Greetings Fellow AMLA Members,

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer on their farms. Summer is a time where many of us are enjoying our spring crias or looking forward to the ones to come in the fall. Most of the shows are now completed until the early fall when the weather turns cooler and more bearable for showing our llamas.

The AMLA is continuing to grow in numbers and I’m excited to see this growth in our industry. Although the economy is tough in many areas of our nation, the mini llama continues to intrigue people who are introduced to them. I know for myself, if I’ve had a rough day at work, a simple kiss from one of my minis goes a long way in making my day brighter and better. There are so many people that would benefit from being a miniature llama owner even in our nation’s tough economic times.

The only way word will get out about the magic of minis is through us, lovers of the mini llama. If you have time and the resources, please consider taking your minis out to introduce them to the public. Some great ways of doing this are going to a fiber festival, a show, a parade, going for a walk down your road, have a group over to your farm, start a llama 4-H group, etc. The opportunities to introduce our wonderful, mystical little llamas to the world are really endless.

May each and every one of you have a great summer with your minis!

Sincerely,
Julie Sines
AMLA President

ILR and ALSA Show Guildlines for Minis

At a recent board meeting, the subject of show miniature guidelines were brought up, again.  The Board would like to have any suggestions, comments and/or opinions regarding these guidelines.  Please email your comments to Julie Sines, Show Committee Chair, by July 31, 2010.  

Please understand ILR and ALSA make the rules that we must follow. The board is allowed to make suggestions to the ILR and ALSA’s show committees but that does not mean either will adopt any or all of our suggestions. All we can do is try.

The current guidelines are as follows:

ALSA Guidelines:

All llamas must be measured before entering the show ring for a
miniature class. A AMLA board member or a AMLA member will assist the show superintendent with measuring. Only ILR-registered llamas measuring 38 inches or less at the withers may be shown in a miniature class.

In addition, after January 1st 2010, only AMLA registered immature or
mature minis will be permitted to show in a miniature class. Show
supervisors will check the ILR/AMLA registration certificate to verify.

ILR Guidelines:    

The Llama must be registered with the ILR.
The Llama must measure the following measurements, at the withers, to compete:

Juvenile Class – 35 inches & under
Yearling Class – 36 inches & under
2 Year Old Class – 37 inches & under
Mature Class – 38 inches & under

The REAL Value of a Veterinarian

By Gary Kaufman, Roads End Llamas, Olympia, WA,
Reprinted from the SELR newsletter, The e Llama Rescue Review Vol. 3
Iss. 4 December 2009. Originally published on Alpaca site, September
4, 2009.

I just now got back from hauling one of our llamas from the vets
office. We have been treating him for a tooth root abscess for a little
longer than I would like with antibiotics and we are slowly gaining
ground on it. Today I gave him his shot, turned around, handed my
wife the syringe and headed out with the hay wagon to finish tossing
hay to the boys. My wife got real excited and hollered that something
was VERY WRONG with Charles. I spun around and indeed there was something decidedly wrong. He was circling, stumbling as he tried walking and was peeing. His respiration was over 60 per minute and just by touch along his side I could feel his heart was racing to beat the band.

So...first reaction is anaphylactic shock of course, we all say in one
breath. I call the vets office, describe ALL the symptoms and included
the fact that I just injected Charles with Pen G. My vet asked
where I had given the injection and did I draw back on the syringe
before plunging. Well the answer to latter half of his question was
no I did not, and I had injected forward of the front shoulder in the
neck area. Vet then asked HOW was he breathing. My only response
was very fast, then I also included that there was no flared nostrils or
mouth breathing. The vet said emphatically DO NOT ADMINISTER
Epinephrine, but load him up and bring him. The entire time
I am driving to the vet [approx 25 minutes from hook up and load
to arrival] I am fully expecting to open the trailer door with a dead
llama, but there is a time where you need to either decide to trust
your vet or not trust them.

When I get there Charles is not only still alive but somewhat annoyed.
The vet is grinning ear to ear, though still concerned, and gives him a serious initial triage type check out.

His first comment was “how many times have you watched me draw
back then inject? What you almost certainly did was nick a blood
vessel when you injected the Pen G, and procaine is one of the ingredients.
Essentially you gave Charles an IV drug high.” The Epinephrine
combined with the procaine in his circulatory system might have killed him.

And that I suppose is another good reason to assume nothing ever
when it comes to medications and call a vet even if you think you
are absolutely positive what is happening. Lots of lessons learned.
Always draw back, always draw back, always draw back. And if you
are going to have a vet as a partner, trust that they know more than
you do. Call a vet, call a vet, call a vet. In this case calling the vet
before jumping at what I thought was logical conclusion based on
a sequence of events probably saved a much worse situation from
developing.

Note: Gary adds that Charles is now doing fine. The Kaufmans are
celebrating this remarkable llama’s 20th year.

Note: Dr. Steve Hull of Timberlake Farms adds that using a 22 gauge or smaller needle will not permit blood to flow when the syringe is pulled back. Dr. Hull recommends using a 20 gauge or larger needle. Dr. Hull can be reached at steve@timberlakefarms.net.

Upcoming Shows

Show: Lamafest
Sanctioning: ALSA & ILR-SD
Date: September 3-5, 2010
Location: Michigan State University Pavilion, 4301 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824
Contact: Julie Sines
Phone: (231) 742-0931
E-mail: ranger94@core.com
Web site: www.lamafest.com

Board Members
Julie Sines, President
Pam Fink, Vice President
Darlene Awarski, Secretary
Pat Behrens, Treasurer
Sue Morgan, Registrar

Membership
AMLA membership dues must be sent to ILR. ILR is responsible for maintaining our membership list. Dues are $25 per farm and membership runs the calendar year.

Registration
Individual llama registrations must be sent to ILR. You will receive a combined ILR-AMLA registration paper for each mini llama you register or upgraded.

Fees for AMLA registration are:
Initial Registration: $10
Immature to Mature Status$6 Checks should be made payable to AMLA and sent to PO Box 8, Kalispell, Mt 59903. If you have any questions email ILRA at amla@lamaregistry.com

Annual Web site Ads
All breeder ads, both photos and copy, should be emailed to Pam Fink and the appropriate fee should be made payable to ALMA and mailed to Pat Behrens, 1076 Harrods Creek Rd, Paris, Kentucky 40361
The cost is: $50 a year.

Annual Newsletter Ad
All newsletter business card ads should be emailed to Pam Fink and the appropriate fee should be made payable to ALMA and mailed to Pat Behrens, 1076 Harrods Creek Rd, Paris, Kentucky 40361
Business Card $40



Julie & Derek Sines
1132 W, Woodrow Rd.
Shelby, MI 49455
231-742-0931


Darlene & Ken Awarski
5265 Norris Run Rd.
Blacksburg, VA
540-808-8664

Pete & Joyce Barber
506 Jones Rd.
Mill Springs, NC 28756
828-625-4132


Sue & George Morgan
33693 Hibernia St.
Frontenac, MN 55026
651-380-2236


Tami & Merle Mann
2605 Luminary Lane
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
641-673-7740



Pam & Jerry Fink
65 Windy Valley Lane
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706-258-2432

AMLA's Newsletter editor and Web Master is Pam Fink.
Comments on how to improve both are encouraged. Please feel free to send comments, suggestions corrections etc.
to Pam anytime.

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