Question:

We have a female that just had a cria and does not seem to have enough milk. Is there anything that we can do to help her produce more milk?

Answer:

This question was addressed in a comprehensive manner in an Ask the Herdsman article in the spring of 1998. That article can be found on our website, www.kauffmanllamas.com. From our home page go to the Ask the Herdsman link and select from the index “Enough Milk for Cria”.

There are, however, several new approaches to increasing milk production in marginal milkers.

More Feed. Increasing the feeding level and protein level for lactating moms can help increase milk production. When we have a female with marginal milk (determined by lack of weight gain in the cria) we always supplement with 1/2 to 1 pound a day of a 16% protein grain mix. The local feed mill mixes this for us with the following formula.

100 pounds of double cracked corn
100 pounds of crimped oats
40 pounds of 48% soy bean meal

These amounts can be cut in half for a smaller batch. The Herdsman page of jour website also has an article labeled “Feeding Milking Moms” that addresses this issue.

Selenium Levels. There appears to be some evidence that proper selenium and vitamin E levels contribute to more milk production. Some breeders have been giving a BOSE shot 6 weeks prior to the due date and have seen more milk production in those females. We try to avoid all stress the last 3 months of pregnancy and prefer to not give any shots during that 90-day period. The method of choice therefore, is to feed a llama pellet that will consistently maintain a selenium level of 200ng/ml in blood serum. The llama pellet we feed contains 5ppm selenium and our entire herd is maintained close to the 200ng/ml level.

A Horse Product. According to Dr. Norman C. Evans, there is a horse product called “Domperidone” that increases milk production. This product was developed to increase lactation in mares on fescue pasture. Fescue pastures historically are not known as milk-producing grasses.

Domperidone is an oral paste that should be given prior to the suspect female giving birth but will apparently also work after parturition. The recommended dosage on this oral jell is 5cc twice a day for 5 days. The price is $50.00 per tube and this dose requires two tubes so it is not inexpensive. The product should be available from most equine veterinarians. I have never used this product but more information is available by either contacting Dr. Norman C. Evans or Dr. David Anderson.

A Natural Stimulant. There is an exciting new product recently available that is a herbal product developed by Dr. Robert J. Pollard that is easy to use and works.

The product is called the “Llama and Alpaca Lactation Stimulator” and is an entirely natural herbal milk stimulant. The lactation stimulant contains herbs consisting of mixtures of anise, basil, caraway, dill, fennel, fenugreek, and red raspberry. It is recommended to feed two ounces (that is a five ounce Dixie cupful) twice a day by sprinkling it on a pound of llama pellets or grain. According to Dr. Pollard, if this amount does not work, double the dose and it almost assuredly will work.

The ideal feeding regimen includes starting the stimulant a week prior to the due date and continuing to feed it until the dam has enough milk to generate a pound a day weight gain in a llama cria. From experience, not knowing exactly when a dam is going to deliver, we have always started feeding it when we find a cria not gaining sufficient weight. Even when we start feeding the stimulant a week after giving birth, we still have seen a significant increase in milk production within a week.

We have also found that after two to three weeks of supplementation the amount of lactation supplement fed each day can be decreased and the mom will continue to produce enough milk. Often, after a month to six weeks, the supplement is no longer required.

This product can be ordered from Robert J. Pollard, D.V.M., Valley of the Llama Ranch, 16615 Isom Lane, Sonora, California 95370 or can be ordered by telephone from 8 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. California time at 209-532-5529. The price is $20.00 for a 42-ounce bag plus shipping and two bags are usually enough for most females.

The ease of feeding and the fact that the llamas like this product makes it my method of choice to increase milk production in lactating females.

In conclusion, another point needs to be made. Lactation stimulants are only tools and only work on females that already have the ability to produce milk. If a female is overweight or has been overweight, is underfed, or has improper nutrition the probability of any increase in lactation is greatly reduced.