Other Farm Animals: Llamas&Alpacas Ostriches&Emus

What are llamas purposes?

South American camelids bred for fiber, pack animals, livestock guardians, and sometimes meat

Stud

Male llama

Dam

Female Llama

Curia

Young llama and alpaca

Macho

Male alpaca

What are alpacas bred for?

South American camelids bred primarily for their luxurious fiber

What are ostriches bred for?

Large flightless bird native to Africa, bred for feathers, leather, meat, and oil

Male Ostrich

Cock

Rooster

Male Emu

Hen

Female ostrich and emus

Chick

Young ostriches and emu

Purpose of emus?

Large flightless birds native to Australia, bred for feathers, leather, meat, and oil

Purpose of American Plains Buffalo (bison)?

Semi-domesticated bovine species raised for meat, hides, and heads

Bull

Male Bison

Cow

Female Bison

Calf

Young Bison

What is the classification of llamas and alpacas?

Members of the camelidae family, modified ruminants with three-compartment stomachs

What are a few physical characteristics of llamas and alpacas?

Hornless, cloven-hoofed, padded feet, and chew their cud. Adaptable to diverse climates

What is the weight of llamas?

280-450#

What is the height of llamas?

To the shoulder: 40-45 inches

To the head: 5.5-6 feet tall

What is the lifespan of llamas?

15-30 years

Specific purposes of llamas?

Burden carrying, fiber, guarding livestock, and meat

Describe the fiber on llamas

Shorn annually and have a double coat consisting of a fine wool fiber intermingled with stiff guard hairs. Contain no lanolin/grease!

Describe how llamas are livestock guardians:

used to guard cattle, sheep, and poultry. Inherent wariness of dogs. Gelded males are used (stud)

Weight of an alpaca?

100-175#

Alpaca height to their shoulder is ______

3 feet

What is the lifespan of alpacas?

15-25 years

What are the two types of alpacas?

1. Huacaya: The most common, contain a fluffy appearence due to the fibers forming a locked structure

2. Suri: Less common, hair hangs down in curly ringlets. has a sleek look

What is the primary use of alpacas?

Primarily used for fiber, used for meat in South America

Describe alpaca fiber:

Lanolin-free, no guard hairs, warmer than sheep’s wool, produces 6-9# a year per adult

Both llamas and alpacas are __________. They ovulate ______ hours post-breeding

Induced ovulators; 24-36 hours

When do llamas and alpacas wean?

4-6 months

When are Dams bred? (Female llama)

15-18 months of age

When are studs (male llamas) turned out with female llamas (dams)?

2.5 years of age

How long do dams gestate for?

350 days

How much does cria weigh from a dam (female llama)?

20-35 #

Hembras (female alpaca) give birth to a single cria (twins rare) at what weight?

15-19 #

At what age are hembras (female alpacas) bred?

14-16 months of age

When are machos (male alpaca) turned out with hembras?

2-3 years of age

How long are hembras in gestation?

335 days

What are all of the different type of ratites? (5)

ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, and kiwis

What is the classification of ostriches and emus?

Ratites lacking a keel bone where flight muscles usally attach

What is the origin of ostriches?

Africa

What is the origination of emus?

Australia

How tall are ostriches?

7-10 feet

How much do ostriches weigh?

250-400 #

How many toes are on an ostrich?

2 per foot

How tall is an emu?

5-6 feet

What is the weight of an emu?

110-150#

Ostriches and emus can run up to:

40 MPH

When do ratites begin to reproduce?

2 and 3 years of age

What is the annual egg production for ostriches?

40-60 eggs

What is the annual egg production for emus?

20 to 50 eggs

How long can ostriches reproduce for?

40 years

How long can emus reproduce for?

20 years

How long is incubation for ostriches?

6 weeks

Describe how eggs are cared for in a communal nest with ostriches?

Dominant female will sit on eggs during the day, cock will sit during the night. Non-dominant can do whatever

The emu rooster sits on the nest continually for ______

50 days

What is the laying season for ostriches?

March-October

When is the laying season for emus?

November-April

What are the products of ostriches and emus?

Leathers, feathers, meat, oil. Meat is leaner, richer in iron, vitamin C, and protein compared to beef. Emu oil used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals

Classification of Bison?

American Plains Buffalo, only semi-domesticated

What are characteristics of Bison?

Adaptable, need to be worked slower, calmer, and quieter than cattle. Must be tested for bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis when shipped since they are suspectable to cattle diseases

How much is a mature cow (female bison)?

1,000-1,500 #

When do cows begin to reproduce and how often?

Cows can be bred at 2 years of age and can reproduce every year

How long is gestation for cows?

280-285 days

How much do calves weigh at birth?

40-50 #

Breeding season of calves?

August-October

Bulls weigh _______ and are used for breeding at _____ years of age

2,000#, two years

One bull can reproduce ______ cows

10-15

The average bison can reproduce for _____ years

20

At what weight and age are bison butchered?

950-1,250#, and between 18-36 months of age

The average dressing percentage of bison is ______%

57%

How is bison meat different than bovine?

Bison meat has a lower fat content (less than 3%) and a lower cholesterol content