Camelid Husbandry, Nutrition, and Welfare

Camelid Overview and Taxonomy

• Definition of Camelids: The camelid species include camels, alpacas, llamas, and other South American species.

• New World vs. Old World:     * New World Camelids: These are species originating from the Americas, specifically the South American continent. They include the alpaca and the llama.     * Old World Camelids: Traditionally identified as the traditional camels found in the Gulf and Sahara regions, such as the Dromedary camel.

• Distinguishing Between Llamas and Alpacas:     * Llamas: Possess backward-pointing ears that resemble the shape of a banana. They are approximately twice the size of an alpaca on average. Behaviorally, they are quite independent and can be aggressive.     * Alpacas: Feature short, pointy ears and are relatively shorter in stature. Behaviorally, they are shy animals that prefer to live in herds.

• Wild South American Species:     * Vicuna.     * Guanaco. (These are not really domesticated and are rarely farmed in the UK, although some have been introduced).

• Alpaca Fiber Types: Alpacas and llamas are utilized for their fleece, which is used for high-luxury products like garments and carpets. There are two primary types of fleece/fiber:     * Suri (or Sura): A more curly form of fleece.     * Huacaya: A more fluffy, cluster type of fleece.

• Old World Camel Species:     * Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius): The one-hump camel found in most parts of the Gulf and the Sahara.     * Bactrian Camel: The two-hump camel found in Mongolia and cold climates of Asia.

Learning Objectives

• Outline the UK alpaca and llama industry.

• Explain the handling and restraint of camelids.

• Describe the behavioral, anatomical, and physiological features in camelids distinct from core domestic species.

• List the core principles of nutrition (energy, protein, water, fiber) and common nutritional disorders.

Camelid Terminology and Human Use

• Individual Designations:     * Male: Intact males are called a "starred macho" or simply a male.     * Castrated Male: Called a "gelding" (similar to horses) or a "wether" (similar to sheep).     * Young Camelid (Unweaned): Called a "cria."     * Juvenile (Weaned): Typically called a "weanling" or an "adolescent."

• Reproductive/General Terms:     * Parturition (The act of giving birth): Termed "calving" (as in bovine) or "unpacking."     * Hair Coat: Referred to as "fiber," "hair," or "fleece." It is explicitly noted that this is not "wool," as wool is specific to sheep.     * Resting Position: Termed "sternal recumbency" or a "kush" position.

• Uses in the UK:     * Fleece: High luxury, pricey garments.     * Social Activities: "Alpaca walking" (trekking with camping gear), shows, and beauty competitions.     * Sporting: Training for activities similar to show jumping and dressage in horses.

• Uses in the UAE (Dromedary):     * Culture, Economy, and Heritage.     * Production: Milk and meat.     * Tourism: Camel rides.     * Racing/Sport: High economic value (e.g., a camel sold for $100,000,000\,AED$ after winning a race).     * Beauty Shows.

Camelid Behavior and Vocalizations

• New World Camelid Vocalizations:     * Humming: The baseline sound of inquiry, used during mild concern, bonding between mother and cria, or general interaction.     * Snorting and Clicking: Indicates mild aggression or attempts to establish dominance within a pack.     * Alarm Call: A high-pitched rhythmic striking sound used to alert the herd to predators; commonly seen in llamas.     * Ogling: A vocalization produced by intact males during mating.

• Old World Camelid (Dromedary) Behavior:     * Herd Structure: They are social animals with a distinct hierarchy led by a leader.     * Aggression/Defense: Includes spitting (defensive), kicking, biting (severe if stressed), grunting, and groaning.     * The Rut: The mating season driven by high testosterone. Males become very aggressive and territorial.     * Soft Palate Ballooning: During the rut, males balloon their soft palate, called a "dula," and produce ogling sounds.

• Body Language and Intent:     * Ear Positioning: The primary "radar for intent." Ears pinned back paired with raised chins indicate a threat.     * Spitting/Regurgitation: Defensive behavior where the animal splashes stomach contents on a target. In alpacas, "pouting" (relaxed lower lip after spitting) indicates they are preparing for a second spit.

Restraint and Handling Procedures

• New World Restraint Techniques:     * Bracelet Grip: Firmly holding the upper neck.     * Neck Grip: Using the elbow to form a "wrist" for the chin while the other hand directs.     * Large Camel Warning: These physical grips are not used on Dromedary camels because they are too large, strong, and prone to biting.

• Halter Application:     * Obligate Nasal Breathers: Camelids breathe only through their noses. The holster must be placed on the bony aspect of the nasal bone, not the rostral cartilaginous area. Incorrect placement causes asphyxiation and stress.

• Signs of Handling Stress:     * Struggling.     * Mouth breathing (indicates a threshold has been surpassed).     * Rapid eye oscillation.     * Head bent over.

Anatomy and Physiology

• Distal Limbs:     * Glands: Possess metatarsal glands (inside the leg) and interdigital glands (between digits on all four feet).     * Feet: They walk on a large pad between the $P2$ and $P3$ bones.     * Toenails: Non-weight bearing and very sharp. They require clipping/trimming $1$ to $2$ times per year to prevent injury to handlers (stumping) and the animal.

• Dentition:     * Upper Jaw: Features a dental pad with no incisors on the palate.     * Lower Jaw: Lower incisors present.     * Fighting Teeth: Canines develop in both males and females as they age; used for aggression.     * Molars and Premolars: Possess a "scissoring" action to grind fiber into very fine pieces to prevent obstruction.

