Bison, Camelids, Cervids Oh My Bison Bison Bison

Home , Alpaca, Bison, Camel, Guanaco, Llama

• HOLOCENE BISON • WOOD BISON BISON, CAMELIDS, CERVIDS OH MY – BISON BISON ATHABASCAE • PLAINS BISON VETERINARY SCIENCE PROGRAM – BISON BISON MONTANAE

• HEALTH • RESTRAINT REQUIREMENTS – HEAVY DUTY FACILITIES – SIMILAR TO BEEF – WILD ANIMAL CATTLE • NOT DOMESTIC – DO NOT RAISE AROUND SHEEP • MALIGNANT CATARRHAL FEVER

CLASSIFICATION OF CAMELIDS CLASSIFICATION OF CAMELIDS

• OLD WORLD • NEW WORLD – DROMEDARY CAMEL – LLAMA • CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS • LAMA GLAMA – ALPACA • LAMA PACOS – GUANACO – BACTRIAN CAMEL • LAMA GUANICOE • CAMELUS BACTRIANUS – VICUNA • VICUGNA VICUGNA

1 EVOLUTION AND DOMESTICATION Physical Description • Life span: 15-25 years • FIRST MIGRATED TO SOUTH AMERICA ~3 • Weight: MILLION YEARS AGO – Alpaca: 121-200lbs – Llama: 250-550 lbs • LLAMAS AND ALPACAS HAVE BEEN • Height at withers: DOMESTICATED FOR – Alpaca: 30-38 in 7,000 YEARS; NO WILD – Llama: 40-47 in INCIDENCE • Gestation period: 341 days • GUANACOS AND • Birth: a single offspring VICUNAS ARE WILD called a cria

PHYSIOLOGY VICUNA

• FOREGUT FERMENTERS • WILD • SUBSPECIES: – REGURGITATION – PERUVIAN E CHEWING – R - – ARGENTINE – RE-SWALLOWING • STOMACH HAS THREE • SMALLEST LAMOID-WEIGHS UNDER 90 LBS AND STANDS COMPARTMENTS = UNDER 3 FT AT THE SHOULDER RESISTANT TO BLOAT • EFFICIENT IN EXTRACTING • FINEST FIBER QUALITY OF ALL PROTEIN AND ENERGY LAMOIDS FROM POOR QUALITY • USES A BROAD RANGE OF HABITAT FOR GRAZING AND FORAGES BROWSING

GUANACO ALPACA

• WILD • EXISTS ONLY AS • MANY SUBSPECIES DOMESTICATED SPECIES • HIGH QUALITY INNER • BREEDS: COAT – HUACAYA • JUVENILE PELTS ARE – SURI USED FOR GARMENTS • EXCELLENT FIBER QUALITY • USES A BROAD RANGE • PREFERS TO GRAZE OF HABITAT FOR SUCCULENT FORAGE IN GRAZING AND MARSHES AND MOIST BROWSING PLACES

2 Llama USES: ALPACAS

• EXISTS ONLY AS DOMESTICATED SPECIES • PREMIER FIBER PRODUCING • SOUTH AMERICAN BREEDS: ANIMAL – HEAVY NECK FIBER: • HARVESTED FOR MEAT • CHAKU • LANUDA • LEATHER USED TO MAKE • TAPADA ROPES – SHORT NECK FIBER: • CCARA • PELTS OF CRIAS MAKE FINE • PELADA RUGS • INNER COAT MAKES EXCELLENT • NORTH AMERICAN ALPACAS GARMENTS SERVE AS SHOW AND • GRAZES DRY, HARSH GRASS SPECIES COMPANION ANIMALS

Uses: Llamas Camelid Vaccination Schedule • Long history of supplying Andean • Crias: people with meat, – 3 months • Clostridium perfringens leather and fiber type C, D • Serve as sacrificial • ± Rabies animals – 4 months • ± Rabies • North American Llamas • Annual Herd: fill numerous niches: – Clostridium perfringens – Breeding/showing type C, D and tetanus (CD&T) – Companion animals – ± Rabies – Packing – ± Leptospirosis – Guard Llamas • Repeat every 6 months – Golf caddy

Camelid Vaccination Schedule Handling / Restraint • Halter and Lead Rope • New Animals: – Initial series: • Less is Best! • Clostridium perfringens type C, D • Monitor Body Posture • Leptospirosis – Ear Position • Rabies – Tail Position – Booster all in one month • Prebirthing Boosters: – Clostridium perfringens type C, D – 4-6 weeks prior to anticipated birth

