TTouch/cud chewing

[christinepi]

When we first started working with our alpacas in a catch pen, we never noticed them chewing their cud while inside. After ca 3 months we started doing TTouch with the help of a practitioner, and now we see them chewing away while we work on them, while they're standing up. Even the ones who are waiting their turn, cushed or standing, are chewing, in the same pen. I'm curious about this change. To me it seems they're just more relaxed and don't feel they have to keep all their attention on us, worried we might do something terrible. It also seems they reinforce their own relaxation with this chewing because you can't hold your breath if you're chewing. Is my hunch correct or is there something else going on?

[OHL]

Just so you know, once in a while you will see a very agitated animal appear to chew its cud, but it is actually pulling up some rumen contents for spitting. The body language will be much different on an agitated animal though.

I would say from your description that your animals are chewing their cud because they are becoming more relaxed with you around.

Nice job!

Sara