2008 NORTH AMERICAN CAMELID
CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
UMASS AMHERST CAMELID STUDIES PROGRAM
STEPHEN R. PURDY, DVM, DIRECTOR
UMASS HADLEY FARM
111 NORTH MAPLE STREET
HADLEY, MA  01035
413-549-3820
Questions about the conference, registration, and advertising/sponsorship, may be addressed to:

Stephen R. Purdy, DVM, Director of the
UMass Camelid Studies Program

Email: srpurdy@vasci.umass.edu
Phone: (413)-549-3820
June 27th-29th: 2008 North American Camelid Conference for Owners, Students, and Veterinarians

Description: 3 days of practical seminars given by leading alpaca industry experts including veterinarians and breeders. In addition to the seminars, a neonatal clinic will be held as well as two labs: parasite diagnosis and IgG measurement in neonates.

Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst - MA Conference Center and Hadley Farm (easy access to the Hartford, CT airport).

Sponsor: The UMass Camelid Studies Program

To Register: Link to the registration form can be found below, please print out the form and mail to Dr. Purdy (address given on form).

Speakers Include:

  • David Pugh, DVM- Fort Dodge Animal Health


  • Rob Pollard, DVM- Sonora, CA


  • Bob Van Saun, DVM- Penn State


  • Steve Purdy, DVM- UMass


  • Cheryl DeWitt, DVM- Bluffton, OH


  • Daniela Bedenice, DVM and George Saperstein, DVM- Tufts


  • Dr. Sylvia Bedford, Dr. Gillian Perkins, Dr. Judy Appleton, and Dr. Linda Mizer- Cornell 


  • Experienced breeders:
    - Jennifer Lutz of Cas-Cad-Nac Farm
    - Steve Hull of Timberlake Farms
    - Kevin O’Leary of RiverView Alpacas


  • Jane Wheeler, PhD- San Marcos University and CONOPA, Lima, Peru


  • David Moran, PhD, West Virginia University


  • Brooke Thomas, PhD, UMass



Interested in Sponsoring the NACC?


Find out more information and learn about the benefits of doing so (including getting your farm's ad in our conference proceedings book)  here:



Advertising in the Camelid Conference Proceedings book, Ad deadline: June 1, 2008


General Topics Include:

Seminar topics are subjects of interest to both beginning and advanced participants...

  • reproduction - normal and abnormal; diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infertility, dystocia, semen evaluation


  • birthing and neonatology


  • camelid anatomy and immunology


  • common medical problems
    and solutions


  • nutrition and parasite prevention and control


  • alternative medicine - homeopathy and herbal medicine


  • infectious disease and biosecurity


  • fiber evaluation and showing (hands on)


  • farm management tips from experienced breeders


  • congenital defects


  • the importance of camelids in South America; origin, evolution, and conservation


Special Topics Labs:

  • Neonatal Clinic (limited enrollment - lab is currently full)

  • Parasite diagnosis and IgG measurement in neonates labs (limited enrollment - lab is currently full)

2008 North American Camelid Conference Registration Form