August 12-14, 2005
Radisson Hotel, Kansas City Airport
Organizations and Committees:
ALSA – Alpaca & Llama Show Assoc.
AOBA – Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assoc.
ARF – Alpaca Research Foundation
ARI – Alpaca Registry, Inc.
CWG – Camelid ID Working Group
FFA – Future Farmers of America
GALA – Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Assoc.
GIRComm – Government & Industry Relations Committee (within AOBA)
IAOBA – Illinois Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assoc.
ILR – International Lama Registry
IRC – National Lama Intervention and Rescue Coordination Council
LAMAS – Lama Assoc. of the Mid-Atlantic States
LANA – Llama Assoc. of N. America
LASC – Llama Assoc. of Southern California
LFA – Llama Futurity Assoc.
LMRG – Lama Medical Research Group
MAF – Morris Animal Foundation
MLA – Missouri Llama Assoc.
NIAA – National Institute for Animal Agriculture
ORGLE – Wisconsin Org. of Lama Enthusiasts, Inc.
PLAA – Pennsylvania Llama & Alpaca Assoc.
R-CALF – Ranchers and Cattlemen Action Legal Fund
SCLA – South Central Llama Assoc.
SOCWG – Standards of Care Working Group
SSLA – Southern States Llama Assoc.
USAHA – United States Animal Health Assoc.
Government Agencies / Programs:
APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (a USDA department)
NAIS – National Animal Identification System
USDA – United States Dept. of Agriculture
VS – Veterinary Services (within APHIS)
Diseases:
BSE – Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
BVDV – Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus
EEE – Eastern Equine Encephalitis
CWD – Chronic Wasting Disease
VS – Vesicular Stomatitis
WNV – West Nile Virus
ALSA
Wally Baker, ALSA Board secretary, representative
Wally encourages feedback and questions to ALSA re: topics or questions about show concerns. ALSA members are concerned about the current lack of contact with the Board and receiving timely responses to questions. There are 7 board members; see web site: www.alsashow.org (board: http://www.alsashow.org/bod2004.htm). Wally recommends emailing the whole board if needed. Cheryl Ryberg, ALSA office manager, will pass questions/comments on to each board member as well. Cheryl has a small staff and a webmaster. Wally is on the ALSA show management committee and is now the ALSA liaison to the CWG. Wally is also the ALSA liaison to Camelid Community. The Regionals committee is looking at attendance and reviewing the structure of the regional shows. Camelid Community participants asked the following questions and brief group discussion followed.
Should Nationals move? Different location each year? It is hard to book a facility on a biennial basis.
Should people need to qualify at regionals before they can go to nationals?
No AOBA board representative attended Camelid Community this year.
No ARI board representative attended Camelid Community this year.
ILR
Kathi McKinney, ILR President, representative
The ILR Board is trying to set up a joint ALSA-ILR meeting.
Government relations funding – there are 2 separate funds: an operating fund and an endowment fund. The ILR will match donations to the Gov. Relations Endowment fund up to $25,000. The operating fund contains monies to pay the $600 annual USAHA dues, help defray the expenses of the USAHA seat holder (Karen Conyngham currently) to attend USAHA meetings and can also help reimburse other expenditures incurred on government relations work. Kathi suggested the use of this fund could be extended to the Camelid ID Working Group (CWG). Funds donated to help defray the minimal expenses of the CWG could be placed in a sub-account within the Gov. Relations fund to cover the costs of establishing the Camelidid.org web site, the electronic survey subscription fee and such postage fees as may become necessary.
Regarding the ARI/ILR issue – this disagreement over the funds owed to ILR by ARI for past registry work will now move to telephone mediation then will be followed by binding arbitration if mediation fails. ILR is waiting for ARI to choose a mediator and an arbitrator. This process will be conducted between the attorneys for each board and the mediator.
