Camelids Flashcards
Who are camelids?
Camels (dromedary- single hump/ bactrian- double hump), Llamas, Guanaco, Vicuna, Alpaca,
Where are Bactrian camels from?
East Asia (Mongolia)
Where are Dromedary camels from?
Africa
When was the first camel stud est. in AUS?
1865 (first camel 1840 imported). Released in the 1920s
How many camels in AUS?
300,000+
What are camels known for?
Move long distances in the desert (6 hrs/ day), feed of very poor quality roughage, carry loads (1/2 bodyweight) and can move quickly (5 km/hr walking- racing 25 km/hr- TB 60 km/hr)
What is the lifespan of a camel?
30-50 years
What is the weight of a male and female camel?
Male: 800-1000 kg/ female: 600-800 kg
How much do camels drink per day?
20-30 Litres
How much do alpacas weight?
70 kg
How long do Alpacas live?
15-20 years
What is the gestation length of an Alpaca?
335 days
What is a Tuis?
Adolescent
What is a hembra?
Adult female
What is a macho?
Adult male
What is a cria?
baby
When is birth?
Morning
What is the Huacaya?
Most common in Australia, soft, fluffy looking, fleece like merino
What is a Suri?
Fleece has long, pencil like locks (like Leicester Sheep)
How much fleece? How is it different to sheep?
1.5-4kg of fleece- once per year- lower grease content
What is the DSE rating of an alpaca?
1-1.2 DSE (lactating hembra 2 DSE)
Alpaca vaccines?
Tetanus, pulpy kidney, black leg, black disease, malignant oedema (5 in 1 vaccine), Johnes disease (mycobacterium paratuberculosis), internal parasites
Mating age of hembra (female) alpacas?
Over 12 months, 45 kg
When do males reach sexual maturity?
1-3 years
When are alpacas weaned?
3-6 months of age
Micron of alpaca fleece? X-fine?
19-26 microns…. extra fine less than 19 microns, fine is 22 microns, medium is less than 26 microns
