Restraining an alpaca WHAT NOT TO DO!

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Permalink Reply by Jayme Hettinger on September 15, 2009 at 9:40pm

It looks horrible. But what I really want to know is what was the purpose of restraining the alpaca by tying the back legs? What procedure were they doing that they thought it required that level of restraint? I guess I don't like the looks of it no matter the reason but perhaps it is as Rick Horn said and it's just a way of doing things that we don't find acceptable. But I'd still like to know why.

Jayme Hettinger
Sage HIll Farms Alpacas
www.sagehillfarmsalpacas.com

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Permalink Reply by Heidi Christensen on September 16, 2009 at 10:47am

I finally got it to play. The only comment I can make is that it is unfortunate that they weren't a bit more prepared. As Rick says, chukkering is quick and easy, and these two could have gotten the animal on the ground in a few seconds instead of having him jumping around hitting the gate etc. I have a shearing video where the taking down of the alpaca looks worse to me that this video.

I would think he was being restrained for the same reason we would - trim teeth, give shots, transportation etc. I recently went to a farm and had a male restrained in a similar way - he was lead up next to the tailgate of the pickup, tipped over onto the tailgate and was chukkered. He rode happily in the back of the pickup for several miles back to my trailer.

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Permalink Reply by Autumn Sun Alpacas (MLivingston) on September 17, 2009 at 12:24pm

Sorry -- what is chukkering?

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Permalink Reply by Heidi Christensen on September 17, 2009 at 8:23pm

Thats what they are doing in the video. Here is a writen descritption of it:

http://www.thealpacaplace.co.nz/chukkering.shtml

I thought it was interesting that the above article says that as long as the rope is relatively tight, the weight of the animal keeps it from being able to withdraw its leg from the rope - another thing that was done wrong in the video. They didn't need to reef on the rope after the legs were restrained.

It is used commonly in South America because they often transport animals in the back of pickup trucks.

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Permalink Reply by Autumn Sun Alpacas (MLivingston) on September 18, 2009 at 11:57am

Okay - I get it , thanks. Actually I did see a picture once of many alpacas tied this way on a pickup truck in S.America -- even on the cab roof. I didn't realize that it was widely used. I would think that even though the alpaca cannot get up that it would be disturbed by the moving surroundings and psychologically upset (and possibly gastrically upset) by the time it arrived.

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Permalink Reply by Elise Sturgeon on September 18, 2009 at 12:46am

From what I understand, chukkering isn't so much used for shearing, but as Heidi said, for transporting.. I have seen pictures of pacas sitting chukkered on a flat bed truck or on top of a vehicle in SA. NIce for us and our pacas we have cushy trailers etc.

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Permalink Reply by Raelene Strong on September 18, 2009 at 7:04pm

This is called to Chukka an alpaca.
They do do this often in Peru.
WE saw them strained like this front and back legs, i did not see how they did it, but then the alpaca would be placed in an open ute, and driven around, and mid you the way the drivers drove.
They seemed quite relaxed whilst driving them around, but remember we are talking about up the mountains of Peru where there is just nothing, no aids, but what the peruvians have been doing for many years.
We do not need to Chukka alpacas here, we have all the right management and herd handling facilities.
I would be scared how this man did it that the alpaca would break a leg.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy McKinley on September 25, 2009 at 11:37pm

This looks awful-- I have been in the alpaca business for 11 years now, and NEVER had to resort to anything even remotely similar to this! What could one possibly need to do to an alpaca that would necessitate restraining them this way??

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Permalink Reply by Mary and Kelly Egbert on September 26, 2009 at 1:41am

CHUKKERING Print this page
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Chukkering is a simple restraining system that immobilizes an alpaca. It is common in South America where alpacas are transported in open trucks. Once chukkered, alpaca husbandry and veterinary procedures (giving injections, dentistry, treating sore eyes, etc.) are easy to administer. To chukker an alpaca put it in the “kush” position, use a broad soft rope, about a yard long, pass the rope under the belly and secure the loop firmly on the alpaca’s back with a quick release knot. The hind legs can then be lifted and placed between the rope and the belly and secure the loop firmly on the alpaca's back with a quick release knot. The hind legs can then be lifted and placed between the rope and the belly. Make sure the rope is placed inside the stifles. You may need to tighten the rope once the legs are restrained. The alpaca is held in the ‘kush’ position until the rope is released.

This is from the Ideal Alpaca sight.

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth A. Jones on February 2, 2010 at 12:55pm

Hi Chris-

It hurt me to watch that video. Awful. . . that poor alpaca. His video looked like he was intertaining a crowd at the alpacas expense.

I'd like to tie him that way.

Liz Jones
West Wind Alpacas - Unionville, VA

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Permalink Reply by Mary Squires on March 7, 2010 at 6:44pm

And I will be happy to help you!!!!
Mary
BikerBabe Alpacas

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Permalink Reply by Mary Squires on March 7, 2010 at 6:42pm

Just because someone does this in another country doesn't necessarily make it the right way to do it. I've learned many things from my animals. I treat them gently and in return they cooperate. I wonder how many animals have pulled muscles and or sprained or broken legs or backs with this method. I don't know about the people in the video, but I paid too much money for my animals to treat them that way. I follow the methods by the lady in the Alpaca Magazine and they work very well for me. Brute force with any animal instills fear in the animal. It takes a smart sheppard to earn the animals respect and cooperation.
I will continue to try to be a smart sheppard.
Sincerely,
Mary Squires
BikerBabe Alpacas

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