FIRSTLY, it is good to remember that the vast majority of alpaca births occur easily and normally. However, things can go wrong and it is helpful to have an idea of these problems so that you know if you should be able to deal with them or whether you need to call the vet.

As we saw in the previous issue, the normal presentation is with the front legs emerging first, followed by the head and shoulders and then the rest of the cria. However, if the cria has turned into an awkward position during the late stages of pregnancy, it could be unable to turn and then lies in a way that prohibits a straightforward birth. If the dam has made no progress half an hour after starting labour, then the situation needs to be investigated.

You need to keep calm as the last thing the dam wants is to be stressed. Make sure she is in sight of the herd or has a companion animal nearby. Wash your hands and use long obstetric gloves to keep everything clean. They also to help to reduce friction. You should also use a lubricating gel. Move the dam to the cleanest available area or put clean straw down where she is.

The first thing is to make sure all your actions are gentle ones. You should work with the dam's contractions rather than against them. Don't pull too hard. It is more a question of adding a bit of weight to her efforts. Resisting the contractions not only makes the whole job more difficult but it can cause injury. A few small streaks of blood discharge are normal but if you see more than this, call the vet as a lot of blood could indicate an internal rupture. If you have large hands, try to find someone with smaller ones to undertake the manipulations.

So, what sort of malpresentations may occur?

With the elbow lock, the front legs are bent at the elbows which then become lodged behind the bones of the pelvis. To rectify this, extend first one leg and then the other. If you cannot pull the leg out easily, push the cria back into the uterus a little way to give yourself more room to work. Similarly, if a leg has got over the neck, push the cria in a little and release the leg. Be careful not to lose the head as this can cause problems. However, if the head is not yet showing, the cria can be pushed back safely.

Pushing the cria back into the uterus also enables you to correct the presentation if one leg is bent back. Bend the joints gently to reposition the leg but remember to cup the foot in your hand to prevent it damaging the wall of the uterus as you move it round. When the leg is straight, pull on the head and legs together as a unit, again working with the dam's contractions. If both legs are back, bring on forward at a time, again being careful not to lose the head if it is already showing. Slipping a lambing wire or rope around the head will enable you to identify and find it again if necessary.

If the cria is in the breech position, the dam will not be straining as it is not in the birth canal. The cria needs to be pushed back into the uterus and then each hind leg pulled out in turn, protecting the foot. If it takes a long time for you to realise that the cria is breech, the placenta may have started to detach and the cria could be born dead. If the cria's legs are extended and showing, you should be able to deliver it. However, if it is in the full breech position, you are likely to need help from the vet.

With both back legs straightened, make sure the tail is between them and lying flat before pulling gently on the cannon bone, the long bone below the knee. When the rump has been delivered, move quickly to release the cria. At this point the body is crushing the umbilical cord against the pelvis and stopping the blood flow. This stimulates the cria to start breathing and it could drown in the amniotic fluid if it is not delivered quickly. However, this still needs to be done gently. Pull with the contractions downwards at about 45, which is the natural birth angle. Maintain the tension on the cria between contractions.

Sometimes the cria's head has got turned back although the front legs are in position and appear as normal. Push the cria back and move the head round. A lambing wire can be helpful here. If you use one, then pull on the wire and legs together when you have everything in line.

When two legs are showing without the head, this is not necessarily a breech presentation but the head could be turned back. When feeling down the legs, it is useful to remember that the joints of a front leg form a "U" shape whereas those of the back leg are "Z" shaped. Make sure the two legs you are pulling come from the same end of a single baby. Twins are unusual but not unknown!

If only the head is showing, you need to get help urgently. The head may swell and if it is drawn back into the uterus, the cria will drown or suffocate. You also need to call the vet if your cria is lying on its back as it cannot be delivered this way but must be turned over. If when you insert your hand, you meet with a tight band of tissue, this could be a twisted uterus or an undilated cervix. In such a case, you need to call the vet.

As with all things in alpaca husbandry, you need to know what is normal so that you recognise the abnormal as soon as possible. If your cria birth is not proceeding normally, you need to determine what is wrong by "seeing" with you hands. What you do to correct the position depends on what you find. In all cases, move one bit at a time, pushing the cria back into the uterus if appropriate to give you more space to manoeuvre. Protect the walls of the uterus from damage by cupping feet in your hand and make sure the first leg is fully extended before moving on to the next one. Use your hand or a lambing wire to prevent the head slipping back and work with the contractions rather than against them. Try to mimic a natural birth as much as possible by pulling at a downward angle of 45 and, if the cria is breech, move as rapidly as possible once the rump is showing.

Remember that problems with alpaca births are unusual but prepare yourself as much as possible, just in case. the procedures are very similar to those used in lambing so reading up on this will also be useful.

The other way to prepare is to practice with a birthing tank. The tank represents the uterus and is filled with warm soapy water to represent the amniotic fluid. A number of the British Alpaca Society regional groups have organised meetings at which they have had the chance to use these tanks. A soft toy represents the cria and is placed in the tank in one of the possible malpresentations. The tank has a valve (the vulva) through which another member of the group can feel the presentation, correct it and "deliver" the cria. This is not only great fun, it is an excellent way of trying out the procedure at not risk - although the soft toy may look a bit worse for wear by the end of the session!

When you have delivered your cria, make sure its nose and mouth are clear of mucous and the amniotic sack. Squeeze down gently from just below its eyes to the end of its nose. Rub its sides with a towel or some straw if it needs help to start breathing. Gently pushing a bit of straw up its nose should initiate the gasp reflex if necessary. This first breath clears the surfactant from the lungs. In a premature cria with respiratory failure, the surfactant does not clear and the cria cannot survive.

The end of the umbilical cord and the skin around it should be dipped in iodine to dry the cord and disinfect the area. Dipping is more effective than spraying. The cord should be trimmed to around 5cm (2 inches) if necessary.

Keep an eye on your new cria and make sure that it feeds from its dam to get the colostrum that it needs and hopefully all will be well.

The British Alpaca Society has some new courses designed not only to help you with birthing but also with all aspects of breeding and husbandry. "Reproduction and stud management" is a one-day course which covers choosing and owning a stud male, stud services, the basics of alpaca reproduction, the mating process, pregnancy diagnosis, reproduction problems and the basics of birthing. There are two separate "Husbandry" day courses which are run back-to-back so that you can attend either or both. These cover basic anatomy and common ailments, worming and vaccinations, alpaca handling, health and nutrition requirements, transport, parasite identification and management, reproduction, birthing difficulties, neonatal and juvenile care and microchipping.

"Reproduction and stud management" is being run on Saturday, March 1, at Amber Valley Alpacas, near Derby, and in the South West on Saturday, April 12. The two "Husbandry" courses are planned for April 29 and 30 in southern England with the location to be confirmed.

If you are interested in any of these courses, or in the "Fibre to market" course being run on Saturday, February 23, at Amber Valley Alpacas, please contact Claire Waring, BAS society secretary, on 01933 650297 or e-mail secretary@bas-uk.com.