A general understanding of the particular herd dynamics specific to our own farm or ranch is very useful as a first indicator that something may or may not require further investigation. It is equally important to know your animals as they relate within the herd. What are their normal groupings? Are some close pasture mates while others may not get along well? Are some at one feeding station and never at another? Is anyone a loner? What is the seeming social structure? Do you notice any who have assumed the role as guardian? Who consistently sounds the first alarm call? Who would seem to rule the pastures and who might seem to be clinging to that last social rung? What is the normal activity for the alpacas or llamas holding those positions and what is the normal activity for those in that range in between?

From this overall herd behavioral understanding, we can then come to know the specific more normal behavior of each herd member. This information provides us with immediate feedback as to whether something may or may not 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? Does another suddenly begin calling the first alarm? When moving the entire herd, is one normally out front or near the middle and is now one of the stragglers? Is one who normally presents a very balanced body posture looking slightly hunched or does this particular one always present a bit slouched? 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?

Some of the behavioral cues, which may not be normal, include:

• One down while the rest are grazing
• One off away from the herd
• All eating at feeding stations but one does not eat for more than a moment or at all – standing or kushed
• All eating at feeding stations and one prefers to graze
• Loss of assertiveness particularly at feeding time
• Less or more interactive than usual
• Group looking intently in the same direction – though normal herd behavior, this could be an indicator of something needing our immediate attention
• Being attacked or stomped by a herd mate – not in terms of an altercation. This behavior has been seen in cases where a youngster or weaker alpaca or llama has indeed been later found to have a serious health issue, which was not readily apparent such as cancer.

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