Calcium Carbonate in Mammary Gland Secretions and Fetal Readiness for Birth in Alpacas

Normal gestation length in alpacas is variable when timed from mating, and there are no reliable data to predict fetal readiness for birth. The objectives in this study were to determine if fetal readiness for birth could be predicted based on pre-partum concentration of calcium carbonate in mammary gland secretions and if daily sample collection affected passive transfer of immunoglobulin G (IgG). It was hypothesized that calcium carbonate concentration increases as parturition approaches, possibly in association with fetal readiness for birth, and that daily sample collection does not affect IgG transfer. [...]