Production of Alternative Livestock

Alternative Livestock

Any non-traditional animal raised on a farm or property

Difficulties of Alternative Livestock

Lack of qualified veterinary care, special fencing and handling facilities, special equipment for hauling, required special permits/licenses, suitability/adaptability to region/climate

Aquaculture

The cultivation of aquatic organisms, including finfish and shellfish

Finfish

Fish raised in aquaculture, examples include catfish, trout, tilapia, and salmon

Shellfish

Aquatic animals with shells, examples include shrimp, clams, mussels, and oysters

Rabbits

Used for meat, angora wool, skin/hide, breeding stock, or lab use; in 2017 over 4k farms sold nearly 500k rabbits

Camelidae

A family of animals including camels and llamas, raised for various uses including milk, meat, and fiber

Camels

Raised for milk, meat, fiber, and transport; camel milk has been consumed in the Middle East for thousands of years

Llamas

Often kept as guard animals or for recreation; used in South America as beasts of burden, a fiber source, and meat source

Nanobodies

Very small antibodies found in llamas that are easier for scientists to manipulate and may better target viruses

Alpacas

Gaining popularity as alternative livestock species, primarily used as a source of fiber and could also be used for meat

Bison

Native to the Great Plains and Midwest, semi-domesticated, used for meat, hides, and bones; almost went extinct in colonial era due to overhunting

Cervidae

A family of animals including deer and elk

Huacaya

The most common variety of alpaca

Suri

A less common variety of alpaca

3 compartment stomach

A unique digestive system feature of camelids that aids in their digestion

Adaptability of Bison

Bison are adaptable to a wide range of environments, feed sources, and management systems

Bison Population

Only a few agricultural operations have over 1k bison