Dear AMLA Members,

Welcome back to all returning AMLA Members. To our newest members, Tom and Julie Tripp of England and Alan and Sherry Baldwin of Missouri, welcome to your first year with the AMLA. It is going to be an exciting year for the AMLA as we celebrate our 11th year as an association dedicated to raising and promoting miniature llamas.

The Board and I want to extend a warm invitation to attend the AMLA’s Annual General Membership meeting coming up soon. Our AGM will, once again, be held in conjunction with the Virginia Classic Llama & Alpaca Show. The meeting details are as follows:

• Place: The Best Western Inn at Hunt Ridge (Virginia Classic’s Official Host Hotel) Lexington, Virginia
• Date & Time: March 12th at 7:00 P.M.
• Details: Please bring a non-alcoholic beverage for yourself and a snack to share with your fellow members. If you plan on coming to the meeting, please RSVP to Darlene Awarski by March 1, 2010. We would also like all members, whether they are planning on attending the meeting or not to submit their agenda items to Julie Sines by March 1st.

I would like to announce a new way AMLA members can be more involved in the AMLA without having to serve at the board level. The board has developed several committees that members can serve on. Each member can serve on a maximum of 2 committees per year. I want to encourage each of you to serve on at least one committee that interests you. You will not only be helping the AMLA to be successful, you will also get a chance to meet other members who love llamas just like you do. If you are interested in serving on a particular committee or have questions about that committee please contact that committee chair.

Finance Committee – Chaired by our Treasurer, Pat Behrens
The Finance Committee is responsible for quarterly reports to the Board, the annual audit and an annual budget. They are also responsible for other actions or reports at the request of the Board.

Membership Committee – Chaired by Phyllis Wilkerson
The Membership Committee will act as the AMLA’s “Sunshine Committee”, as well as, sending out welcome packages to new members, calling new members with a personal welcome and asking new members to serve on one or more of the AMLA committees.

Newsletter/Web site Committee – Chaired by Pam Fink
The Newsletter/Web site Committee is responsible for keeping the AMLA’s web site up to date, informative and search engine compliant. They will also be responsible for keeping the membership informed of upcoming shows with mini halter classes, educational information, committee updates, etc. This committee is the information arm of the AMLA.

Public Relations Committee – Chaired by Darlene Awarski
The Public Relations Committee is responsible for writing articles about miniature llamas for llama magazines, newsletters, etc. They are also responsible for presenting advertising and marketing ideas to the board.

Registry Committee – Chaired by our Registrar, Sue Morgan
The Registry Committee is responsible for re-evaluating our current registry rules. Some issues they should re-evaluate are miniature vs. foundation, immature status, what age is a miniature considered mature, etc. When looking at these rules they should study other miniature livestock, such as the miniature horse, cattle, donkey, goat, etc.

Show Committee – Chaired by Julie Sines
The Show Committee is responsible for maintaining good working relations between AMLA, ILR-SD, ALSA, SSL, etc. They will also be responsible to notify the Newsletter Committee of upcoming shows with mini halter classes and reporting the results of those shows. The Show Committee will be responsible for evaluating the current mini halter guidelines for both ALSA and ILR-SD.

History Committee – Chair position is open.
The History Committee is responsible for investigating the history of the miniature llama and its ever growing geneology.

Nominating Committee – Chair position is open.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for presenting a slate of candidates for board positions at the end of each year for elections.

Another way to get involved is to become a fan of AMLA on Facebook. Merle Mann of Luminary Minis is starting a Facebook page devoted to the AMLA and mini llamas. This is a great place for members to talk to each other and also to post pictures of your beautiful minis. You can also invite your friends to become fans of the AMLA Facebook page. Thanks to Merle for agreeing to set it up and maintain it for us. Stay tuned, we will let you know as soon as it is live.

If you are looking for a great book to read, consider buying the newly released “Storey’s Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock” by Sue Weaver. It is a wonderful resource book about mini livestock and includes an entire chapter devoted to miniature llamas. Also, one of our AMLA members, Rich and Gayle Dumas of the Fuzzy Farm, are featured in the book. Congrats to Rich and Gayle on your honor!