The ILR web site continues to expand electronic services to users. Camelid organizations can be issued an owner code and password so that one representative from each organization can keep current officers, contact information, etc. updated. Soon the ILR will also be able to offer this association database to the regional organizations as a place for them to maintain their membership directory mailing lists, etc.
The new web site, www.Iwantallama.com, has been opened to
promote llamas overall. The site included all the educational brochures and
much related information. The site still needs photos of all aspects of llama
activities; they do have a good selection of packing photos however. Photos
can be emailed to iwal@lamaregistry.com
They will format the pictures or contact sender with specific photo format
requirements.
The ILR Policy Manual being revised and will be posted on the ILR web site very soon. Allen Schott is the new software specialist for the ILR.
Kathi was asked if the seller of a llama could get a price break if the seller handles the registration transfer instead of trusting the new owner to transfer the animal? No. The seller can charge an extra $15 for the transfer fee and handle the registration transaction for the buyer however.
The Registry is the only Windows-based breed registry. ILR will be working with New Zealand to handle their registry’s web site. Registry will be applying to be an AIN manager for ALL camelids; hopefully movement tracking as well. Jan Wassink will attend the ID Expo in Chicago in September.
LANA
Sheila Fugina, LANA President, representative.
See LANA 2005 State of the Union as an attachment to these minutes.
Hilary Ware representative.
See complete LMRG report as an attachment to these minutes for a listing of research projects and an abstract on each.
The Lama Medical Research Group reviewed and discussed seven new camelid projects for possible funding through the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) this year. Those participating were Dr. Kim Schwanky for the Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association(CLAA); Dr. Julie Ann Jarvinen, the Alpaca Research Foundation (ARF); Dr. Scot Lubbers, Willamette Valley Llama Foundation (WVLF); Dr. Rob Pollard, Llama Association of North America (LANA); Hilary Ware, Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association (GALA) and Debbie Ullrich, SOC committee member. We stay connected and informed about MAF through the Executive Committee members for the Llama/Alpaca Division, Drs. Allan Dewald and Patrick Long. This year Morris has introduced two new categories for submission of proposals, beyond the established investigators category. These are designed to attract more researchers and greater numbers of projects. They are "First Award" and "Fellowship Grant" categories. All divisions of MAF received increased requests for funding while there has been a decrease in funds available. The proposals submitted to the Camelid division totaled $480, 938 this year. Morris Animal Foundation and the camelid community, via donations, will be funding new proposals in the amount of $66,820.
Two new funded studies will build on Dr. Warren Johnson’s alpaca genome work and will apply to llamas too. The first study will cover all 4 South American camelid species. The microsatellite study is being conducted in Australia. Finished study results are published in peer-reviewed veterinary journals, however the investigators must wait one year from the end of the study before results can be released. ICI will receive these study results for their library section on the ICI site.
ARF – Alpaca Research Foundation
Julie Ann Jarvinen representative.
http://www.alpacaresearchfoundation.org/
See complete ARF report as an attachment to these minutes for a listing of research projects and an abstract on each.
Julie reported that over $100,000 in donations has been received so far in 2005. AOBA/ARI are the main donors; these organizations have a check-off on their membership forms which makes donations easy to submit. AOBA will match member donations up to $10,000 per year. ARF conducts an annual stud raffle at the AOBA annual meeting and those proceeds also go to fund research. Affiliates may do silent auctions, etc. too and $25-30,000 has been received this way. Project AlpacaSite also raises funds to study specific pharmacological aspects of drugs for camelids.
This year an out-of-cycle proposal for a project to investigate BVDV infection in llamas and alpacas has been funded. Previously, BVDV was thought to pose minimal risk to camelids. In light of the accumulating new information, however, ARF BOD members felt that the role of BVDV as a cause of disease in alpacas should be re-evaluated. ARF site is taking an anonymous census of BVDV in alpacas; 6 cases reported so far.
Julie announced that she has resigned from the ARF Board in order to participate in research.
Hilary Ware representative.