3 Camelid Expressions Handling / Restraint • Stand Near the Shoulder to Avoid Kicking • Do Not Work Alone • Avoid Spitting – Ears Laid Back – Gulping/Gurgling Sound

C. Bramblett- all

Haltering Haltering

• Proper halter fit is critical

• Halter size changes as animal grows – adjustable are best

• NEVER leave a halter on a camelid

Handling / Restraint Handling / Restraint • Neck and Tail Hold • “Earing” – Similar to sheep – Similar to “earing” a – Approach slowly horse – Place one arm around – Gain owner approval base of neck – Squeeze firmly – Firmly grasp tail with – Caution: Natural other hand instinctive movement – Difficult in larger is away from the animals grasping

4 Handling / Restraint Handling / Restraint • “Chukkering” • Chutes or Stocks – Places animal in – Commercially recumbency by available restricting the hind – Easy to construct legs – “Fowler” chute

Handling / Restraint Physical Exam • Neonates • Normals: – Neck and Tail Hold – Temp: 99.5-102 F – Proper Lifting – Pulse: 60-90 – Lateral Recumbency – Resp: 10-30 – Sternal Recumbency – Gastric Motility: 3-5 (kush position) contractions/min

Physical Exam Physical Exam • Heart and Lung • Assessing Body Auscultation Condition – Reach through fleece – Dorsal spinal muscles at – At the elbow T8 to L2 – Caudal to triceps – Triangular = Thin – Round = Healthy – Flat = Overweight

5 Physical Exam Physical Exam Assessing the Eye • Assessing the Ears A. Eyelid Margins – Difficult to assess B. Third Eyelid – Facial paralysis seen C. Bulbar Conjunctiva with infections (Listeria D. Iris monocytogenes) E. Pronounced Dark Pupillary Margins (corpora nigrum) F. Ocular Fundus

Physical Exam Physical Exam • Blood Collection • Assessing the – Difficult due to Mouth protective barriers – Inability to open wide prevents good exam – Jugular venipuncture – Check incisor teeth is best for under or over bite – Blind stick, can not – Modified canine teeth feel or see jugular present, called groove in most Fighting teeth (up to animals 3 pair)

Minimum Standards of Care Minimum Standards of Care

• Water • Shelter – Free access to – May be natural or man- potable drinking made water at all times – Provide animals relief from extreme weather • Nutrition (heat, cold, wet, windy) – Adequate to sustain • Mobility life and health – Enough room to move and exercise freely

6 Minimum Standards of Care NUTRITION

• Neglect • WATER – Animals should be free from abuse/serious neglect • DAILY ACCESS TO CLEAN, MOLD-FREE • Safety HAY/NUTRITIOUS PASTURE – Safeguard from injury/death within environment • FEED SUPPLEMENT • Cruelty – 10-12% CRUDE PROTEIN FOR ADULTS – Safeguard from cruel treatment • MINERAL SOURCE • Socialization – FREE CHOICE, LOOSE TEXTURE IS BEST – Camelids need companionship of other • FEED ORPHANED CRIAS VIA FEEDING TUBE camelids or other livestock OR BOTTLE TO MINIMIZE HUMAN BONDING

Physical Surroundings SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• PROVIDE SHELTER • CRIAS BELONG WITH APPROPRIATE TO THE THEIR MOTHERS CLIMATE • REGULAR MANURE – DELIBERATE “BOTTLE REMOVAL BABIES” ARE UNETHICAL • FENCING TO SAFELY AND INHUMANE CONTAIN CAMELIDS – BARBED WIRE NOT RECOMMENDED • EXERCISE ANIMALS DAILY IF THEY MUST BE CONFINED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ROUTINE HUSBANDRY

• GELD MALES AT THE • TOENAILS (HOOVES) APPROPRIATE AGE: MUST BE KEPT – 18-24 MONTHS TRIMMED • VACCINATE/DEWORM APPROPRIATE TO THE LOCAL CONDITIONS

7 ROUTINE HUSBANDRY ROUTINE HUSBANDRY

• SHEAR TO HELP • DENTAL CARE PREVENT HEAT STRESS – CUT FIGHTING TEETH IN MALES • MONITOR GROWTH OF INCISORS – TRIM / FLOAT IF NECESSARY AS ANIMAL AGES • KEEP HIGHLY TERRITORIAL OR “ALPHA” MALES SEPARATED TO PREVENT INJURIES FROM FIGHTING

