Camelids Flashcards
what are the 3 compartments of an alpaca GIT
C1: largest, digestive enzymes and bactteria
C2: absorption of nutrients
C3: true stomach, further digestion, gastric glands
- eat for 8 hrs a day
- pseudoruminants
what order do camelids belong tto and define
artiodactyla
- even toed ungulates whose weight is borne equally by the third and fourth toes
where did camelids originate
North America
what did alpaca’s evolve from
vicunas
what did lamas evolve from
Guanacos
what are the old world camelids
dromedary (1)
bactrain camels (2)
how many alpacas in aus
400,000 -> 90% huacayas, 10% suris
where are alpacas found in Aus
south East mostly, south west a little
what are alpacas used for
- guard animals for sheep
- fibre (fine)
- tourism/pets
how much fibre do alpacas produce?
- avg 2kg/head
how much is the alpaca wool industry worth in Aus
- $19 million
when are alpacas slaughtered
24 m.o. wethers
what are llamas used for
- recreation
- guard animals
what is a:
- cria
- tui
- hembra
- macho
- partruition
(Alpaca terms)
cria = neonate
tui = weaner
hembra = female 1 y.o.
macho = male 2 y/o
parturition = unpacking/birthing
how much do alpacas weight at:
- birth
- adult female
- adult male
birth = 6-9kg
female = 60-80kg
male = 70-90kg
how much do llamas weigh at:
- birth
- adult
(HEAVIER)
birth = 9-13kg
adult = 120-180kg
behaviour of camlids
- herd structure -> dominance
- herding instinct
- strong family
- aggressive
- spit
how to restrain camelids
- arm around neck
- halter
- chute (for llamas)
alpaca physical characterisitcs
- ears are NOT banana shaped
- no horns
- brass or plastic ear tag -> electronic not compulsory
- horizontal pupils -> projections in iris
-wide angle vision (320-340) - bad depth perception
- blue-eyed deafness
- obligate nasal breathers
- split upper lip
- grazers
do camelids have to be registered?
- yes
- Need property ID code (PIC)
- movement documents
- brass (Aus alpaca association registered) or plastic tag (not registered)
mouth of alpaca
- incisors and dental pad
- papillae on cheeks and tongue
- low jaw/mandible narrower than upper (maxillae)
- canines (6 in total) males
adaptations of cameldis
- RBCs eliptical for high altitude
- large heart
- high muscle and capillary density
- exract water from urine very well
how long camelids eat/rest for
8 hours for each
camelid feet
- even toed ungulates
- food pad and toe nails
- not susceptible to foot rot
- soft feet
male characterisitcs
- scrotum non-pendulous
- fibroelastic penis
when is castration performed
after 12 months
- NEVER use rings
- always use pain relief
female characteristics
- 8 glands, 4 teats
- uterus has 2 horns
- ## 2 ovaries
tail charcaterisitcs
- protect perineum
- lift to urinate
- NO tail docking
- no meulsng -> no hair there
how is BCS tested
- last rib and backbone, feel for dips between vertebrae
- BCS should be 3-3.5
describe alpaca shearing (time, legnth etc)
- annual shearing in spring
- fleece grows 8-12cm per year
- restrain using ropes on floor or table
- removed from head and legs, not tail (sunburn)
- low speed hand piece
- shear blanket (backbone), belly
describe llama shearing
- annual shearing in spring
- shear in standing position
how much do camelids drink
- 5% of body weight per day
- 3.5L/day if 70kg avg
how much do camelids eat
- 1.5% body weight of dry matter (3.5L)
- 1.2 kg of hay
- much more needed on pasture due to wet matter abundance
what vitamin do camelids need/have deficiency from
- vitamin D due to lack of sunlight
- injections of vitamin D
- bent legs = deficiency
vaccination schedule
- 5-in-1 vaccine given 2 doses 6 weeks apart (marking and weaning)
- then twice yearly to maintain
when are females joined
at 65% mature body weight/45kg
- induced ovulators only when mating
when are males fertile
- 3y.o.
how long is alpaca gestation and llama
alpaca = 342 d
llama = 355 days
*longer in spring, shorter in autumn
