Members of the Society enjoy access to a wealth of information and support from other owners. A magazine is issued quarterly to members only. Email Editor@BritishLlamaSociety.org to request a sample back copy of our magazine - we will send you a pdf and hope you will be so impressed you go to the "Join the BLS" page here on the website and apply for membership !!

An opportunity to enhance your knowledge relating to the health and wellbeing of camelids. A conference to be held on Saturday the 18 February 2012. Dick White Referrals' camelid medicine consultant Karin Mueller, MRCVS, will speak on Parasites and give an update from the International Camelid Health Conference. You will have the opportunity to take a Tour of the Facilities offered at Dick...

What appears to be a new virus has been discovered in the North Rhein Westphalia district of the west of Germany, and in Holland.  It has been named Schmallenberg virus after the small town where it was first discovered.Outbreaks of disease were originally seen in cattle last August. Clinical signs exhibited by affected cattle included fever, reduced milk yields, inappetance, weight loss and...

WINTER CATCH UP -Remember if we have a really cold spell, below freezing for a number of days, always break any ice on the water and look out for signs of your camelids not drinking. Some camelids will not drink freezing water. In these cases (very few) add a little hot water to the bucket so the water is cold but not icy and check the animal drinks some. Hay is very dry and therefore our animals...

Remember - you can register your llamas, guanacos, vicunas and camels for FREE during January and February 2012.The clock is ticking - send your applications to the registrar now. You can download a registration form from the members area of The Forum or email the Registrar for a form at registrar@britishllamasociety.org

The Secretary of State has announced the go ahead for controlled culling of badgers as part of the package of measures to tackle bovine TB. The approach will be piloted in two areas in 2012. Open up this article and then Click here to read the full statement issued on the 14 December 2011. You may also be interested in the response from Charles Henry (Farmers Guardian) which mentions alpacas and

The Scottish Government, Defra and Welsh Government (the GB Administrations) have worked together to prepare a Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain (the ‘Strategy’).  The aim of the Strategy is to consolidate GB Administrations current policies and response to control an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).   The Strategy encompasses existing legislation,

Sunday 2nd October 2011 We had an excellent turnout on a beautiful day for the annual gathering at our house for the Llama Trek and tea. Although this is an East Midlands Group event we welcomed several visitors, some with and some without llamas, Steve and Chris Pankhurst and Caroline Champion from Shropshire, Steve and Lois Swift with their daughter and her partner from Worcestershire, and John

WORLD ALPACA CONFERENCE 2012 to be held at Keble College, Oxford, UK on 10th - 12th April 2012. Alpaca 2012 is being organised to provide interest for all levels of alpaca ownership with formal lectures plus hands-on workshops, to create an intimate 'alpaca experience' to ensure that allparticipants gain the maximum benefit from the conference.There are a LIMITED number of places available

Autumn has arrived and hopefully you all have your winter feed either in stock or reserved for you.If you have hard feed left over from last winter, check it for signs of mould. If mouldy, throw it away as it could harbor bacteria. (My birds love it but if you feed the birds, do it out of the reach of vermin or you are asking for trouble).Now is a good time to give the annual vaccination to your animals.

Saturday Classes902 Female Llama 13-24 months of age1st Marden Golden Valley2nd Willow Ordellamas3rd Zsa Zsa Golden Valley903 Female Llama Adult over 25 months of age1st Lilly Ordellamas2nd Bella Ordellamas3rd Hetty Pegler Golden Valley904 Male Llama 6-12 months of age1st Barnaby Catanger Llamas905 Male llama 13-24 months of age1st Sialalah Catanger Llamas2nd Xing Catanger Llamas3rd Albert Ordellamas906

BLS member, Geraldine Hill was escorted by her Llamas when she collected GCSE results from her school, The Royal High School, Bath GDST. Clever Llamas !! (and our special congratulations to Geraldine) 

Willow had a girl on 10th July  - Cola was born 10th July and Max was born to Katie on the 20th July. Max is the spitting image of his father Pepsi (get it? Pepsi – Max?)Both are beautiful, strong crias.  Max gave us a bit of a cause for concern as his front legs and head appeared, then everything stopped, he was breathing well and

ENGLISH GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON BOVINE TB IN CAMELIDSThe Secretary of State has just announced the Bovine TB Eradication Programme for England to the House of Commons. See links below to the News Release and the Programme document:http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/07/19/next-steps-to-tackle-bovine-tb-in-england-2/http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/07/19/pb13601-bovine-tb-eradication-programme/Chapter

It has come to the attention of BLS that Camelids, both llamas and alpacas, have recently been sold at a livestock auction and the owners were ‘not available’ to be asked questions about the animals. Camelids were being purchased as individuals and some new owners had no previous experience of livestock let alone camelids. This is very worrying. One owner bought a female llama at the Saturday

*** Caution - Wasps and Bees ***There have been reports of some very unfortunate incidents involving large animals and stinging insects. The animals have been stung badly and have required veterinary treatment.All owners are advised to check round the hedges of their paddocks on a fine day. If you notice an unusual amount of insect activity, check whether there is a wasps nest or a bee swarm established

Three members supported the show with their animals:  Michelle Huxley, Hiliary Wilson and Kingsley Hawkins.David Pryse and Allen Brown acted as Stewards.

Below is today's news release regarding GB regaining bluetongue free status on July 5:BTV FREEDOM NEWS RELEASEThe key points are: Vaccination will be prohibited from July 5. Exports: There will be no bluetongue restrictions on animals moving out of GB to other EU Member States from July 5.  This means that vaccination or any other ‘Annex III conditions’ will no longer be required.Imports:

ANNUAL VACCINATIONS:Are you animals up to date with their regular vaccinations ?WORMING:A number of you re-locate your animals to their summer grazing at this time of year. Check for worms before you move them. Either worm them or send samples to your vet for analysis. There is no point in taking worms to new pastures when it is so easy to prevent.FLYSTRIKE:Due to the weather conditions we have already