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The Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in superficial appearance. Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile at an altitude of 3500 to 5000 meters above sea-level, throughout the year.
Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike them are not used as beasts of burden but are valued only for their fibre. Alpaca fibre is used for making knitted and woven items, much as sheep's wool is. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in other parts of the world. The fibre comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia and 22 as classified in the United States. Alpacas and llamas differ in that alpacas have straight ears and llamas have banana-shaped ears. Aside from these differences, llamas are on average 1-2 feet taller and proportionally bigger than alpacas.
In the textile industry, "alpaca" primarily refers to the hair of Peruvian alpacas, but more broadly it refers to a style of fabric originally made from alpaca hair but now often made from similar fibres, such as mohair, Icelandic sheep wool, or even high-quality English wool. In trade, distinctions are made between alpacas and the several styles of mohair and lustre.
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Alpaca crias typically weigh between 14 and 18 lbs at birth.
The average human baby
weighs 7.5 lbs. |
A cria (pronounced cree-ah) is the name for a baby alpaca (llama, vicuna, or guanaco also). Our cria are usually born in the spring.
After an 11-month gestation period the cria is born with the whole herd gathering around in an attempt to protect against potential predators. Alpacas give birth standing so life begins with a none-to-graceful flop to the earth. Birth is usually (as for most prey animals) relatively quick and problem free and the whole emergence typically takes less than 30 minutes. Most births take place between 8am and noon – while unproven it is speculated that this birthing pattern is a continuation of the birthing patterns observed in the alpaca's wild ancestors. Alpaca crias typically weigh between 14 and 18 lbs at birth and look like something straight from the imagination of Dr. Seuss – a quaint cross between fawn, lamb and giraffe calf…like all nature's babies utterly adorable and amazingly resilient.
Crias and dams begin their bonding rituals immediately after birth, getting to know each other's smell and also sound. One of the most charming bonding methods, in my opinion, is in their quaint vocalizations – mothers and babies will hum back and forth to one another in creaky, kazoolike murmurs. I'm not sure what they are saying but as an enchanted onlooker, or should that be 'onlistener' the sound is somehow soothing and indicative of an 'all's right with the world' general feeling. It is a treat and a privilege to be allowed to listen in!
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The appropriately named Kiko Goat was purpose-bred in New Zealand for meat production – the Maori word "kiko" means flesh or meat. The developers of the breed were Garrick and Anne Batten of Nelson in the northern South Island, and they developed the Kiko from feral goats that had been liberated or had escaped over the last hundred years or so of European settlement. These feral goats could be found in many places throughout the country, and although they were hardy, they were relatively small and produced little meat or milk.
The Kiko breed was established by crossbreeding selected feral does with Anglo Nubian, Toggenburg and Saanen bucks, with further cross-breeding in the second and third generations. After four generations of selective breeding – selection being on the grounds of survivability and growth rate in a hill country environment – a dramatic improvement in liveweight and animal performance was achieved. By 1986 the Kiko breed was established and the herd was closed to further cross-breeding.
Within New Zealand control of the breed remained with the original developers, trading under the company name of Caprinex, but the Kiko did not become popular as a meat goat here (the Boer finding greater favour). Development of the Kiko in New Zealand ceased about 1992, but more recently (2005) Caprinex bought back does available in New Zealand and mated them with frozen semen from the original project, and currently a breeding programme is under way to develop an even better Kiko – the Kikonui.
In the meantime, however, Kikos were exported to the United States in the 1990s, and there is now a growing number of enthusiastic breeders of Kikos in that country. At the beginning of 2005 there were more than 1,600 Kiko goats registered with the International Kiko Goat Association in North America. See Kiko Goats in the USA.
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The average adult Boer weighs around 200 - 350 lbs.
Females are typically smaller, weighing 120 - 220 lbs. |
The Boer goat was developed in South Africa in the early 1900s for meat production. Their name is derived from the Dutch word "Boer" meaning farmer. The Boer goat was probably bred from the indigenous goats of the Namaqua Bushmen and the Fooku tribes, with some crossing of Indian and European bloodlines being possible. They were selected for meat rather than milk production; due to selective breeding and improvement, the Boer goat has a fast growth rate and excellent carcass qualities, making it one of the most popular breeds of meat goat in the world. Boer goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi-deserts. U.S. production is centered in west-central Texas, particularly in and around San Angelo. The original US breeding stock came from herds located in New Zealand. Only later were they imported directly from South Africa.
Boer goats are rather large animals with adult weights averaging around 200 - 350 pounds for the males and 120 - 220 pounds for the females. This is a horned breed with lop ears and a variety of color patterns of which the white body with correct (or colored - usually red) head is the most well known. Solid red and black boers are also noted.
Boer goats have a high resistance to disease, are hardy and low maintenance, adaptable, easily handled, noted for fast growth rate and early maturing, and also have a high fertility rate. Male Boers reach puberty around 6 months and female Boers around 10 - 12 months. Their extended breeding season allows the production of 3 kiddings every 2 years.
The Boer Does are very good mothers requiring little help but first timers may need some supervision as their mothering instinct is not always manifested the first time around. After they figure out whats going on, they respond to mothering quite nicely and are very protective of their offspring.
Kikos and Boers are producing some fantastic goats when crossed. When crossed they retain the best attributes of both.
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