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Alternative Animals

Alternative Animals . Animal Science I Unit 48. Objectives. Describe the origin, history and general characteristics of bison Describe the characteristics of the bison industry Discuss the characteristics and origin of ratites

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Alternative Animals

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  1. Alternative Animals Animal Science I Unit 48

  2. Objectives • Describe the origin, history and general characteristics of bison • Describe the characteristics of the bison industry • Discuss the characteristics and origin of ratites • Disucss the history of and getting started with llamas and alpacas • Describe the characteristics of llamas and alpacs

  3. Bison

  4. American Bison • Bison bison • A member of the Bovidae family • Includes cattle, sheep, goats • Believed to cross the Bearing Strait land bridge from Asia to N. A. approx. 20,000-30,000 years ago • Related to the European bison, Bison bonasus • A species that is almost extinct

  5. History of Bison • Important to the Plains Indians because they provided food, skins, bone and fuel • At the time of European arrival in North America it is estimated there were 30-60 million head ranging the western part of the continent • By the end of the 19th Century—300 head • Why?

  6. History of Bison • During the 20th Century a slow rebuilding of Bison populations began. • 1929-3,385 • 1980’s-80,000 • Currently-125,000 • 15% of the bison in North America are currently maintained on Public Lands • Some of those best know for saving Bison herds from extinction are • James “Scotty” Philip • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bison

  7. Description & Characteristics • Hump over the front shoulders • Horns that curve outward and up from the head • The bulls are larger than the cows • Large head and the body narrows down toward the hindquarters • Long, dark hair covers the head and forequarters • Hindquarters are covered with shorter, lighter hair • Bulls have a black beard that is about 12” long • Mature bulls weigh 1,500-2,000, stand 6.5 ft at the hump and 9-12 ft in length • Mature cows weigh 1,000 • Bison have 1 more pair of ribs than cattle • 13-cattle, 14-bison • Territorial • Able to flourish in a wide range of environments

  8. Characteristics of the Bison Industry • Small compared to other enterprises • Several options for ownership • Absentee ownership • Hobby • Small producer • Medium-size ranches • Large ranches

  9. Ratites

  10. Introduction • Interest in the U.S. • Commercial production of ostriches began in 1800’s in South America • After WWII a market for meat and leather developed • South Africa retains a virtual monopoly on the commercial production of ostriches • In the U.S. the ratite industry involves ostriches, emus and rheas

  11. Ratites • Group of flightless birds that includes • Ostrich • Emu • Rhea • Cassowary • Kiwi

  12. Ostrich • Largest ratite, largest bird • 7-9 ft in height, 200-350 lbs • Capable of running 30-50 MPH for up to 30 minutes • Stride of 15-20 feet, depending on size • 2 toes • Long neck • Small head • Large eyes • Short, flat bill

  13. Ostrich • Male • Black feathers with white on the wings and tail • Feathers become brighter during the mating season • Female • More drab • Light gray to grayish brown feathers

  14. Domestic Ostrich • Result of cross-breeding several subspecies • All belong to the species Struthiocamelus • Initial purpose of the crossbreeding was to improve feather quality • Emphasis of breeding today is meat production

  15. Emu • Second largest bird • 5-6 ft tall • 125-150 pound • Males are slightly smaller than females • Female is dominant • Capable of running 30 MPH • Three toes • Head and neck are grayish blue, black feathers on the head and molted brown feathers on the body. • Plumage is course and hairlike

  16. Rhea • Similar to ostrich but is smaller and has 3 toes • Mature Rhea • 5 ½ feet tall • Weighs 44-55 pounds • Fast runner • Feathers are pale gray to brown • Head & neck are completely feathered • No tail feathers

  17. Cassowary • 4-6 ft tall • No plumage on the head or neck • Brightly colored skin in combinations of blue, red and yellow • Large bony crest on the top of the head • Hairlike feathers are brownish black • Capable of running up to 30 MPH • Long sharp toenails on the inner toe that are used for defense • Found in forrested area rather than the open plain

  18. Kiwi • Small about the size of a chicken • 3 species • Brown Kiwi, Spotted Kiwi, Little Spotted Kiwi • Larger species are about 20” long, smaller 16” • Weigh 2 ¾-9 pounds • Stand up to 1 foot tall • Females are larger than males • Brown or gray hair-like feathers that may be streaked or barred • Small heads • Long slender bills with the nostrils near the tip • No tail feathers • Short legs with 3 toes on the feet

  19. Ratite Products • Meat • Leather • Oil • Feathers • Other by-products

  20. Llamas & Alpacas

  21. Introduction & History • Imported to the US in the late 1800s to be exhibited in zoos • Interest in raising llamas and alpacas increased in the 1970s with the emphasis being on raising and selling breeding stock • In addition to breeding stock llamas are used as/for • Pack animals, fiber production, guard animals for sheep herds, show animals, pets • Alpacas are used for • Breeding stock, fiber production, investments and as pets. • They are generally not used as pack or guard animals

  22. Investment Cost • Varies across U.S. • Breeding stock • Females $350-$6,000+ • Males $500-$3,000+ • Stud Fees $700-$1500 • Trained Pack Animals $2,500-$3,000

  23. Registry • International Lama Registry (ILR) • Closed • This means both parents must be registered in order for offspring to be registered.

  24. Characteristics: Llama • Wool color • Usually white but may be black • Shades of beige are also seen • A variety of patterns from spotted to solid are also seen • Mature weight- 280 to 450 pounds • Long necks • 5.5-6 ft at the head, 4 ft at the shoulder • Life span 20-25 years

  25. Characteristics-Alpaca • 22 distinct natural colors • 2 types based on the fleece they produce • Huacaya fiber • Fiber is dense and crimped • Suri fiber • Usually white, not crimped, hangs straight down and is curly • An adult Alpaca produces about 4 lbs of fleece per year • Weight- 100-175 lbs or about ½ the size of a Llama • Height- 4.5 ft at the head, 3 ft at the shoulder • Life span of 20-25 years

  26. Characteristics • Six incisor teeth on the front bottom jaw • Hard dental pad on top • 5 molars on top and bottom • Split upper lip that allows them to grasp forage when grazing • Feet are two toed with a broad, leathery pad on the bottom that gives them excellent footing on many types of terrain • Scent glands on the side of each rear leg and one in between the toes

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