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
• Disucss the history of and getting started
with llamas and alpacas
• Describe the characteristics of llamas and
alpacs
Bison
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
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?
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
Description & Characteristics
• Hump over the front shoulders
• Horns that curve outward and up from the head
– The bulls are larger than the cows
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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 912 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
Characteristics of the Bison
Industry
• Small compared to other enterprises
• Several options for ownership
– Absentee ownership
– Hobby
– Small producer
– Medium-size ranches
– Large ranches
Ratites
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
Ratites
• Group of flightless birds that includes
– Ostrich
– Emu
– Rhea
– Cassowary
– Kiwi
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
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
Domestic Ostrich
• Result of cross-breeding several
subspecies
• All belong to the species Struthio
camelus
• Initial purpose of the crossbreeding was
to improve feather quality
• Emphasis of breeding today is meat
production
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
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Rhea
• Similar to ostrich but is smaller and has 3
toes
• Mature Rhea
– 5 ½ feet tall
– Weighs 44-55 pounds
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Fast runner
Feathers are pale gray to brown
Head & neck are completely feathered
No tail feathers
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
Kiwi
• Small about the size of a chicken
• 3 species
– Brown Kiwi, Spotted Kiwi, Little Spotted Kiwi
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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
Ratite Products
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Meat
Leather
Oil
Feathers
Other by-products
Llamas & Alpacas
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
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
Registry
• International Lama Registry (ILR)
• Closed
– This means both parents must be
registered in order for offspring to be
registered.
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
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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
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
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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