues can lead us to explore health issues. Exhibited in a different context, many of those same cues can mean something else entirely. Know your herd as a group and as individuals. What is normal behavior for one may be an indicator to explore further in another.

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