The alpaca symposium at UC Davis was excellent and at $110 for two days it must be the best value around by miles.

This year there where approximately 250 in attendance, including 45 from UC Davis (faculty and vet students). But more impressive there were 25 practicing Vets there to learn more about Camelids.
There were folks in attendance from AZ, UT, ID, WA, OR, NV, and of course California. They were all offered a chance to tour the facilities at Davis, and some were even able to observe Dr. Bravo doing a little procedure. At the closing vet panel there was Standing Room Only. So next year when the announcement goes out, be sure to get your registration in early, or you just may miss out. It is not often that you get the opportunity to present questions to 7 experienced Camilid Vets and listen to their responses.

We had three sets of lectures running concurrently delivered by 7 veterinarians.
Adamson, Mora, Bravo, Fowler, Cebra, Poppenga and Ing

Dr Chris Cebra from OSU in Oregon was amazing and a very popular speaker. Dr Walter Bravo from Ohio was equally impressive and must be one of the top experts on Camelid Reproduction. He must have been good as I spent $50 on his book which is packed with results from studies he has conducted in Peru, highly informative and dispels many of the alpaca myths that circulate around the industry.

My own vet Dr Leslie Richardson and the Vet Tech Anita went with me so I had company on the long drive and it was so good to be able to talk to my vet as the course went on.... so useful.

Back at the farm all is well and Jo has been very busy keeping everything going while I was away.

My mother is 88 today and my daughter Camilla passed her driving test aged 16 so we had plenty to celebrate.

Gifford the Australian sheep dog missed me - but thats to be expected !

Adian Stewart