Camelids Flashcards
Identify the 4 new world camelids.
Llama
Vicuna
Guanaco
Alpaca
Describe llamas.
- Can live up to 20 years
- Up to 1.8m tall
- Can weight up to 200kg (biggest camelid)
- Pregnant for around 11 months
Describe vicuna.
- Wild South American camelid that live up in the Andes
- Around 350,000 in the wild
- Up to 60kg
- Whithers around 3 foot
- Have contributed to alpaca parentage
- Very fine fibre so very expensive
- Has a different colour on sternum
Describe guanaco.
- Bigger than vicunas and smaller than llamas
- 90kgish
- Wild in South America
- Multi-coloured as opposed to llamas and alpacas
Describe alpacas.
- Male alpacas = macho
- Female alpacas = hembra
- Baby alpaca = cria
- Alpaca being born is called an unpacking or creation, even though a lot of breeders call it a birthing.
- Pregnancy for 11-12 months. While gestation period may vary between alpacas, the individual will have the same gestation period for each cria.
What are the main 2 alpaca breeds?
• Suri
- Long coats
- Tend to be the larger breed, with females at 70kg and males at 80kg, a castrated male may be 100kg at a max
• Huacaya
- Coat has much shorter fibre, like sheep wool (never refer to as wool though)
- Tend to be lighter, with females at 60kg and males at 70kg, while well-conditioned pets may be 80-90kg
What are the 26 colours of alpacas?
- White
- Beige
- Fawn – light, medium, dark
- Brown – light, brown and medium
- Bay black
- True black
- Rose grey – light, medium, dark
- Silver grey – light, medium, dark
Describe camelid fibre.
- Not wool or fleece
- Measured in microns – average diameter of 66% of a sample, which includes 2000 measured fibres. In alpacas, average micron count can range from 15-45 microns. In adult alpacas, a micron count of 25 or less is desirable. Crimp – an organisation or uniform waviness in an individual lock of fibre.
- Do not bed them on shavings
- Do not brush them
- Vicuna is the finest
How are alpacas sheared?
- Alpacas can be sheared in a standing or lying position, lying may be less stressful for the alpaca
- Alpacas can be stretched out on a sheering table or on a tarpaulin on the floor
- Wary about neck trauma that could lead to ataxia
What is a safety precaution that must be taken in alpaca housing?
Never have anything round the alpacas neck in which they could attempt to suffocate themselves.
Describe how to hold an alpaca.
- Wrap one arm around its neck and other is placed on the shoulders
- Llamas and alpacas generally respond well to suggestion rather than force
- Restraint – alpacas can be ‘chunkered’, which involves restraining the animal in sternal position. Snugly tie a rope passing over the back to secure each of the hind fetlocks.
May drop to their knees and try surprise you by springing back up.
What precautions must be taken when putting a headcollar on an alpaca?
Obligate nasal breathers, so nose band must be as high as possible , just below the eyes (not into the eyes so corneal ulcers do not form).
What is the exception to the normally docile behaviour of camelids?
Berserk male llama syndrome (BMLS):
- The exception to this generally placid temperament
- Hand raised male cria, do not have a fear of people so try to attack them
- Should be castrated by the age of 2 months or at the latest, before weaning
How often must camelids been foot trimmed?
Foot trimming may be required every 6 months and you may be asked to do it as a vet although it can be done by owners. Just trim nail only.
Describe camelid dentition.
1 upper incisor 3 lower incisors 1 upper canine 1 lower canine 2 upper premolars 1 lower premolar 3 upper molars 3 lower molars
Dental plate
