OSU Veterinary Center Receives Alpaca Chute

Thursday, July 30, 2009

(July 28, 2009   Stillwater, OK) – A round of applause was heard at the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences’ Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as Dr. Gregor Morgan shook hands with Robin Howser.  On behalf of OSU, Morgan accepted the veterinary hospital’s first alpaca chute for the Food Animal Medicine section on Thursday, July 23, 2009.  Howser is on the board of directors of Alpacas of Oklahoma and a distributor of MSA (Management Services of America) lightweight livestock equipment at Chisholm Trail Alpacas in Guthrie, Okla.  Together they donated the much needed equipment to the veterinary hospital.

“OSU has saved every alpaca I have brought here,” smiles Howser.  “Without their expertise, my animals would have died.”

According to Howser, Michael Alpert, a former board member, came to her and said that ‘we need to get OSU a chute; you’re the distributors and you need to get one up there,’ which planted the seed that led to yesterday’s delivery.

“We have cattle chutes made for animals weighing 1,200 to 1,400 pounds,” explains Dr. Mark Neer, director of the veterinary hospital.  “Alpacas weigh 120 pounds on average.  The alpaca chute is made for these smaller animals and we are extremely grateful to Alpacas of Oklahoma, MSA and Chisholm Trail Alpacas for this generous donation.”

“The alpaca chute comes with belly straps to keep the animals from laying down, especially when a veterinarian is trying to perform an ultrasound on a pregnant alpaca,” adds Janice Robinson, wife of John Robinson, president of Alpacas of Oklahoma. “This chute will allow OSU clinicians to better evaluate our alpacas.”

Also on hand for the equipment delivery were: Howser’s husband, Roger, and son, Travis; Michael Alpert, Ed and Sue Downs, Karon Storm, and Jess and Cookie Bowers with the national Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, of which Alpacas of Oklahoma is an affiliate.  Representing OSU were: Drs. Mark Neer, Gregor Morgan, Robert Streeter, Melanie Boileau, Katie Simpson, Suzanne Genova and Kathryn Cass.