What? You use that animal for Ag?

1. What? You use that animal for Ag? AlternativeUses of Animals for Agriculture

2. Hello…Trivia Question… What do you think I am?

3. Yep! I’m a BISON, not a Buffalo…gotcha! Bodacious Bison • Member of the Bovidae family, genus Bison, species bison. • Bovidae family includes cattle, sheep, and goats. • The name “Buffalo” is often used for Bison, but is incorrect. Buffalo refers to a completely different animal.

4. Easily confused: From same family and look similar. • Bison are found primarily in N. America and Buffalo are found throughout Asia and Africa.

5. Uses of Buff Bison • Major purpose: Produces lean, red meat low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. • By-Products: Leather goods, wool, bones and horns. Leather is in demand for garments. • Heads, robes, and skulls are often used for decoration. • Shed their hair in the Spring of the year: Can be gathered and carded like lamb’s wool.

6. With their large, sharp horns, bison are formidable foes. During mating season, bulls fight for the right to breed with harems of cows, but rarely duel to the death.

7. Bison Fabulous Fast FactsNot on Guided Notes • Type: • Mammal • Diet: • Herbivore • Average life span in the wild: • 12 to 20 years • Size: • Head and body, 7 to 11.5 ft (2.1 to 3.5 m); Tail 19.75 to 23.5 in (50 to 60 cm) • Weight: • 930 to 2,200 lbs (422 to 998 kg) • Group name: • Herd • Did you know? • The bison's thick, shaggy coat is so well insulated that snow can settle on its back without melting. Go to http://animal.discovery.com/videos/jaws-and-claws-2-bison-clash.html for a video on Bison from Yellowstone National Park. Entitled: Jaws and Claws: Bison Clash

8. Bison By-Productsgo to www.silverbison.com for picturesPage not on guided notes • Dream Catcher made of Bison fur $495 • Full mounted Head and Cape $2000 • Bison Leather in colors $12 / sq. foot • Bison horns $20, Jaw bones with teeth $20 • Leather for Drum covers: prices varies • Bison meat snack stick 1oz stick $2.00 • Bison Jerky $3 for 2 oz pack • Painted Bison Skull $450.00`

9. Raising Rambunxious Ratites • Group of flightless birds that include ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary, and kiwi. • Breastbone is flat, lacking the shape of birds that fly. • Serious interest in raising them in the U.S. started in the mid 1980s. • During 1st 10 years…have been in breeding phase.

10. Ratite Industry Growth: • Prices for breeding stock were very high during the breeder phase. • By mid 1990s, the industry moved toward a slaughter and product production phase. • Products include meat, leather, oil, feathers and other by-products. • Meat is promoted as a low-fat, low – cholesterol red meat.

11. Unique Uses Continued… • Hides are used for leather products used in shoes, boots, coats, belts, purses, wallets, and briefcases. • Emu Oil is produced form the fat and is used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. • Feathers are used in fashion, costuming, and feather dusters. • Egg shells and toenails are used in arts and crafts.

12. Ratites: The Obnoxious Ostrich These are not my real teeth because I don’t have any! These are Canine teeth! • Largest bird in existence. • Mature ostriches are 7 to 9 feet in height and weigh from 200 to 350 lbs. • Can run up to 30 to 50 miles / hour. • Use for both feathers and meat production. • Eggs weigh from 3 to 5 lbs.

13. Oh…The Ostrich Egg

14. Ratites: Even an Emu • Second largest bird in existence • Mature birds are 5 to 6 feet • Weigh from 125 to 150 lbs. • Have 6-7 dark green eggs.

15. Ratites: Really a Rhea • Similar in appearance to Ostrich, but smaller and has three toes instead of two. • Found in Argentina and Brazil • Weighs only 44 to 55lbs. • Can run fast! • Eggs are collected for food. • Many people eat their meat.

16. Ratites: Catch a Cassowary • 4 to 6 feet • No plumage or feathers on head • Skin is brightly colored blue, red, and yellow. • In natural habitat they are found in a forest as opposed to plains.

17. Cassawaries have very sharp nails! Warning: Do not try this at home… only trained Agriculture Teachers allowed!

18. Ratites: Keeping up with Kiwi • Small birds, similar to chickens in size. Native to New Zealand. Only breeds naturally there. • Long, slender bill. Rare! Valued for their feathers to make cloaks. They live 25 to 30 yrs!

19. Krazy Kiwi Facts! Kiwi birds are extremely unique in the bird world. Though they are the size of chickens, they lay eggs the size of ostrich eggs, weighing around a pound each. Their enormous eggs are the largest in the bird world, in proportion to their bodies. These birds were named after their distinctive shrill cry "kee-wee kee-wee". www.powayusd.com/teachers/kjain/Gallery/Zoos/ZR/.../kiwi.html

20. Llamas and AlpacasWhat’s the Difference? • Camelidae family originated in N. America • Llamas are used as pack animals, fiber production, guard animals for sheep herds, pets and show animals. • Alpacas are not usually used as pack animals but are valued for their wool. I’m a baby llama!

21. Below you can really see the difference between Llamas (on right) and Alpacas (on left)

22. Characteristics of Lovely Llamas • Wool color is usually white, but may be black, sometimes shades of beige, brown, red or roan. • Ave weight is 280 to 450 lbs. • Stand 5.5 to 6 ft. tall. • Lifespan is 20 to 25 years.

23. Look at the Llamas!

24. A Llama overlooks Macchu Pichu ancient ruins in Peru

25. General Characteristics of Awesome Alpacas • 22 Distinct natural colors! • Used mainly for their fleece. • Ave. weight is 100 to 175 lbs. • About ½ the size of llamas.

26. Alpacas come in MANY colors!

27. Awe…AndAgain…Alpacas

28. Exquisite Elk • Members of deer family. • Bred for meat, by-products, and breeding stock. • Primarily raised for the Velvet on their antlers. - It can be harvested and used for medicines - A mature elk produces 30 to 40lbs of velvet annually.

29. Alternative Animal Assignment: • Imagine you are opening up your own new business of the animals you just learned about. You have to create a brochure to promote the use of your Alternative Livestock animals. • Using a Plain White piece of paper, create a brochure that has catchy titles like the ones throughout the presentation and that includes basic information about your assigned animal (Bison, Llamas and Alpacas, Ratites, Elk) the uses and characteristics of the animals. • Include pictures (draw them) to show the products that come from each animal. If magazines are available you can cut out pictures and glue them on. • Supplies needed: Markers, White Paper, Magazines, Glue