TRANSPORTATION CERVIDS

LOCATION COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME MALE FEMALE YOUNG

WAPITI - ROCKY STAG / HIND / MOUNTAIN ELK CERVUS CANADENSIS BULL COW CALF

MOOSE ALCES ALCES BULL COW CALF NATIVE DEER WHITE-TAILED DEER ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS BUCK DOE FAWN

MULE DEER ODOCOILEUS HEMONUS BUCK DOE FAWN

REINDEER RANGIFER TARANDUS BULL COW CALF

RED DEER CERVUS ELAPHUS STAG HIND CALF NON-NATIVE DEER FALLOW DEER DAMA DAMA BUCK DOE FAWN

SIKA DEER CERVUS NIPPON STAG HIND CALF

CERVIDS CERVIDS

• ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK • FARMED PRINCIPALLY FOR • WHITE TAIL DEER – SALE OF LIVE ANIMALS • BREEDING • FALLOW DEER • HUNTING (TROPHY ANIMALS) • CARIBOU (REINDEER) – VENISON (MEAT) – VELVET ANTLER

8 WATER AND FEED HANDLING

• NATIVE OR SEEDED • WILDLIFE - NOT PASTURES DOMESTIC • ADEQUATE AND CLEAN • SHOULD BE HANDLED SOURCE OF WATER QUIETLY WITH CARE • TRACE MINERAL AND PATIENCE REQUIREMENTS CAN BE – MORE CALM WHEN MET WITH SUPPLEMENTS HANDLED UNDER REDUCED LIGHTING AND • SHOULD BE IN GOOD IN COVERED SHEDS CONDITION BEFORE WINTER

HANDLING RESTRAINT

• MALES MAY BE • MECHANICAL RESTRAINT IS DANGEROUS AND MUST PREFERRED BE TREATED WITH – BALES, CRUSHES, AND CRADLES MUST BE DESIGNED AND SIZED RESPECT SPECIFICALLY FOR EACH SPECIES – SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT MUST BE REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED AND PERSONNEL MUST BE SKILLED IN ITS OPERATION

RESTRAINT Housing and shelter

• USE OF CURRENTLY • DEER SHOULD HAVE AVAILABLE CHEMICAL ACCESS TO NATURAL OR IMMOBILIZING AGENTS IS LEGALLY RESTRICTED TO CONSTRUCTED SHELTER LICENSED VETERINARIANS AREAS WHICH PROVIDE AND OTHER AUTHORIZED PROTECTION FROM PERSONS WEATHER EXTREMES • FENCES MUST BE PROPERLY DESIGNED AND WELL MAINTAINED – HIGH ENOUGH TO PREVENT ESCAPE

9 BLUETONGUE AND EPIZOOTIC BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE

• ORBIVIRUSES • CHRONIC • DEER MORE • MICHIGAN • CULICOIDES MIDGE – OVERGROWN HOOF WALLS VECTOR – CRACKS IN HOOF WALL SUSCEPTIBLE THAN • MINNESOTA – SLOUGHING OF HOOVES CATTLE • WHITE-TAILED DEER, MULE • TB TESTING DEER, PRONGHORN • AEROSOL OR ORAL • PERACUTE/ACUTE – SWOLLEN FACE INGESTION – HYPEREMIC SKIN • ASSOCIATED WITH – DIARRHEA – HEMORRHAGES INFECTED CATTLE, – ORAL ULCERS HIGH DEER DENSITY, – RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SUPPLEMENTAL – LAMENESS – DEATH FEEDING

BRUCELLOSIS CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

• BRUCELLA ABORTUS, B. • SYNDROMES • PRION SUIS IN CARIBOU – ABORTION • SLOW PROGRESSIVE • SPECIES – RETAINED PLACENTA DEGENERATIVE – MOOSE – METRITIS CONDITION – ELK – ORCHITIS – RED DEER – EPIDIDYMITIS • WHITE-TAILED, MULE – WHITE-TAILED DEER • ASSOCIATED WITH CATTLE DEER, ELK, MOOSE – MULE DEER • GREATER YELLOWSTONE – FALLOW DEER AREA – SIKA DEER – SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING – CARIBOU