Hilary reported on the 2005 MAF meeting held in Baltimore earlier this summer. Morris has established a new category: fellowship grants. MAF pays part of the fellowship salary in addition to funding the full study. Allan DeWald has recommended a THS (thyroid) assay be on record for llamas and alpacas. MAF will accept non-US proposals. See also the LMRG section of these minutes.
Barb Baker representative.
See complete ICI 2004 report as an attachment to these minutes.
Nearly $400,000 has been raised to date. ICI is now referenced in the last will and testament of several people. 2008 is the goal to raise $2 million. AOBA/ARI are still funding office expenses. 5% of endowment invested funds are used for research. The ICI goal is to serve the entire camelid community. Camelid owners should periodically check the ICI web site (www.icinfo.org), especially the research library link. ICI hopes to prevent duplication of research efforts by publicizing research already done. Q&A page on the web site is very popular. The site receives about 30 consult corner activity hits per week; answers are sent to the questioner by the referring specialist within 24 hours.
It was suggested that each camelid owner could make their veterinarians aware of the ICI site; also include this information in new owner packets. Also consider enrolling new owners to the Emergency Alert System and the CamelidMed electronic newsletter when an animal is sold.
Wally Baker brought along a video tape from his local CBS news affiliate in California. They were reporting on the use of camelid antibodies as biosensors (see also the article in Llama Life II, “Llamas’ Blood May Save Human Lives”, Summer 2005, Issue #74, page 6). Wally’s llamas were photographed and a very accurate description of llamas was given by the interviewer.
Sheila Fugina representative.
See complete IRC proposal as an attachment to these minutes.
The camelid community needs to define terms used in rescue/intervention. This council would work on defining these terms. It will coordinate efforts across the country; try to see that funds are not spent/wasted. It is envisioned that the IRC would become a network of owners or camelid organization representatives. Individual affiliate organizations will be encouraged to name a representative to the IRC as a contact person for that affiliate to provide information on intervention – the council will not actually perform rescues. See also the article written by Sheila that was published in Llama Life II, Summer 2004, issue #70, page 29 “Rescue is Not a Four Letter Word”. This article has also be reprinted in several Newsletter Exchange Network member newsletters. Alpaca representation will be sought from the AOBA affiliates.
Zelma Cleaveland representative.
Have a plan in place for your animals when you can no longer keep them. Zelma shared some web sites that contain useful information:
http://legacyforyourpet.com
http://estateplanningforpets.org/
The estate planning web site has a “Lawyers” page that lists applicable statutes for the various states.
Zelma also provided a copy from the Missouri statutes on establishing a trust for the care of an animal. She recommends keeping recent photos of animals and keep those photos with the registry certificates so that someone who does not know all your animals individually could tell which animal goes with which certificate. This will facilitate transfer of animal certificates after the owner’s death. Three recommended books: “All My Children Wear Fur Coats: How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet” by Peggy R. Hoyt (c. 2002); “When Your Pet Outlives You: Protecting Animal Companions After You Die” by David Congalton and Charlotte Alexander (c. 2002); “PerPETual Care: Who Will Look After Your Pets if You’re Not Around?” by Lisa Rogak (c. 2004). All of these titles are available at Amazon.com with table of contents and some book excerpts available as well.
Ann Barkley described one system used in Minnesota. An owner lists all their animals; groups them and assigns a trustee for each group. The trustee can take one of the “best” animals but then must also take 2 of the “lesser” quality animals. This is a guideline for a placement system, not a purchase scheme. Both a trust and a trustee system needs legal assistance to implement and financial resources must be allocated to maintain the animals after the owner’s death.
Work with your attorney to determine which system might be
best for your situation.
