Like humans, alpacas and llamas (two species in the camelid family) make vitamin D for themselves in their skin when exposed to UV light.
During the New Zealand winter when UV levels are lower, camelids can’t make enough of their own vitamin D. Pregnant, growing, long fleeced, or darkly coloured camelids are most at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to higher vitamin D needs or lower UV absorption. Vitamin D is necessary for regulation of calcium and phosphorus in the body so the most common signs of vitamin D deficiency are limping and bone deformities (rickets and even fractures), animals with milder deficiencies can have vague signs like weight loss.
While supplementing vitamin D is essential to prevent deficiency over winter it is very important to get the dose right. Due to being fat-soluble Vitamin D can be stored in the body for up to two months, meaning excessive supplementing can lead to toxicity. Supplementation is usually by under the skin injection which can be given by clients or our veterinary technicians. Autumn is the ideal time to supplement as daylight hours are already reducing and waiting until winter can let vitamin D levels get too low. Contact the clinic now to avoid the winter blues in your alpacas and llamas.
For prevention of vitamin D deficiency supplementation is generally recommended:
As always, please speak to our friendly farm team for advice specific to your animals.
