Llamas, Alpacas, Goats Flashcards
Why do we have these animals?
Many used for their fiber - especially alpaca
* Cashmere goat: cashmere fiber
Other types of goats
* Meat goats
* Dairy (WI is #1 dairy goat state)
“Fainting goats”
* Muscles lock up when surprised, excited
* Myotonia congenita
Which one is a pack animal?
Alpaca - very sure footed
Guard Llamas
- Fight off predators
- Usually for sheeps and goats
Goat Scientific Classification
Capra hircus
Family Bovidae
* Cows are also in this family
Llama Scientific Classification
Lama glama
Family Camelidae
* Camels also in this family
Goat Baby
Kid
Goat Female
doe
Goat Male (intact)
buck
Goat Male (castrated)
wether
Llama Baby
cria
Llama Female
no term
Llama Male (intact)
stud
Llama Male (castrated)
gelding
Difference in Ruminants
- Stomach has 4 compartments (3 for llama)
- One of these components is called the Rumen: large, fermentation vat
- Microorganisms digest food - occurs at the start of digestion
- Then products from this can go to small intestine to be absorbed
- KEY DIFFERENCE: this is at the front of the digestive tract (more efficient)
Animal “eats” microorganisms and their products
Can digest cellulose (grass, leaves, etc)
Importance of Ruminant Animals
There is so much grass in this world
Low quality feed (grass and hay) converted to high quality feed (meat and milk)