Staying informed about best practices helps ensure that camelids receive the highest quality of care. The Tennessee Alpaca Association (TAA) and UT College of Veterinary Medicine sponsor the bi-annual Camelid Conference to provide up-to-date and practical information for New World camelid (alpaca and llama) owners and veterinarians. Attendees will also enjoy networking opportunities with experts and fellow owners.
The conference will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine’s Teaching and Learning Center located at 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN. Alpaca and llama owners and their veterinarians will learn about specific health concerns of camelids and the latest research at UT. Veterinarians can earn eight hours of Continuing Education Credits (CEUs).
Various pricing options are available. Register online at the Tennessee Alpaca Association’s site. Continental breakfast and lunch are included.
Topics include reproductive emergencies in camelids, neonatal critical care. nutrition, dentistry, parasite control, disease prevention, and information on camelid-focused research.
| TIME | TOPIC | SPEAKER |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30am | Welcome: Opening Remarks | Dr. Carla Sommardahl |
| 8:40am | Dystocia and Reproductive Emergencies in Camelids | Dr. Tulio Prado |
| 9:30am | Critical Care of the Neonatal Cria | Dr. Casey Neal |
| 10:20am | BREAK | |
| 10:35am | Camelid Nutrition: From Forage to Metabolism | TBA |
| 11:25am | Camelid Dentistry: Preventing and Treating Common Problems | Dr. Cassie Klostermann |
| 12:15pm | LUNCH | |
| 1:15pm | Parasite Control and Resistance Trends in the Southeast | Dr. Joe Smith |
| 2:05pm | Biosecurity and Disease Prevention on Mixed-Species Farms | Dr. Andi Lear |
| 2:55pm | BREAK | |
| 3:10pm | Clinical Case Rounds: “What Would You Do?” | Dr. Pierre-Yves Mulon |
| 4-4:45pm | Breaking news: Camelid focused research | |
| 4:00pm | Blood Based Pregnancy Test in SAC | Dr. Lyndsee Miniard |
| 4:15pm | Development of Antemortem Meningeal worm diagnostic test | Erin Kelley & Dr. Rick Gerhold |
| 4:30pm | Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Adult Alpaca Stifle Radiographs | Frankee Sampognaro & Dr. Cassie Klostermann |
| 4:45pm | Pharmacokinetics of Draxxin in Alpacas | Dr. Adrian Avila |
| 5:15pm | CLOSING REMARKS |