Karen Conyngham and Julie Jarvinen representatives.
http://www.camelidid.org
At the request of USDA/APHIS in the fall of 2003, USAHA members Teri Baird and Karen Conyngham were asked to form a Camelid ID Working Group (CWG) to address permanent identification of camelids in the US. Julie Ann Jarvinen was added to the organizational committee very shortly after with Julie and Teri serving as co-chairs. Following an organizational teleconference, a group of 22 llama and alpaca owners representing various segments of the camelid community drafted a Status Report for USDA in Sept. of 2004. This report was sent to the Secretary's Advisory Committee (also called the Steering Committee) and was also presented at the 2004 USAHA annual meeting. USDA spent the first part of 2005 drafting an initial strategic plan for the National Animal Identification System; this rule was published in the Federal Register in May. The CWG submitted a comment to that docket asking that existing
camelid ID microchips at the 125 - 128 kHz level be accepted into the NAIS so camelids which currently have these microchips implanted would not need to be re-chipped. While USDA has expressed a willingness to accommodate this request, they have not officially done so as yet. We await a final decision by USDA on this issue.
The CWG's Education and Outreach Committee has been keeping the camelid community updated on the progress of the NAIS through numerous press releases and a web site was established in July that contains all the releases, all reports, presentations, background articles and links to helpful state and federal animal ID sites. There is also a Power Point
presentation about the NAIS and how it affects camelids posted on the site for the use of anyone in the camelid community. See:
http://www.camelidid.org/ppt.html
This presentation will be updated frequently as more information about the NAIS is released and CWG recommendations are developed.
The emphasis right now is getting livestock premises identified. All states except one have premises registration systems in place or underdevelopment. On-line registration is available for many states. Registering a farm is the first step in the NAIS. The premises ID number is equivalent to a street address. The next step in the NAIS will be assigning individual animal identification numbers. This number is called an AIN (animal identification number) and it will be a 15-digit number with the first 3 digits of all numbers being '840' which is the international code for the US. The rest of the number will be unique to each individual animal and this number will remain with that animal for its lifetime. The AIN is equivalent to a social security number. The premises ID is NOT part of the individual animal ID number.
They are two separate numbers and are connected only in a database maintained by each state animal health agency.
USDA has asked the CWG to recommend a SINGLE method of permanent identification and ONE location for the method selected. The CWG will soon conduct an online survey to determine the camelid industry’s preferences for method and location of ID.
The CWG will need a small level of funding (probably around $800) to defray the costs of the web site, survey software and some postage costs. The ILR is willing to collect, track and disburse these donations on behalf of the CWG. Donations in any amount are welcome! Please make a check payable to the ILR and note on the Memo line that it should be used for the Camelid ID Working Group and mail to:
ILR
Govt. Relations Fund
PO Box 8
Kalispell, MT
Joyce Abrams, Hilary Ware representatives.
See the full text of these documents as an attachment to these minutes, in .pdf format.
The final versions of the two Standards of Care documents were unveiled at Camelid Community. These cover both minimum standards and recommended practices. These two documents can be used either together or separately.
The next step is to finalize plans for the distribution of these documents. Farms and organizations can personalize them by adding their own contact information in the blank area provided on the back of each the documents. Each document must be reproduced as a whole, not in part. Following is the introduction to the Standards documents from the Standards of Care Working Group:
We are proud to present the results of the charge by Lama Community to define Standards of Care for llamas and alpacas – one document stating minimum standards of camelid care for animal welfare officials and another educational document of recommended practices. These two final documents reflect broad-based consensus on both Minimum Standards of Care for Llamas and Alpacas and Recommended Practices in Caring for Llamas and Alpacas.
The two original committees, now merged into one group called the Camelid Community Standards of Care Working Group, have done extensive outreach to assure these tenets reflect common understanding of appropriate and humane camelid needs and care. It was challenging to consider and include camelid living conditions for every corner of North America and practices that can be applied in the wide variety of situations in which llamas and alpacas live! Excellent suggestions from veterinary, nutrition, humane agency and camelid breeder experts led to fine tuning that has resulted in these nationally applicable documents.
