Educational Seminars

Sharon Loner

How to Make Raising Alpacas a Sustainable and Profitable Business

Friday, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Sharon Loner, AOBA and International Alpaca Judge, and her husband, Frank, purchased their first alpacas in 1993 and are the owners of Mile High Alpacas located in Parker, Colorado. Sharon soon learned that raising these beautiful animals was her calling and within three years she left her professional career as a property and casualty insurance broker to become an alpaca rancher full time.

Sharon is both AOBA and Internationally Certified to judge fleece, halter and performance alpaca shows. In 2004 she completed her international judge's training through the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS) held in Peru by Maggie Krieger and Dr. Julio Sumar, and that same year became AOBA certified. Sharon remains an active farm member with the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA); her local affiliate, the Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies, (ABR); and has served as a director for the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA).

Brett Kaysen

Buying and Selling at Auctions

Saturday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Brett Kaysen has been an influence in the Alpaca Community on many levels since 2001. He has traveled coast-to-coast teaching seminars on alpacas consisting of classroom presentations as well as "hands-on workshops." Brett has a passion for educating, especially in the area of Animal Science. Brett was raised east of Brighton, Colorado where he was always involved with every aspect of raising livestock.

Dr. Norm Evans

Genetic Acceleration through Skin Biopsy Testing

Saturday, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Neonatal Clinic and Wet Lab

Sunday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
5-hour seminar lab limited to 20 farms.
Pre-Registration required. Register online or Call Kathy at 724-678-5400.

Norm Evans, DVM has worked with camelids since 1986. While retired from private practice, he still consults and presents seminars to alpaca groups. His major focus during the past 6 years has been the identification of male and female genetic fiber traits through the skin biopsy and the propagation of those traits via nutrition to maximize fiber production.

Seminar Topics Include:

• Pre-Breeding Concerns: Nutrition, Body Condition & Parasites
• Sire and Dam Selection: Keeping Fitness and Breeding Goals in Mind
• Understanding Ovarian Cycles & Female Behavior
• Infertility: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments
• Breeding-Soundness Exams-Male and Female
• Pregnancy Diagnosis with Ultrasound Views of Several Stages
• Assessment of the Dam and Newborn Cria
• Cria Issues: Diarrhea, Failure of Passive Transfer, Tube Feeding, Weak Neonates, Preemies, etc.
• Normal and Abnormal Births: Manual and Surgical Correction