I hope to see many of you at the AMLA’s upcoming Annual General Membership meeting on March 12, 2010.

Sincerely,
Julie Sines
AMLA President

New test may help address costly parasite in sheep and camelid industry

Writer: David Stauth, 541/737-0787, david.stauth@oregonstate.edu
Contacts: Michael Kent, 541/737-8652, Michael.kent@oregonstate.edu; Bob Storey, 706/542-0195, bstorey@uga.edu
Oregon State Univ. Press Release
January 5, 2010

Researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Georgia have developed an improved, more efficient method to test for the most serious of the parasitic worms in sheep, a problem that causes hundreds of millions of dollars in losses every year to the global sheep and wool industry.

This technology is now available, and will allow a faster, easier and less expensive way to test for the presence and quantity of Haemonchus contortus, or "barber pole" worms, a species that is very pathogenic to sheep, goats, alpacas and llamas. This will help sheep ranchers deal with this problem more quickly and effectively, optimize their management practices, and sometimes avoid costly therapies.

Findings about the new test were just published in Veterinary Parasitology, a professional journal.

"This particular parasite is much more pathogenic in sheep than other worms, and previous methods to detect it were very labor intensive and often not commercially practical," said Michael Kent, an OSU professor of microbiology. "Now ranchers and veterinarians can test for this problem and target their management or treatment strategies much more effectively."

This parasite causes significant production losses, and in some cases it's the limiting factor to sheep production on pasture lands. The nematodes can cause internal bleeding, which in turn can lead to anemia, poor food conversion and growth, low protein levels, reduced lamb production and wool yield, and in some cases death.

Known as the barber pole or wire worm, Haemonchus contortus is a blood-sucking parasite that pierces the lining of the sheep's stomach. It's a prolific egg producer, releasing up to 10,000 eggs per day, and often causes problems in warmer climates or during the summer. Once an infection is demonstrated, expensive treatments or complex management strategies are often needed to address it.

The new lectin staining test is based on a peanut agglutinin that binds to eggs of the parasite and can be easily visualized with a microscope using ultraviolet light. It's an improved version of previous technology developed by scientists in Australia that was slower, less effective, more expensive and required more advanced training to perform, researchers say.

The relatively inexpensive test was developed by microbiologists and veterinary doctors at OSU and UGA, and is now available through those institutions. Its use should continue to expand and become more readily available around the world, Kent said.

The test may also be of special value to ranchers interested in organic production of sheep, goats, alpacas and llamas, who try to avoid use of chemical treatments in maintaining the health of their animals.

"One of the current testing tools commonly used by sheep and goat farmers in dealing with H. contortus is the FAMACHA method, in which the farmer compares the animal's lower eyelid color to swatches on a card to determine the animal's anemia status," said Bob Storey, a UGA researcher who co-developed the lectin staining test. "This method only works in situations where H. contortus is the primary parasite in a given herd's worm population. The new lectin staining test allows for a faster and less expensive method of determining the predominance of H. contortus in a herd worm population, thereby making it easier for producers to determine if FAMACHA can be a useful tool for them. Additionally, for the veterinarian dealing with an anemic animal and a heavy parasite burden, the lectin staining test provides quick feedback as to whether the anemia is parasite-based or may be due to another cause."

The test requires only a small amount of feces, and results are available in as little as two days. Anyone interested in obtaining the test can get information on sampling, test results and fees from the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at OSU* (http://oregonstate.edu/vetmed/diagnostic or 541/752-5501), or Bob Storey (Dept. of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., 30602 or 706/542-0195). FAMACHA information can be obtained through Bob Storey or by sending an email to famacha@uga.edu.

As with any animal health concerns, results should be reviewed with a veterinarian so that proper treatment programs can be put in place, researchers said.

About Oregon State University: OSU is one of only two U.S. universities designated a land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant institution. OSU is also Oregon's only university designated in the Carnegie Foundation's top tier for research institutions, garnering more than 60 percent of the total federal and private research funding in the Oregon University System. Its more than 20,300 students come from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. OSU programs touch every county within Oregon, and its faculty teach and conduct research on issues of national and global importance.