This is the first time national consensus has been achieved in these areas. It is a sign of industry maturation, cooperation, and the ability to compromise in the best interest of our camelid companions. The process has been painstakingly slow in order to assure all were heard and all ideas, wording and points of view were discussed and considered. Agreement on detail was slow to come, but there has been almost universal expression of the need for such documents and broadly representative approval of their content.
May these two works be widely used to support the welfare and wellbeing of all camelids.
Joyce Abrams, Hilary Ware, Co-Chairs
A quick review was done on diseases of concern to camelids. West Nile virus continues to emerge across the US with cases now widely reported in most geographic areas. California appears to be in for another bad year for WNV. The mid-Atlantic and some New England areas are fighting rabies; USDA is continuing to drop bait for foxes and raccoons that contains a vaccine to help control rabies in these animals. Eastern equine encephalitis has also been showing up in New Jersey and New England. Vesicular stomatitis has been reported in AZ, CO, MT, NM, UT, WY although no camelid cases have been reported in the press. N. Dakota is suffering a bad outbreak of anthrax and apparently there have been some camelid deaths. There is a vaccine for anthrax.
The Smalley’s reported that Georgia and the southeast is having trouble with haemonchus contortus (“barberpole worm”) which is a blood sucking Trichostrongyle-type of parasite. Some owners in that region are treating llamas with the camel dose of cydectin (usually a pour-on) used orally. As a warning sign, look for pale colored tissues around the eye and loss of pink color in the eye mucus area (notes from a Texas A&M parasitology lab). Blood transfusions or artificial blood substitute may be on option. (S. Tornquist is working on the blood substitute product via an ARF study)
Marsharee Wilcox representative.
The Camelid Alliance is a small, independent group of alpaca and llama owners who are also active members of the United States Animal Health Association. Alliance members monitor and respond to emerging disease and regulatory measures potentially impact camelids and their owners.
Alliance members Dr. Cheryl Tillman, the AOBA representative and Karen Conyngham, representing the International Lama Registry, serve in the llama and alpaca Allied Industry seats on the USAHA BOD. The USAHA Board is made up of all state veterinarians and representatives of the Allied Industries livestock groups. The USAHA Board meets each evening during the USAHA annual meeting to vote on resolutions proposed by the various topic committees during that day.
Camelid Alliance members participate in 10 different USAHA topical committees; camelid presentations are made in several of these committees each year. The most active camelid participation is in the Infectious Diseases of Cattle, Bison and Camelids committee and the Livestock Identification committee. The USAHA regional and national meetings offer key networking opportunities utilized by Alliance members to interact with various levels of federal and state regulatory
officials.
During 2005, efforts of the Alliance focused heavily on the Canadian border closure and the classification of camelids in this disease response situation. Zoning ordinances affecting camelid ownership, legal classification of camelids and working with owners and associations abroad on disease response and risk for camelids are among the Alliance
activities.
Camelid Alliance members include Teri Baird (CO), Karen Conyngham (TX), Dan Goodyear (PA), Susan Tellez(TX), Cheryl Tillman (OR) and Marsharee Wilcox (MD).
Dr. Cheryl Tillman, GIRComm member, representative
GIRComm recommended that AOBA require microchip ID for animals going to shows as of July 1, 2005. ARI is not requiring chips in order to register alpacas. 50% of registered alpacas are already microchipped based on ARI data. Having permanent ID makes it easier to match the exact animal to certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI). The GIRComm did ask AOBA to approve a $5000 contribution to go to the Camelid Alliance to help fund the Amicus brief filed in the 9th district and circuit courts, but this request was denied by the AOBA board. GIRComm has monthly teleconference calls; vacancies are filled by application.
