Photo and Artwork by Valerie Newell of The Green Alpaca

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) is giving alpaca breeders something to celebrate this holiday season!

Through AOBA’s public relations efforts, a press release was distributed to the media highlighting alpacas as a green business. As a result, Alpacas are being featured as the perfect green livestock on a syndicated television special called “It’s a Green Christmas.” This is one of the largest exposures of alpacas to the general public to date.  Being shown in over 120 television markets, this segment is worth over $200,000 in television air time.

The one hour show features a variety of ecologically beneficial businesses and products.  Alpacas are highlighted for over 3 minutes as an all around environmentally friendly livestock.  Alpacas are discussed as being easy on the land and efficient users of food with highly desired manure.

Showcasing the alpaca industry is video footage from AOBA’s National Conferences including models wearing beautiful alpaca fashions on the runway, fleece competition judging, individuals spinning alpaca fiber and consumers shopping for alpaca garments.  The show also includes a visit to Alpacas at Windy Hill in Somis, California where Cindy Harris was interviewed while holding a 3-day old cria.  Cindy did a terrific job of educating viewers about alpacas in general as well as the different types of alpaca fiber and the variety of end products.

“It’s a Green Christmas” is airing from November 21, 2009 through January 4, 2010 across the United States. For a list of airing times and stations, visit http://itsagreenchristmas.com.  More markets continue to be added to the schedule.

Note from Alpaca Farmgirl: Is AOBA back? Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come! Alpaca Farmgirl encourages you to sign up or renew your AOBA membership, and to participate in the AOBA Farm & Ranch Guide. AOBA works for us. Let’s support our organization and we will all benefit!

I’m writing to tell you about an important decision made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and about one of the many benefits of your AOBA membership.

In July 2008, the FDA published a proposed order that would prohibit the extralabel use of Cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals. Even though alpacas are not part of the food producing chain the order impacted our industry. That order allowed for a 60 day comment period and a 90 day effective date for the order. Cephalosporin is a drug commonly used in the alpaca world and better known by the brand names Naxcel® and Excenel®.

The Government and Industry Relations Committee (GIRCOM), a joint committee of AOBA and ARI was made aware of the FDA order in early August and began to take action.  During the weeks and months that followed, GIRCOM was in communication with the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) on behalf of our members. The AASRP and the AVMA took the lead commenting to the FDA and were well aware of the concerns of the alpaca industry.  The GIRCOM continued to monitor the proceedings.

I am pleased to inform you that on November 21, 2008 the FDA withdrew their Order of
July 3, 2008. A copy of that decision can be found on the AOBA website at www.alpacaowners.com under “Committees” click on “Government.”

The countless hours put in by the volunteers in this industry serving on AOBA committees greatly assists our association. This is but one committee and one example of the result benefiting all members. Would you like to be involved?  Committee participation and corresponding results is probably one of the most important benefits of AOBA membership.  We look forward to counting you among our industry’s members in 2009.

David Barboza
President

Cephalosporin is a drug commonly used for alpacas. AOBA (The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association) does a lot of good for alpaca breeders! Sign up or renew your membership.