Alpaca? Llama? or Piquena??
August 24th 2007 00:36
I have to say, I have no idea and I am hoping Rosemary from Alpaca Notes will pop in and comment. http://www.alpacanotes.com/
A friend is just back from Peru and well I asked if I could use his pics. He has identified which is what, but for goodness sake, I really don't have a clue.
Now to stay with my theme I then had to find some material on natural remedies for these interesting creatures:
Really Long Link had some interesting material on using Silymarin, which is St Marys Thistle in the southern hemisphere and Milk Thistle in the northern hemisphere. This is a nice short term pick me up if an animal goes flat, as long as it is not anaemic, as it can block the utilisation of iron. Just for a month or so should get an animal and its liver happy if its not a serious issue.
She also mentions gum massage, this is a great technique I learnt for horses, one hint, if you want to do this with any animal, have a bowl of water handy so you can keep wetting your hand as the gums tend to dry out. I can't do the horses like I would like to do to an allergy to their saliva (go figure), I found this out practicing this technique after a course, and wiped my face in the middle of it. Got home and had little heat bubbles where I had wiped myself. Not a glamorous look.
She also talks about using echinacea, this is a very handy herb when you have a herd of animals and one is poorly with a cold or cough, just as a preventative for the well animals as well as the sick one. My main caution with echinacea is be careful if there is a heart issue, sometimes echinacea can exaggerate an irregularly beat or murmur.
Slippery elm bark also rates a mention because of its ability to balance the bowel transit time, especially with loose stools, it can be expensive and elm is endangered because of the disease now affecting elm trees.
Anyway, this article that came up with my googling on herbs and alpacas is well worth a look if you have an interest in these beautiful creatures. There are other herbs and supplements listed.
Okay as comments with pics mess with the alignment of blogs, I am just posting this in reply to Caroline, maybe this girl is cuddling an alpaca?
A friend is just back from Peru and well I asked if I could use his pics. He has identified which is what, but for goodness sake, I really don't have a clue.
alpaca at machu picchu peru, courtesy of Michael Van Bergen
Llamas and alpacas in Peru courtesy of Michael Van Bergen
Piquena, Canon del Colca Peru, courtesy of Michael Van Bergen (again)
Now to stay with my theme I then had to find some material on natural remedies for these interesting creatures:
Really Long Link had some interesting material on using Silymarin, which is St Marys Thistle in the southern hemisphere and Milk Thistle in the northern hemisphere. This is a nice short term pick me up if an animal goes flat, as long as it is not anaemic, as it can block the utilisation of iron. Just for a month or so should get an animal and its liver happy if its not a serious issue.
She also mentions gum massage, this is a great technique I learnt for horses, one hint, if you want to do this with any animal, have a bowl of water handy so you can keep wetting your hand as the gums tend to dry out. I can't do the horses like I would like to do to an allergy to their saliva (go figure), I found this out practicing this technique after a course, and wiped my face in the middle of it. Got home and had little heat bubbles where I had wiped myself. Not a glamorous look.
She also talks about using echinacea, this is a very handy herb when you have a herd of animals and one is poorly with a cold or cough, just as a preventative for the well animals as well as the sick one. My main caution with echinacea is be careful if there is a heart issue, sometimes echinacea can exaggerate an irregularly beat or murmur.
Slippery elm bark also rates a mention because of its ability to balance the bowel transit time, especially with loose stools, it can be expensive and elm is endangered because of the disease now affecting elm trees.
Anyway, this article that came up with my googling on herbs and alpacas is well worth a look if you have an interest in these beautiful creatures. There are other herbs and supplements listed.
Okay as comments with pics mess with the alignment of blogs, I am just posting this in reply to Caroline, maybe this girl is cuddling an alpaca?
another pic from Michael
| 53 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Carolinep
No idea what a piquena is, never mind what one looks like, but I'm pretty sure that your photograph is of a llama, as his/her ears are much bigger than those of our alpacas
Best wishes
Caroline, Spyder & Winston
Comment by Catherine
Natural Animals
Michael suggested the piquena had a finer coat, when he looked at purchasing a jumper from its fibres it was quite expensive in comparison to an alpaca.
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Haven't heard of a piquena, but then I've never been to Peru either.
Could be a guanaco or vicuna. They're related to llamas and alpacas too (all collectively called South American Camelids).
They are both a caramel colour with a white apron. I think the guanaco is a larger animal. The vicuna has the most super super soft fibre, so it is highly valued and protected in South America.
The top two pics are llamas. Long face and banana ears. The cuddle pic looks very alpaca to me. Smaller, short face and ears and a more sheep like fleece.
Cheers
Rosemary