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Its twins for
Illawarra Alpacas.
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On Monday, March 1st, an extremely rare pair of twin alpacas was born
to Illawarra Alpacas, an alpaca stud of some 130 alpacas situated in Cambewarra, N.S.W.
The first baby (cria) was born at 2 pm, and was a fawn female; the unexpected second cria
was born 6 hours later, and was a white female. Gestation was calculated at about 335
days, which was almost full term. |
Crias normally weigh 6 to 10 kgs, but these weighed
only 4 and 3.5 kgs respectively.
The incidence of twinning amongst alpacas has been quoted by veterinarian Dr. Julio Sumar,
internationally recognised Peruvian camelid expert, as being approximately 1 in every
50,000 live births.
The twin female alpacas were born to a seven year old white Peruvian dam (hembra) of
exceptionally fine fibre (20 micron), whilst the sire was a similarly fine white Peruvian
male (machos). As such, the two female babies (cria) represent a very valuable addition to
the herd of Illawarra Alpacas, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Davison and Miss Celia Cook.
Latest Update: 5/05/99
| They are gaining weight, and at 2 months, now weigh about 13 kgs
each, having started at 3.5kgs. We had some difficulty in getting the dam to accept and
feed the first born, as her attention was clearly very focussed on the latest arrival,
which was favoured. #1 wore some green slime from time to time, but we supplemented her
with Divetalac twice a day for several weeks so she didn't get left behind, and have kept
them in their own pen and paddock away from the distractions of the general nursery herd. |
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She has kept pace in weight, and sticks by #2 like
glue. She has
become more cunning, seeking to feed whilst the other is also feeding,
and the dam has gradually become more accepting and nurturing of her.
We pondered on names for a long while, hoping for inspired suggestions
beginning with "U" (all our cria this year have names commencing with
"U"). Eventually, it was Harriet who came up with Ursa Major and Ursa
Minor as names for these two "stars", despite their distinctly
un-bearlike appearance.
In the meantime, we are looking forward to the sires progeny classes for next year!
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT HARRIET DAVISON,
Phone: 02.4446.0096
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