Camelids

Question 1

what are the 3 compartments of an alpaca GIT

Answer 1

C1: largest, digestive enzymes and bactteria
C2: absorption of nutrients
C3: true stomach, further digestion, gastric glands
- eat for 8 hrs a day
- pseudoruminants

Question 2

what order do camelids belong tto and define

Answer 2

artiodactyla
- even toed ungulates whose weight is borne equally by the third and fourth toes

Question 3

where did camelids originate

Answer 3

North America

Question 4

what did alpaca’s evolve from

Answer 4

vicunas

Question 5

what did lamas evolve from

Answer 5

Guanacos

Question 6

what are the old world camelids

Answer 6

dromedary (1)
bactrain camels (2)

Question 7

how many alpacas in aus

Answer 7

400,000 -> 90% huacayas, 10% suris

Question 8

where are alpacas found in Aus

Answer 8

south East mostly, south west a little

Question 9

what are alpacas used for

Answer 9

• guard animals for sheep
• fibre (fine)
• tourism/pets

Question 10

how much fibre do alpacas produce?

Answer 10

• avg 2kg/head

Question 11

how much is the alpaca wool industry worth in Aus

Answer 11

• $19 million

Question 12

when are alpacas slaughtered

Answer 12

24 m.o. wethers

Question 13

what are llamas used for

Answer 13

• recreation
• guard animals

Question 14

what is a:
- cria
- tui
- hembra
- macho
- partruition
(Alpaca terms)

Answer 14

cria = neonate
tui = weaner
hembra = female 1 y.o.
macho = male 2 y/o
parturition = unpacking/birthing

Question 15

how much do alpacas weight at:
- birth
- adult female
- adult male

Answer 15

birth = 6-9kg
female = 60-80kg
male = 70-90kg

Question 16

how much do llamas weigh at:
- birth
- adult
(HEAVIER)

Answer 16

birth = 9-13kg
adult = 120-180kg

Question 17

behaviour of camlids

Answer 17

• herd structure -> dominance
• herding instinct
• strong family
• aggressive
• spit

Question 18

how to restrain camelids

Answer 18

• arm around neck
• halter
• chute (for llamas)

Question 19

alpaca physical characterisitcs

Answer 19

• ears are NOT banana shaped
• no horns
• brass or plastic ear tag -> electronic not compulsory
• horizontal pupils -> projections in iris
  -wide angle vision (320-340)
• bad depth perception
• blue-eyed deafness
• obligate nasal breathers
• split upper lip
• grazers

Question 20

do camelids have to be registered?

Answer 20

• yes
• Need property ID code (PIC)
• movement documents
• brass (Aus alpaca association registered) or plastic tag (not registered)

Question 21

mouth of alpaca

Answer 21

• incisors and dental pad
• papillae on cheeks and tongue
• low jaw/mandible narrower than upper (maxillae)
• canines (6 in total) males

Question 22

adaptations of cameldis

Answer 22

• RBCs eliptical for high altitude
• large heart
• high muscle and capillary density
• exract water from urine very well

Question 23

how long camelids eat/rest for

Answer 23

8 hours for each

Question 24

camelid feet

Answer 24

• even toed ungulates
• food pad and toe nails
• not susceptible to foot rot
• soft feet

Question 25

male characterisitcs

Answer 25

- scrotum non-pendulous - fibroelastic penis

Question 26

when is castration performed

Answer 26

after 12 months - NEVER use rings - always use pain relief

Question 27

female characteristics

Answer 27

- 8 glands, 4 teats - uterus has 2 horns - 2 ovaries -

Question 28

tail charcaterisitcs

Answer 28

- protect perineum - lift to urinate - NO tail docking - no meulsng -> no hair there

Question 29

how is BCS tested

Answer 29

- last rib and backbone, feel for dips between vertebrae - BCS should be 3-3.5

Question 30

describe alpaca shearing (time, legnth etc)

Answer 30

- annual shearing in spring - fleece grows 8-12cm per year - restrain using ropes on floor or table - removed from head and legs, not tail (sunburn) - low speed hand piece - shear blanket (backbone), belly

Question 31

describe llama shearing

Answer 31

- annual shearing in spring - shear in standing position

Question 32

how much do camelids drink

Answer 32

- 5% of body weight per day - 3.5L/day if 70kg avg

Question 33

how much do camelids eat

Answer 33

- 1.5% body weight of dry matter (3.5L) - 1.2 kg of hay - much more needed on pasture due to wet matter abundance

Question 34

what vitamin do camelids need/have deficiency from

Answer 34

- vitamin D due to lack of sunlight - injections of vitamin D - bent legs = deficiency

Question 35

vaccination schedule

Answer 35

- 5-in-1 vaccine given 2 doses 6 weeks apart (marking and weaning) - then twice yearly to maintain

Question 36

when are females joined

Answer 36

at 65% mature body weight/45kg - induced ovulators only when mating

Question 37

when are males fertile

Answer 37

- 3y.o.

Question 38

how long is alpaca gestation and llama

Answer 38

alpaca = 342 d llama = 355 days *longer in spring, shorter in autumn