Some facts about South American Camelids

Abstract

A literature study to assess the feasibility of raising South American camelids within the concept of land management and diversification of livestock production is carried out. There are four species of camelids found in South America : two wild species the "Guanaco" and the ’’Vicuña’’ and two domestic species the Alpaca and the Llama. They are found on the high Andean plateau. The domestic species can breed throughout the year, autumn being the most favourable period. The breeding system of these animals has a number of special features : the male attains puberty at the age of about 12 months but is rarely capable of breeding before the age of 3 years, being handicapped by preputial adhesions. In the female, ovulation (usually one) is triggered off by copulation. The development of the single foetus always occurs in the left horn of the uterus. Gestation lasts approximately 345 days. Mating can recommence almost immediately. The weight at birth ranges from 7 to 8 kg for the Alpaca and from 10 to 11 kg for the Llama. Weaning occurs at the age of 7 to 9 months. Both the Alpaca and the Llama are grazers, feeding essentially on grass, including very tall and rough tufts, but the llamas are capable of feeding on shrubs when grass is scarce. Generally, the dry matter intake per metabolic weight of alpacas and llamas is lower than that of sheep and goats (30 to 55 g DM/kg P^0.75 ). On similar diets, they consume 20 to 40 % less feed than sheep and goats. The rate of utilization of the digestible organic matter and nitrogen is similar in the four species on a good quality diet but is higher in the case of fibrous and low protein diets for alpacas and llamas. In south America, camelids coexist with small ruminants. In their social structure, they exhibit a hierarchy and some group defensive mechanisms. It is therefore necessary to take certain precautions when handling them. Alpacas are mainly raised for their fleece which is made up of fine medulated fibers of 25 to 30 μ. Total yields are 1.7 kg for the females and 2.8 kg for the males with a clean fleece yield of 80 %. Llamas have coarser fleece which contains kemp fibers. The fleece can be used in craft work. In France, no economic survey which can stimulate farmers to raise these animals has been carried out at the time of writing.