LSIRD NAPLIO CONFERENCE POSTERS

USE OF SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS FOR MANAGEMENT OF EUROPEAN LANDSCAPES AND POSSIBLE ANIMAL WELFARE PROBLEMS

Martina Gerken

South American camelids may be successfully used for management of European landscapes. Compared with more common farm animal species used for similar purposes they possess several special properties. Their impact on natural soils is favourable due to their relatively low body weight (alpacas 55-80 kg and llamas 110-150 kg). Their padded feet are broad thus the direct damage to plants and soil is lower than in sheep or cattle. Due to their digital cushions and their special drinking behaviour damages to natural river borders are rare. As animals use common dung piles the risk of direct water pollution by excrements is low.

On the other hand special welfare problems may arise:

1. Fencing. Fencing must be adequate in order to avoid escape and damage of animals. In particular, stray dogs and foxes may cause panic in the animals.

2. Protection from climatic extremes. Permanent free access to some shelter is recommended. animals can adopt very well to harsh winter but require an intact fleece. Heat stress on the other hand seems to be more severe to these species than cold stress.

3. Shearing. Shearing should be carefully timed with climatic changes. Fleece growth and properties are different from sheep. Studies with infrared thermography have revealed large differences between shorn and intact animals over a long time period. In llamas considerable natural hair shedding may occur and biannual shearing appears to be sufficient in order to avoid heat stress.

4. Provision of sandbathing facilities. For cleaning of fleece and skin animals show elaborated body rolling behaviour patterns in loose dry material (earth/sand). If such sites are missing, animals may create their own bathing place by local destruction of the natural vegetation.

Prof. Martina Gerken
Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik,
Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3,
D-37075 Göttingen,
Germany