About the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine: The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share. The current Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States. The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians. More veterinarians are needed to promote food safety and protect public health and to provide veterinary services for farm and companion animals owned by a rapidly growing regional population. The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 550 who apply. The goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built. For more information, see http://www.vet.uga.edu/.

*From the Oregon State University Diagnostic Laboratory web site (January 2010):

Haemonchus contortus Identification
Test Name: Haemonchus contortus ID Diagnostic Section: Bacteriology Fee: $10.00*

Species: Camelid, Caprine, Ovine Set up days: M, Tu, W, Th, F Turn Around Time: 2 days

Specimen Requirements:
Fresh feces - 5 grams, samples older than 5 days should be rejected as embryonation and loss of ova may have occurred.

Collection Protocol:
Fresh feces, collected directly from the animal's rectum or from very fresh droppings to eliminate extraneous soil organisms. *Concurrent sugar centrifugation required, additional charge applies.

Shipping Requirements:
Refrigerated, leak proof container. Do not submit in latex gloves or OB sleeves. Overnight or 2-day shipping is recommended.

Additional Information:
This technique is used primarily for camelid, caprine and ovine species but can be used for other species as well.

Reprinted by permission from Oregon State University; further reprinting is allowed.

Note to editors: For a downloadable image of the parasite, see http://www.vet.uga.edu/PR/photos.php
Cutline for photo: “This parasitic worm that infects sheep and camelids, Haemonchus contortus, is seen along with its eggs, made easily visible with a new test developed by researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Georgia.” Please give photo credit to University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

USDA Announces New Framework for Animal Disease Traceability

USDA Press Release
February 5, 2010

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced today that USDA will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States, and undertake several other actions to further strengthen its disease prevention and response capabilities.

“After concluding our listening tour on the National Animal Identification System in 15 cities across the country, receiving thousands of comments from the public and input from States, Tribal Nations, industry groups, and representatives for small and organic farmers, it is apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "I’ve decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we heard."

The framework, announced today at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Mid-Year meeting, provides the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States. USDA’s efforts will:

* Only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce;
* Be administered by the States and Tribal Nations to provide more flexibility;
* Encourage the use of lower-cost technology; and
* Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process.

“One of my main goals for this new approach is to build a collaborative process for shaping and implementing our framework for animal disease traceability,” said Vilsack. “We are committed to working in partnership with States, Tribal Nations and industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework, and giving ample opportunity for farmers and ranchers and the public to provide us with continued input through this process.”

One of USDA’s first steps will be to convene a forum with animal health leaders for the States and Tribal Nations to initiate a dialogue about the possible ways of achieving the flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability we envision. Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.

Although USDA has a robust system in place to protect U.S. agriculture, with today’s announcement, the Department will also be taking additional actions to further strengthen protections against the entry and spread of disease. These steps will include actions to lessen the risk from disease introduction, initiating and updating analyses on how animal diseases travel into the country, improving response capabilities, and focusing on greater collaboration and analyses with States and industry on potential disease risk overall.

More information on USDA’s new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability.

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 eamil 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

Revised AMLA Bylaws

In January 2010 the board voted on and passed the revised Bylaws as submitted to the membership in December 2009. Revisions had to do with more clearly defining what a farm membership is as well as what privileges and responsibilities come with that membership. The revised Bylaws can be found on the AMLA web site so when you have a moment please read Article III - Membership and feel free to contact any board member with questions.

Web Site Banner Contest

The entries in our banner contest our now on the web site on the Photo Contest page.

A few pictures could not be cropped into a horizontal banner so could not be used. Voting was a draw therefore we have two winners, each will receive a free breeders page ad. The winning pictures will be used in our banner for 6 months each.

Congratulations to Julie Sines and Sue Morgan on their winning entries.

Do you have a favorite llama story?

My name is Jenna and I am currently a master's student at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada. As odd as this may sound, my thesis is about llamas! As part of my project, I am asking llama farmers to share their favorite stories with me. To share favorite stories about the funny things that only a llama would do. My intent is to learn about llamas, not through a series of facts but through the stories that people tell about llamas.

Learning about llamas has been an exciting journey. I look forward to hearing your stories and any other information about llamas that you wish to share! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions.

Yours Sincerely,
Jenna Maw

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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