• Stomach Anatomy (Pseudoruminant):     * Camelids have three compartments rather than four. These are labeled C1, C2, and C3.     * C1 (First Compartment): Functions like a rumen but lacks the same labeling. It is the largest ($15$ to $25\,liters$ in alpacas), produces mucus and saliva for lubrication, and has a pH of approximately $6.6$.     * C2 (Second Compartment): Holds $1.1$ to $2\,liters$. Contains "ventral saccules" (visible holes on the interior). Key function: This is the primary site for bicarbonate secretion.     * C3 (Third Compartment): A tubular structure divided into two parts:         * Proximal 75%: Absorptive function.         * Distal 25%: The "true stomach" portion with true gastric secretion; highly acidic, mimicking the abomasum.     * Digestive Flow: Flow from C2 to C3 is strictly governed by feed particle size.

• Intestines and Liver:     * Small Intestines: Approximately $10$ to $12\,meters$.     * Large Intestines: Approximately $7.5\,meters$.     * Spiral Colon: A double-helix structure. Clinical concern: Prone to blockages/impaction, especially in young animals (2-3 weeks old) due to solidified milk or sand.     * Liver: No gallbladder. Bile is produced directly in the liver and used immediately.

• Feces: Normally dry and pelleted. They are highly efficient at conserving fluids. Watery/pasty feces indicate a medical emergency/diarrhea, requiring immediate intravenous fluid supplementation.

Adaptations and Thermoregulation

• Dromedary Adaptations:     * Hump: Fat storage for energy reserves during long travel.     * Long Legs: Reduces heat transfer from the ground.     * Padded Feet: Allows for walking on sand without sinking.     * Thick Lips: For eating desert plants (pines, cactus).     * Kidneys: Highly efficient at conserving water.

• Thermoregulation:     * Body temperature ranges from $34{^\circ}C$ to $41{^\circ}C$.     * Minimal sweating.     * Can tolerate dehydration up to $25$ to $30\%$ of body weight.     * Heat Stress: While Dromedaries are heat-adaptive, Alpacas (from the New World) are much more prone to heat stress in UAE-like conditions.

Nutrition and Feeding Principles

• Feeding Efficiency: Camelids are highly efficient feed converters.

• Metabolic Paradox: While evolved for harsh terrains, they become prone to obesity and mineral deficiencies when kept in rich, domestic pastures (Northern Hemisphere).

• Energy and Forage:     * Forage should be the main diet.     * Unrestricted forage is generally only needed for growing, late pregnancy, lactating, or high-activity animals (e.g., trekking or stud males).

• Stocking Density:     * $2$ to $3$ llamas per acre.     * $4$ to $5$ alpacas per acre.

• Appetite and Intake:     * Alpacas: Approximately $1.8\%$ of body weight.     * Llamas: Approximately $2\%$ of body weight.

• Maintenance Requirements:     * $70\,kg$ Alpaca needs $7.5\,MJ$ of metabolizable energy ($ME$).     * $160\,kg$ Llama needs $13.5\,MJ$ of $ME$.     * Activity Coefficients (multiply maintenance by): Low ($1.25\times$), Medium ($1.5\times$), High ($1.75\times$ to $2\times$).

• Protein Components (Total Diet):     * Maintenance: $10\%$     * Lactation: $14\%$     * Growth: $12$ to $16\%$     * Stud Males/Pre-pregnancy Females: $12\%$

• Fiber and Concentrates:     * Minimum $25\%$ fiber/dry matter.     * Concentrates should never exceed $30\%$ of the diet to prevent acidosis. New concentrates must be introduced slowly over $14\,days$.

• Water Requirements:     * Maintenance: $3\%$ of body weight daily.     * Lactation/Exercise: $8\%$     * Hot/Humid Weather: $10$ to $15\%$

Nutritional and Seasonal Disorders

• Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes rickets (observable as bowed or "bull-legged" limbs), especially in animals with dark fleece where sunlight cannot reach the skin.

• Mineral Ratios: Calcium and Phosphorus should be maintained at a ratio of approximately $1.2:1$ to $2:1$. Excess phosphorus can lead to urolithiasis.

• Salt: Should be provided via iodized/iodated salt blocks.

• Selenium: Deficiency in soil can cause issues; requires soil assay and supplementation.

• Seasonal Supplements: Zinc, Magnesium, Copper, and Cobalt.

• Thiamine Deficiency: Causes Cerebrocortical Necrosis (CCN), often triggered by inappetence (not eating).

• Obesity: Measured by Body Condition Score (BCS) via palpating the lumbar area. Target BCS is $2.5$ to $3.0$.

Questions & Discussion

• Question: When you approach a horse and his ears are pinned back, what does that mean?

• Response: It means the horse is not happy, alert, potentially having trust issues, or planning mischief. Alpacas and llamas have similar ear radar for intent.

• Question: What does it mean when a camelid starts to regurgitate?

• Response: It is about to spit or vomit contents of the first compartment of the stomach to tell you to stay away or mind boundaries.

• Question: Are these feces normal? (Referring to dry pellets)

• Response: Yes, they are normal because camelids are efficient at conserving fluids. Diarrhea is an emergency.

• Question: How do camels survive traveling hundreds of km without vegetation?

• Response: They derive energy from the fat stored in their hump through biochemical conversion pathways.

• Question: Why should we not cross 30% for concentrates?

• Response: To avoid acidosis (excess carbohydrate creating acid). Other reasons include kidney problems and lack of fiber which reduces chewing time and saliva production.

• Question: Can we have an example on how to calculate the diet?

• Response: Diet calculation depends on the specific feed (purchased vs. farm-grown). Purchased feed usually has percentage labels (e.g., 10% protein for maintenance). If preparing farm meals, you must analyze each ingredient (energy-rich vs. protein-rich). It is not currently a primary learning objective to perform manual calculations, but understanding the percentage requirements (e.g., 14% for lactation) is key.