Camelid Courses

Dr. Purdy teaches this additional course at the advanced level covering common livestock animal (including camelids) diseases.

UMASS AMHERST CAMELID STUDIES PROGRAM

STEPHEN R. PURDY, DVM, DIRECTOR

UMASS HADLEY FARM

111 NORTH MAPLE STREET

HADLEY, MA 01035

413-549-3820

This course is a survey of various biological and management aspects of developing and operating a herd of alpaca. Topics include: feeding, breeding, health management, and behavior, as well as practical aspects of day-to-day management, marketing and showing. This course includes a classroom portion where all of the basic topics of the class are discussed in depth. Students are also required to do “barn chores” once a week so that they can see, in part, what owning and caring for alpacas really encompasses.

Finally, the students get real life experience in showing and marketing as they are required to attend and help out at one alpaca show each semester (The Green Mountain Alpaca Fall Spectacular in the Fall and the North American Alpaca Show in the Spring).

Taught in the fall and spring semesters to all freshman students in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences’ four year bachelor’s degree program; part of Introductory Animal Science 101 and 103:

There is a weekly lab where hands-on experience is gained while working with the UMass herd. There are also labs where visits to local alpaca farms are made. This is done in order for students to see different procedures done that may not need to be performed on the UMass herd or to just to tour a farm. The trips to other farms allow students to get an idea of the different farm set ups and management practices used by alpaca owners.

Grooming and showing of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, and horses is taught by hands-on experience. Each spring there is a presentation of the animals in a show organized by the students which is open to the public. No previous experience needed.

(ANSCI 101: Modern animal agriculture and the many scientific disciplines it encompasses. The roles of genetics, nutrition, economics, physiology, and pathology in animal research and production. The dairy, meat, recreational, and laboratory animal industries in their role serving humankind. Lab experience working with various animal species.)

(ANSCI 103: With lab. In-depth presentation of animal agriculture and its economic implications. Concepts of nutrition, reproduction, husbandry, and marketing presented for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, and horses, as well as nontraditional species [e.g. Camelids].)