Bison, Ratites, Llamas, Alpacas, and Elk

1. Bison, Ratites, Llamas, Alpacas, and Elk Chapter 48

2. Objectives • Describe the origin, history, and general characteristics of bison • Describe the characteristics of the bison industry • Discuss the management, feeding practices, health maintenance, facilities and equipment, and marketing of bison

3. Objectives (cont.) • Discuss the characteristics and origin of ratites • Discuss management practices used when caring for ratites • Discuss facilities needed for ratites • Discuss maintaining the health of ratites • Discuss getting started with ratites

4. Objectives (cont.) • Discuss the marketing of ratites and their products • Discuss the history of and getting started in business with llamas and alpacas

5. Objectives (cont.) • Describe the characteristics of llamas and alpacas • Discuss the feeding and management of llamas and alpacas • Discuss the uses, production, and management of elk

6. Bison • Origin • Member of Bovidae family • Believed that bison crossed a land bridge from Asia to North America • History • Important resource for the Plains Indians • Almost slaughtered to extinction in 1800s, before rebounding by 1980s

7. Bison (cont.) • Description and Characteristics • Male bison stands 6.5 feet tall • Hump over the front shoulders • Bull has larger horns than the cow • Head is large and the body narrows through the hindquarters • Long, dark hair covers head and forequarters

8. Characteristics of the Bison Industry • Very small compared to other livestock enterprises • Several types of ownership • Absentee ownership • Hobby • Small producer • Medium-sized and large ranches

9. Management of Bison • Select young, healthy, large animals • Determine vaccination and worming schedules • Bison are very aggressive • Use caution when handling • Inbreeding should be avoided

10. Feeding and Nutrition of Bison • Nutrient and mineral requirements are similar to that of cattle • Average daily gain is 2 to 3 pounds • Live off grasslands but need supplement in the winter • Fresh, clean water should always be available

11. Bison Herd Health • Preventing health problems is easier than treating them • Proper worming and vaccinations • Medicines approved for cattle are usually safe for bison as well • Affected by the same parasites, poisonous plants that affect cattle and sheep

12. Facilities and Equipment for Bison • Fences at least 6 feet high and strong • Pasture gates made of same material as fence • Handling fences must be built stronger than pasture fences • Squeeze chutes for bison have to be larger than cattle chutes

13. Marketing Bison • Selling Breeding Stock • Sold to private individuals or at auction • Selling to Feedlot Operators • Meat Marketing • Two types • Traditional market • Gourmet market

14. Marketing Bison (cont.) • Marketing By-Products • Heads • Robes • Skulls • Leather • Wool • Bones and horns

15. Ratites • Introduction • Interest in U.S. as alternative to other livestock production • Group of flightless birds, including ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary, and kiwi • Commercial use in the 1800s in South Africa

16. Ratites (cont.) • Description - Ostrich • Largest of the ratites, 7 to 9 feet tall • can run 30 to 50 mph • Long necks, small heads, large eyes • Male has black and white feathers • Female has gray feathers

17. Ratites (cont.) • Description - Emu • Second largest bird, 5 to 6 feet tall • Female is dominant • Can run 30 mph • Head and neck are grayish blue • Feathers black on head, brown on back • Plumage is course and hair-like

18. Ratites (cont.) • Description - Rhea • Similar to ostrich; 5.5 feet tall, rapid runner • Feathers are pale gray to brown • Head and neck are completely feathered • No tail feathers • Long body feathers droop over posterior of the bird

19. Ratites (cont.) • Breeding and Egg Production • Ostrich • Mate bonded pairs • Egg laying begins in March, extends to September • Emu • Mate bonded pairs • Eggs laid in shallow depression on ground • Average of 30 eggs laid during each session

20. Ratites (cont.) • Breeding and Egg Production (cont.) • Rhea • Similar to ostrich breeding practices • Females lay eggs in same nest • Males sit on nest to incubate the eggs

21. Ratites (cont.) • Incubation and Hatching of Eggs • Artificial incubation used in U.S. • Chick will break through internal shell membrane 1 to 2 days prior to hatching • Hatching usually occurs within 12 hours after first breaking of the egg shell

