Camelids

Question 1

What are the two old world camelids?

Answer 1

• Dromedary camel
• Bactrian camel

Question 2

What are the 4 new world camelids?

Answer 2

1. Alpaca
2. llama
3. Guanaco
4. Vicuna

Question 3

Where have camelids evolved?

Answer 3

• evolved in the high mountains of south america
• they are robust and require only basic shelter
• temperatures are cold and UV levels are high

Question 4

What are the two subtypes of alpaca?

Answer 4

Huacaya and Suri

Question 5

What makes up the value of an alpaca?

Answer 5

• Fibre
• Meat
• Breeding
• Flock guards

Question 6

How often are alpaca sheared and when?

Answer 6

Once a year in May-July

Question 7

What is the average fibre yield of a llama?

Answer 7

1.5-2 kg fibre/annum

Question 8

What is the average fibre yield of an alpaca?

Answer 8

2.5-5.5 kg fibre/ year

Question 9

How would you determine alpaca fibre quality?

Answer 9

Fibre thickness profile and colour is used to define the quality of the fibre

Question 10

What is the term for a male alpaca?

Answer 10

macho

Question 11

What is the term for a female alpaca?

Answer 11

hembra

Question 12

What is a castrated male alpaca?

Answer 12

wether

Question 13

What is a weanling?

Answer 13

cria 5-6 months old

Question 14

What is a yearling?

Answer 14

alpaca at one year of age

Question 15

What is a cria?

Answer 15

baby alpaca

Question 16

What is orgling?

Answer 16

the noise made by a macho when mating

Question 17

What are the average biological facts of an alpaca?

Answer 17

Life span – 20-25yrs
* Gestation Length – 11.5 months
* Produce one cria a year
* Induced ovulators
* Reproductive maturity –
- Male – 18-24 months
- Female – 14-18 months

Question 18

What is the average microns of alpaca fibre?

Answer 18

20-30 in diameter

Question 19

How many stomachs does an alpaca have?

Answer 19

three

Question 20

What is the reason for the anatomical position of the jugular vein and carotid artery?

very thick skin as well

Answer 20

protected from fighting wounds and
predetor attack by transverse processes of cervical vertebrae

Question 21

What is kush tying/chuckering?

Answer 21

• restraint in sternal recumbancy

Question 22

What shape are the blood cells of alpacas?

Answer 22

Elliptical

Question 23

What time is parturition?

Answer 23

usually occurs in the hours of daylight
morning births gives time for the cria to dry out before night fall
may also facilitate the uptake of colostrum- by nightfall the animal is stronger

Question 24

Where are the common injection sites of an alpaca?

Answer 24

• Intravenous- jugular
• Intramuscular- quadriceps, triceps
• Subcut- triangle in front of the shoulder

Question 25

What do alpacas have instead of upper incisors?

Answer 25

dental pad

Question 26

What is the pH of the first stomach?

Answer 26

C1= 10-15 litres pH 6.6

Question 27

What is the pH of the third stomach?

Answer 27

Involved in acid secretion so very low pH

Question 28

What is the purpose of them having elliptical shaped erythrocytes

Answer 28

They do not get pulmonary edema at the altitude of cattle

Question 29

What are the permanent upper incisors and upper/lower canines referred as?

Answer 29

the fighting teeth

Question 30

How long is the average mating time of an alpaca

Answer 30

25 minutes

Question 31

What do neonates do after birth?

Answer 31

adopt a ‘kush’ position
they ingest colostrum to gain protective antibodies

Question 32

From how many days would you do a rectal palpation?

Answer 32

From 45 days

Question 33

When does calving usually occur?

Answer 33

before 2pm (daylight)

Question 34

When is castration usually performed?

Answer 34

At 18 months after long bone growth is complete
normally performed under anaesthesia

Question 35

How much weight do healthy cria gain in the first 4 weeks?

Answer 35

1-1.5kg per week

Question 36

What are the best ways of identifying a pregnancy?

Answer 36

• Spit offs (around 70% accurate)
• rectal palpation from 45 days
• ultrasound from 25 days

Question 37

What are the two best milk substitutes for an alpaca?

Answer 37

Goats milk followed by ewes milk
Must beware of disease transmission (Johne’s)

Question 38

What are the two iv injection sites?

Answer 38

jugular and carotid

Question 39

What are the two intramuscular injection sites?

Answer 39

1. Quadriceps
2. Triceps

Question 40

What is the subcutaneous injection site?

Answer 40

triangle in front of the shoulder of the scapula

Question 41

Name 6 common alpaca conditions

Answer 41

• Jaw / tooth root abscesses:
• C3 ulceration: stress-induced
• Diarrhoea
• Parasites: internal and external
• Neonate: Development abnormalities
• Vitamin D deficiency: Ricketts in crias, pathological fractures in adults.

Question 42

What should form the main part of an alpacas diet?

Answer 42

• they are usually very overconditioned
• forages should form the main part of the diet

Question 43

What should the average alpaca DMI be?

Answer 43

1-2% of their body weight

Question 44

At what age should you breed a female alpaca?

Answer 44

They reach puberty at 6 months but should not be bred until 12 months

Question 45

What are some of the signs of a premature cria?

Answer 45

• Teeth not fully erupted
• Floppy ears
• Unable to stand up
• Low birthweight
• Short gestation

Question 46

How much protein do camelids require?

Answer 46

• 8-10% for maintenance
• 12-14% for growth
• 14-16% for an early weaned cria up to 6-8 months old