Import risk analysis: Llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna ...

edding materials include wood shavings, sawdust or sterilised peat. During the 30
days in quarantine the plant material eaten by the animals before they were
introduced into the quarantine facilities, will have been either digested or passed
out in the faeces. Regular removal of faeces and soiled bedding will reduce the
likelihood that weed seeds will be present in faeces that could contaminate animal
coats.
� Feeding of processed pellets that are essentially free of weed seeds could ensure
that the animals do not ingest new burdens of weed seeds. Heat treatment used in
the production of pellets will reduce the number of viable seeds.
� There is nothing in the Code relating to hitch hiker weeds and plants associated
with animals.
One or a combination of the following measures could be considered in order to effectively
manage the risks.
1. Animals that are presented for loading could be required to be short shorn and well
groomed and free from any visible weeds, seeds or plant material.
2. To ensure minimal risk of introducing weed species of concern to New Zealand,
animals could be held, pre-shipment, in areas free of weed species and fed on clean
pasture or high quality feed. During transport, provision of high quality feed with
little or or no weed species contamination or feed that has been treated in such a
way as to render seeds non-viable will mitigate the risks associated with the
importation of live animals. Dung produced during transport should be safely
disposed of, either enroute or on arrival in New Zealand.
N.B. This reflects the risk management section of the weed seeds import risk analysis
(MAF 1999).
3. Animals could be fed a high quality, seed-free diet to speed passage time in the
digestive tract, for at least 10 days prior to their arrival in New Zealand.
N.B. There may be deleterious health effects of such a diet in llamas and alpacas. They do
not do well on pelleted rations and may lose weight and develop diarrhoea.
4. Measures suggested in the Tick section for the management of risk associated with
ticks could also be considered for the control of weeds, seeds, and plant material.
References
Barton K, Williams PA (2001). Passage time for weed seeds in the digestive tract of herbivorous livestock.
Landcare Research Contract Report: LC 0001/065.
Encyclopædia Britannica (2008). Dormancy and life-span of seeds. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Available at: http://britannica.com/eb/article-75927, downloaded 8/1/2008
Katovich J, Becker R, Doll J (undated). Weed seed survival in livestock systems. A publication of University
of Minnesota extension service. Available at: http://www.manure.umn.edu/assets/WeedSeedSurvival.pdf,
downloaded 27/8/2009.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 151