22. Ratites (cont.) • Brooding • Ratite chicks require supplemental heat for several weeks after hatching • Brooder area at floor level should be kept about about 90° for 10 days to two weeks • Brooding area should be clean, dry, and well ventilated

23. Ratites (cont.) • Sexing Young Birds • Examination of sex organs required • Feeding • Limited research on nutritional requirements of ratites • Commercial rations in mash or pellet form are available from a number of feed companies

24. Ratites (cont.) • Handling and Transporting • Mature ratites can be difficult to handle • Restraining may be necessary for vaccination or examination • May take several people to handle mature bird • Transport in ventilated enclosed trailers with nonslip floors

25. Ratites (cont.) • Identification • Plastic leg bands placed on chicks as they hatch are recommended • Larger leg bands can be adjusted in size as birds get older • Microchip identification is widely used in the ratite industry

26. Ratites (cont.) • Facilities • Young chicks can be kept in small pens • Larger pens required for older birds • Provide adequate area for exercise, along with housing and shade • Alleys built between pens make it easier to move birds from one area to next • Restraint facilities for treating ill birds

27. Ratites (cont.) • Health • Establish a relationship with a ratite- knowledgeable veterinarian • Follow a good disease prevention program • Subject to same illnesses, parasites as poultry • High mortality rate at young age; require special care

28. Ratites (cont.) • Getting Started in Business • Buying eggs and hatching • Sexed chicks • Yearling pairs of male and female • Two-year-old breeding pairs • Before purchasing, research cost of production • Check bird health and breeder’s reputation

29. Ratites (cont.) • Products • Meat • Leather • Oil • Feathers • The meat is low-fat, low-cholesterol, red meat • Hides used to make purses, boots, etc.

30. Ratites (cont.) • Products (cont.) • Emu oil for cosmetic and pharmaceutical use • Feathers and eggshells are used for decorations

31. Llamas and Alpacas • Introduction and History • Domesticated in Peru about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago • Llamas used as pack animals in S. America • First imported into the U.S. in late 1800s, for use in zoos • Alpacas were not used as pack animals

32. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Characteristics (Llama) • Llama wool is usually white but may be black, beige, brown, red, or roan • Llama’s coat can be solid or spotted • Long necks, 5.5 to 6 feet tall • Live 20 to 25 years

33. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Characteristics (Alpacas) • Have 22 distinct natural colors • Including: black, white, roan, brown, red, fawn, and gray • Two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri • Defined by type of fleece • About 4.5 feet tall at the head

34. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Feeding • Modified ruminants - three stomachs • Feeding program based on roughages • Chew their cud like other ruminants • Llamas will eat both forage and browse • Alpacas are less likely to eat browse • Browse: shoots, twigs, and leaves found on rangeland

35. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Management • Herd animals, desire companionship • Do not do well in isolation • If only one desired, it can be kept with other domesticated animals, such as sheep • Several groupings may be used when kept on a breeding farm

36. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Reproduction • No estrus cycle, induced ovulators • Females bred at 1 year of age • Gestation period 11 to 11.5 months • Llama males should be about 3 yearsold for mating • Male alpacas used for breeding at about 2 to 3 years of age

37. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Health • Few disease problems with llamas and alpacas • Wise to have a good working relationship with veterinarian • Preventive medicine, nutrition, vaccinations, and parasite control should be followed

38. Llamas and Alpacas (cont.) • Housing and Fencing • Little housing required, especially in mild climates • Provide shelter in extreme conditions • Hay mangers, feed bunks prevent parasites • Catch corrals make vaccinations, nail trimming, etc., easier to manage • Fences vary with herd size, groupings used

39. Elk • American elk are members of the deer family • Primarily raised for their velvet, but also bred for meat, by-products, and breeding stock • Mature elk produces 30 to 40 pounds of velvet annually

40. Elk (cont.) • Commercial deer farming is steadily increasing due to demand for deer and elk products, minimal acreage requirements • Labor requirement is minimal • Elk have high fertility rate, long reproductive life • Elk have calm disposition, weather tolerant