Niche Livestock

Question 1

What are the 10 examples of niche livestock?

Answer 1

• cervids: elk and deer species
• bison
• water buffalo
• camelids: llamas and alpacas
• rabbits
• ratites: ostrich, emu and rhea
• wild boar
• fur-bearing species: mink and fox
• poultry: pigeons, pheasants, quail etc.
• insects: crickets, ants, black soldier fly larvae

Question 2

What are 5 commons themes of the niche market?

Answer 2

• Limited markets: niche or cottage industries, producer markets
• fragmented industry infrastructure: lack of distribution and processing facilties
• boom and bust: sometimes follow fads
• small number of products
• limited market info

Question 3

What is a fryer vs a roaster?

Answer 3

Fryer (rabbit weighing less than) - 2.34 kg
Roaster (rabbit weighing more than) - 2.34 kg

Question 4

How many rabbit producers in Canada in 2016?

Answer 4

3800

Question 5

How many rabbits slaughtered in 2016?

Answer 5

173,000

Question 6

When was the market crash in the rabbit industry?

Answer 6

80s

Question 7

What is a doe, buck, kit?

Answer 7

Doe = female rabbit
Buck = male rabbit
kit = young rabbits

Question 8

When do fryers reach market weight?

Answer 8

8 to 10 weeks

Question 9

How long is a rabbits gestation?

Answer 9

30-33 d

Question 10

What is kindling?

Answer 10

rabbits giving birth

Question 11

How many litters per year do rabbits produce?

Answer 11

5 to 7 litters per year, 8 to 10 kits/litter

Question 12

What are the strengths of the meat rabbit industry?

Answer 12

• established traditional market
• existing marketing infrastructure
• nutritional attributes
• strong leadership in ontario livestock alliance (ontario rabbit ontario goat and ontario veal)

Question 13

What are the challenges to the meat rabbit industry?

Answer 13

• reduce mortality
• limiting marketing options
• need to expand demand

Question 14

What are the nutrients in bison meat

Answer 14

low in fat and calories, high in protein, iron and vitamin b-12

Question 15

How much do bison calves weigh at birth?

Answer 15

40-60 lbs at birth

Question 16

At what age and weight are bison marketed at?

Answer 16

24-30 months of age and at 1000 lbs

Question 17

Where are the majority of bison found in canada?

Answer 17

Alberta

Question 18

How many bison in a herd on avg?

Answer 18

120

Question 19

What are the challenges in bison feeding?

Answer 19

Browsers so challenge for feeding grain

Question 20

When do bison calve?

Answer 20

april-may

Question 21

What must you remember about bison farms in terms of structure?

Answer 21

Have strong fencing

Question 22

How much hair comes off of an alpaca per year?

Answer 22

5-10 lbs

Question 23

What are the two types of alpaca in the industry?

Answer 23

Huacaya - fluffy
Suri - no crimp

Question 24

What are the names for a male/female/young alpaca?

Answer 24

Crea = young alpaca
Hembra = female alpaca
Macho = male alpaca

Question 25

What are some characteristics of alpaca wool?

Answer 25

Strong, lightweight, fine, warm, oil-free

Question 26

What are the two cooperations that produce alpaca wool?

Answer 26

Alpaca fibre cooperative of ontario Alpaca fibre coop of north america

Question 27

What are two active associations in the alpaca industry?

Answer 27

Alpaca Canada Alpaca Ontario

Question 28

What are the three uses of llamas?

Answer 28

- guarding - meat - pets

Question 29

What are the challenges in the Alpaca industry?

Answer 29

- high breeding stock prices - limited market values for value-added sales to artisans - producers often must do marketing

Question 30

What are the primary use of ostriches?

Answer 30

Raised for meat, leather, oil, feathers and eggs

Question 31

How much does an adult ostrich weigh?

Answer 31

115-165 kg

Question 32

How many eggs do ostrich hens lay per season

Answer 32

40-100

Question 33

When are the ostrich egg laying season?

Answer 33

feb to oct

Question 34

What are Emu's and Rhea used for?

Answer 34

Oil, meat, leather

Question 35

Where are most emu and rhea's in canada?

Answer 35

ontario

Question 36

What are minks raised for?

Answer 36

fur and oil

Question 37

When is mink breeding season?

Answer 37

early march

Question 38

What is the gestation period for minks?

Answer 38

40-75

Question 39

How many babies per mink birth?

Answer 39

5-6 kits

Question 40

How are minks euthanized?

Answer 40

carbon monoxide

Question 41

When is grading and pelting for minks?

Answer 41

november and december

Question 42

What type of diet do minks eat?

Answer 42

carnivores, 80%-90% of diet is meat or meat by-products

Question 43

What are some characteristics of mink housing?

Answer 43

long open sided sheds natural and artifical light natural ventilation high biosecurity no supplemental heat

Question 44

What are the auctions that mink pelts are auctioned off at?

Answer 44

North american fur auction Rexdale

Question 45

Who are the auctions for mink trade owned by?

Answer 45

Canada Mink Breeders Association, Canada Fox breeders, American Mink Council, Wild Fur Shippers Council

Question 46

How are mink pelts graded?

Answer 46

Sex, size, colour, clarity, quality, damage

Question 47

What is the code of practice for mink welfare?

Answer 47

All pens must be enriched with hammock/shelf/platform