The ILR agreed to pick up the former ILA government relations function when the ILA disbanded. Minimal financial resources were transferred from the ILA to the ILR. The ILR pays the $600 annual fee to maintain a seat on the USAHA Board of Directors; current ILR representative is Karen Conyngham (previous representative was Bob Frost of Calif.). The ILR has established 2 funds to support the government relations function; see that description under the ILR general report earlier in these minutes. It is important that ILR members understand that government relations affects all owners and that continued financial support of this effort is necessary to maintain a good working relationship with state and federal regulatory officials.
Marsharee Wilcox, representative.
USDA Deems Camelids Low Risk in Transmission of BSE-Camelid Alliance Report
The US Canadian border was closed to ruminants, including camelids, in May 2003, when a case of BSE, aka "Mad Cow Disease", was discovered in a Canadian cow. This resulted in a number of camelids owned or being purchased by US citizens being unable to return to the US. Members of the Camelid Alliance began work immediately to have restrictions lifted for camelids, giving presentations, holding discussions and submitting comments to the Federal Register. After two years spent educating USDA on the difference between ruminants and camelids, efforts paid off with USDA/APHIS ultimately classifying camelids as a species playing no part in the epidemiology of BSE between the US and Canada. The Final Rule issued by USDA lifted all restrictions imposed on camelids and the border was set to reopen in early 2005.
A cattle group, R-CALF, took USDA to court seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the border from reopening to Canadian cattle. They were successful in obtaining a temporary injunction in district court in Montana and this halted the intended reopening. Since the Alliance was successful in having USDA issue a significant ruling on the lack of TSE risk posed by camelids, the Camelid Alliance, spearheaded by Marsharee Wilcox, determined it was critical to further engage and protect the position that camelids are extremely low risk of TSE transmission to other animals. USDA appealed the temporary injunction ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Camelid Alliance filed an amicus brief, supporting USDA's position and asking camelids be exempted from the temporary injunction. In mid-July the Appellate Court issued a unanimous decision overturning the temporary injunction allowing the border to reopen.
R-CALF filed a second suit in district court in Montana seeking an injunction to keep the border closed on a permanent basis. The Alliance filed an amicus brief in this case as well. This case is still pending before Judge Cebull, but it is unlikely camelids would be caught up again in any further action due to the precedent set by the 9th Circuit decision.
The Alliance worked with members of USDA's Import/Export, Customs Inspectors and owners to clarify entry requirements and clear up miscommunications regarding camelids that occurred at several border crossing locations. In early August, 202 llamas and alpacas had crossed the border.
The Alliance is asking for financial help in meeting the $20,000 legal fees incurred in researching, writing and filing the briefs; for copies of the briefs, please contact Marsharee at: Mwilcox@stp.com. While approximately $3,000 in donations has been received to date, more financial help is needed. Anyone wishing to donate to the legal fund may
do so by making their check, payable to "Spyridon Koch Camelid Legal Fund" and send to:
Marsharee Wilcox
3214 Eves Way
Hampstead, MD 21074
Many within the alpaca and llama community mistakenly believe this situation doesn't impact them as they have no plans to cross the border from Canada with camelids. In reality, it absolutely impacts each and every llama and alpaca owner-from the owner of two geldings in the backyard, to those with hundreds in their herd. The battle that has been
fought and effectively won is the correct positioning of camelids as low risk species in the transmission of a major livestock disease. There was no scientific evidence supporting camelids as a BSE risk factor but they were lumped with ruminants and barred from border access. The work of the Alliance set a precedent that we will confront such a situation in a professional and educated manner, will provide evidence to support our position, and will work within the system and closely with regulators or even in court to reach an appropriate solution. This should help camelids immeasurably in the event of another major livestock disease outbreak.
Emerging diseases are tracked and assessed by members of the Alliance on a daily basis and efforts continue to formalize the separation of camelids from ruminants in the Code of Federal Regulations. Your financial support of these efforts is an investment in your ongoing ability to keep, transport, sell and enjoy your llamas and alpacas into the future.
