Data for daily activity and social behaviour of Hungarian alpacas at spring
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17205/SZIE.AWETH.2015.1.32Keywords:
alpaca, daily activity, behaviourAbstract
This article provides data for daily activity and social behaviour of alpacas (mare: n = 6; stallion: n = 4), based on observations at April. Our goal was to observe the occurrences and proportion of the behaviour elements at different parts of the day. In addition, reactions of the animals to the extreme environmental factors (heavy rain, very strong wind) were also recorded. Recordings of a security camera were used to collect data at a Hungarian alpaca farm. Using the security camera, we could observe the animals without external interference. Current behaviour of the animals was recorded 4 times on each day of April. There is only few numbers of literatures about behavioural studies of alpacas. Therefore, it was important to record all the interesting events, which were occurred during the investigation. Based on our results one can tell, that the proportion of grazing behaviour (41-51% in average of both sexes), proportion of resting/ruminating behaviour (15-22% in average of both sexes) and proportion of moving behaviour (17-27% in average of both sexes) was the highest during the investigated month. Highest proportion of grazing behaviour was observed in the morning and midday period at both sexes. Further and similar studies need to define the daily rhythm of the animals in other seasons, too.
References
Altizio, B. A. (1998): Llamas and Alpacas. Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension, NJAES, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Desktop publishing by Rutgers-Cook College Resource Center
Brehm, A. (1992): Az állatok világa – Emlősök. Kassák Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 216–242.
Charry, A. A., Kemp, D. R., Lawrie, J. W. (2003): Alpacas and ecosystems management. 14th International Farm Management Congress, Perth, Western Australia, August 10–15, 2003.
Czakó, J. (1974): Gazdasági állatok viselkedése. Mezőgazdasági Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 102–103.
Gere, T., Csányi, V. (2001): Gazdasági állatok viselkedése: Általános etológia. Mezőgazdasági Szaktudás Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 172–173.
McGregor, B. A. (2002): Comparative productivity and grazing behaviour of Huacaya alpacas and Peppin Merino sheep grazed on annual pastures. Small Ruminant Research, 44(3) 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4488(02)00050-0
Paulo, J. L. de Albuquerque, Lopes, F. de Araújo (2014): Daily activity patterns of Saneen goats in the semi-arid northeast of Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 43(9) 464–470. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982014000900002
Pekli, J. (szerk.) (2005): Trópusi és Szubtrópusi Állattenyésztéstan 2. Második, átdolgozott kiadás, Gödöllő, pp. 158–173.
Prágai, A. (2010): Javaslat alpakák takarmányának összetételére egy hazai vadasparkban. Gödöllő, diplomadolgozat
Prágai, A., Kovács, A. (2013): Az alpaka gyapjú felhasználási lehetőségei a gyapjúiparban. Animal welfare, etológia és tartástechnológia, 9(3) 310–314.
Sheets, T. (2006): Alpacas - A getting started guide. 50. p.
Internet I.: British Alpaca Society honlapja – http://www.bas-uk.com/
Internet II.: A Magyar Alpaka Kft. honlapja - http://alpaca.hu/
Internet III.: Időkép.hu – http://www.idokep.hu
Internet IV.: Eumet.hu – http://www.eumet.hu
Internet V.: Wild Hair Alpacas LLC honlapja – http://www.wildhairalpacas.com
Internet VI.: Alpaca Owners Association Inc - http://www.alpacainfo.com/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2015 Bodnár Ákos, Nagy Máté Farkas, Faragó Loretta Barbara, Pajor Ferenc
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
