Unit 8: Camelids (Alpacas & Llamas)

Kingdom

Aniamalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Camelidae

Genus & Species (Llama)

Lama glama

Genus & Species (Alpaca)

Vicugna pacos

Temperature

99-101.5 F

Heart rate

60-90 bpm

Respiration rate

10-30 rmp

AVG. Lifespan

15-20 years

Aberrant Behavior Syndrome

aggressive, unmannerly behaviors by hand-raised camelids that become extremely dangerous towards people.

Orgle

mating sounds made by males

Crush

sternal recumbency; position a receptive female takes for breeding

Estrous cycle

polyestrous

Female puberty (Alpaca)

12 months

Female puberty (Llama)

6-12 months

Male puberty

2-3 years

Induced ovulators

process by which eggs are released after behavioral, hormonal, or physical stimulation

Gestation period

335-365 days

Weaning age

5-6 months

First breeding

2.5-3.5 years

Estrus cycle frequency

8 to 12 days

female/dam

adult female

Stud (camelids)

adult male

Gelding (camelids)

castrated male

Cria

neonate up to 6 months

Yearling (camelids)

older than 1 but younger than 2

Obligate nasal breathers

breath mainly through their nose/nasals

Were are most pregnancies carried?

in the left horn of the uterus

Stage 1 partition (camelids)

• lasts 1-6 hours

• humming

• lie down, roll, or crushed position

Stage 2 partition (camelids)

• birth standing

• 20-30 minutes; emergency after 1hr

• DO NOT LICK CRIA

Stage 3 partition (camelids)

• 1-6 hours

• DO NOT EAT PLACENTA

Number of Adult teeth (Camelids)

28-32 teeth; have a dental pad

Three-compartment forestomach

Includes:

• rumen

• reticulum

• abomasum

Cheek teeth (camelids)

premolars and molars

What should you not feed to camelids?

Copper and whole oats

Camelid red blood cells

are oval in shape, are small, and have a high hemoglobin content

Lamas

dual fiber coat, have guard hairs which make their fiber corse

Alpaca

fiber is softer does not contain guard hairs

Most common method of breeding in Camalides

pasture mating

Are llamas or alpacas larger

Llamas are larger

Camalids lick cria after birth

false

Check teeth function

to grind forages

Fighting teeth

upper incisors

How do camalides give birth

standing

How long does it take cria to feed

4 to 6 hours