All states post their state entry requirements on their respective animal health agency web sites. There is also a link to those regulations from the APHIS web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/
But note their caveat:
“The information on this system has been received from each of the State Veterinarians, but may not reflect the most recent information. Please check with the appropriate State Veterinarian if you have any questions concerning the information provided or on the legal interpretation of the referenced regulations.”
After many years of trying to get llamas and alpacas categorized as domestic livestock instead of “exotic livestock” in Missouri, this was accomplished in May 2005 when the MO Legislature approved the change in classification for llamas, alpacas and buffalo. These species are now defined as Livestock throughout the statutes. Zelma and members of the Missouri Llama Assoc. worked very hard to bring about the change in classification, with the help of Dr Taylor Woods, MO Asst. State Veterinarian. During the negotiations to enact this change in classification, Dr. Woods contacted Karen Conyngham asking for an estimated economic impact of llamas and alpacas on the Missouri economy. Karen was able to provide Dr. Woods an outline of the numbers of animals and owners in the state, then included a list of all the economic areas where these owners impact the economy. Both llama and alpaca groups need to consider doing a formal economic impact study much like the equine industry conducts every 5 years or so. This information would be extremely useful when negotiating with state governments. See: http://www.horsecouncil.org/2005%20June%20Economic%20Study%20Press%20Release.htm
For an article outlining the most recent equine study.
Karen Conyngham, ILR representative.
USAHA 2004 Annual Meeting – Oct. 21-27, 2004 Greensboro:
Livestock ID committee: Karen presented the Camelid ID Working Group’s status report to the committee. Full text is available on the ILR web site and the CamelidID.org site. PPT available on request. This was an important meeting as the top levels of USDA/APHIS were in attendance and heard the presentation.
Cattle, Bison and Lama Committee agreed to the new name: Infectious Diseases of Cattle, Bison and Camelids. Dr. Michelle Kutzler of Oregon State Univ. gave a presentation on WNV in Camelids, based on her article in Alpacas Magazine and the JAVMA (see Lama Community 2004 notes).
Dr. Kutzler is in the process of obtaining survey blood samples from camelids in all states to determine the rate of natural immunity in our animals. Karen helped Michelle by providing all necessary information that OSU required to the presidents of states from which she still needed statistics. The state assoc. presidents are working directly with Michelle to get the necessary samples.
Jan. 10, 2005:
Drafted and asked the ILR BOD to send a letter of appreciation to Dr. Brian Evans on behalf of US llamas and their owners for all his efforts with USDA to differentiate between camelids and true ruminants re: the border closure. This was done by the ILR BOD. Karen spoke with Dr. Evans directly at the 2004 USAHA meeting and extended personal appreciation for these efforts, which very much pleased Dr. Evans. The importance of following up with thank you letters when government agencies at ANY level work with camelid owners to rectify rules and regulations cannot be overstated. It is common courtesy and is noted by these agencies.
Western States USAHA Meeting, Feb. 22-24, 2005, Reno, NV
Karen and Teri Baird attended. We made contact with the western region director for import/export, Dr. Larry Williams, and received a copy of the import regulations for camelids entering from Canada. This was one week prior to the MT district court issuing a preliminary injunction keeping the border closed to all “ruminants”. However this contact with Dr. Williams was helpful when the border opened in July; he was able to get copies of documents to Marsharee quickly.
Teri also helped Dr. David Thain, Nevada State Veterinarian and host of the Western States meeting, by setting up and maintaining the hospitality suite. This provides a unique opportunity to get to know both state and federal agency personnel in an informal setting.
In late June 2005, Karen gave a presentation (drafted by Karen and Julie Ann Jarvinen) on the current status of the CWG to the USDA Animal ID Coordinators workshop held in Austin. About 60 people attended. Karen participated in a brief panel discussion after all the species WG presentations were made; several questions were asked about implementation of the NAIS in camelids.
LFA has sponsored two satellite TV broadcasts about llamas. The first one was a 1-hour program on showing llamas, the second was filmed at Pearson Pond Ranch and covered all aspects of llama ownership. Both were narrated by Dan Milton. Either of these would be very good PR tapes to use at shows and llama educational venues.
Pet Expo – held in Kansas City; is an information distribution setting only - no animal selling. Missouri Llama Assoc. was there to educate the public about llama ownership with many handouts. LASC also participated in the American Family Pet Expo in April and June of 2005 for their 3-day event with live animals on display.
FFA Convention in Louisville, KY October 2005. Four groups will participate: ILR, LANA, ALSA and ICI. Darrell Anderson, representing ALSA, will take llamas to the event. This is the last year live animals can attend. Three 10x10 exhibit areas will be available; the llamas will be in one 10 x 10 pen, and the four groups will share
the other 20 feet of booth space, providing brochures and educational handouts to educate the FFA students about llamas. Mark Smith will represent ILR and Barb Baker will represent both LANA and ICI.
Farm Progress Show – Lloyd Nash told the group about this show which is held in August of each year in either Illinois or Iowa. This could also be a good venue for dissemination of information about alpacas and llamas. Similar events are held in other states as well.
*Setting standards & empowering others
*Recharging the Llama Industry
The group discussed these issues together. We need to encourage sharing of information between organizations, and between owners. Focus on the education of owners and potential owners before a problem develops. Associations should do outreach to animal control personnel and be sure they know who to contact for accurate information on camelid care and guidelines for the various regions of the country. One commonality during all the Camelid Community discussions is getting to the grassroots (the individual camelid owner) and encouraging networking between owners and across species.
Thank you to Gail O’Bryan who provided each Camelid Community participant with a bottle of Bryan’s Blend BBQ sauce!
Take-Away Topics for the 2006 Meeting:
IRC: Contact the organizations that will have a seat on this council and get their representatives appointed. Establish an organizational chart for the IRC.
Standards of Care – see that the Standards receive widespread distribution; report on the distribution rate next year.
Encourage board of directors for those associations participating in Camelid Community to make a $25 donation on behalf of their members towards the Camelid ID WG expenses fund.
Try to get more alpaca community participation from AOBA and ARI
Report on 2005 FFA event; successful? What materials were distributed? How many attended? Suggestions for other events like this one based on “lessons learned” at the 2005 event.
Camelid Community 2006 is scheduled for August 4-6, 2006 in Kansas City. Sheila Fugina and Barb Baker will coordinate.
Joyce Abrams – Standards of Care Committee
Barb Baker – Intl. Camelid Institute, ORGLE (Wisc. Org. of Lama Enthusiasts, Inc.)
Wallace V. Baker – ALSA
Ann Barkley – Lamas of Minnesota
Edie Benusa – ORGLE
Zelma Cleaveland - Missouri Llama Assoc.
Karen Conyngham - S. Central Llama Assoc.; Camelid Alliance; USAHA
Linda Dellmyer – Penna. Llama & Alpaca Assoc.
Sheila Fugina – Llama Assoc. of N. America
Julie Ann Jarvinen – Alpaca Research Fdn.
Russ Lewis, Llama Assoc. of S. California
Jan McArdle – Llama Assoc. of N. America
Kathi McKinney – Intl. Lama Registry
Kat Medrea – IAOBA (Illinois Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assoc.)
Lloyd Nash – Illinois Lama Assoc.
Gail O’Bryan - Missouri Llama Assoc.
Ken & Kathy Smalley, Southern States Llama Assoc.
Shannon Stege – ORGLE
Bob Swartwout – Lama Assoc. of the Mid-Atlantic States; Penna. Llama & Alpaca Assoc.
Cheryl Tillman, DVM – AOBA/ARI Government & Industry Relations Committee; USAHA
Hilary Ware – Lama Medical Research Group
Marsharee Wilcox - LAMAS, GALA, Camelid Alliance
Del and Nancy Workman
Ricky Zachow – Southeast Lama Rescue