Although Blaschke Exotics specializes in Axis Deer and Blackbuck Antelope, we also feature a wide variety of other non-deer or antelope species. Although the only animals we guarantee to have in stock are Axis and Blackbuck, we often have exotic sheep and goats, as well as llamas, wild boar, peccaries, camels and ratites. The animals below are just a small sampling of the livestock we deal in. If we don't have any on hand, we can acquire whatever animals you need in a relatively short period through our extensive contacts in the exotics industry. Just tell us what you're looking for, and we'll get it for you. Blaschke Exotics will work with you to fulfill your unique needs.
Buffalo
Great herds of Buffalo, also know as American Bison, roamed North America from Canada to Texas in huge numbers -- 30-75 million animals -- before mass slaughter in the 19th century drove them to the brink of extinction. By 1880 only a mere handful of 800 or so Buffalo remained. Due to conservations efforts, however, their numbers have rebounded significantly. No longer endangered, today more than 200,000 Buffalo live on private ranches, state and national parks, with their numbers steadily increasing. They graze almost exclusively on grasses. Bulls are huge animals, weighing more than a ton and standing six feet high or more at the shoulder. Their coat color varies from black to light brown, and, in extremely rare cases, white. All Buffalo have large, wooly heads and a massive hump over their shoulders, with narrow hips. Both sexes have short, hollow horns that curve upward. Bulls can be aggressive, are agile for their size and can attain speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Currently, many captive herds are not "pure breed" Buffalo, instead having some "Beefalo" genetics from past matings with domestic cattle. Raised as livestock, Buffalo produce excellent meat. A three ounce piece of Buffalo meat contains 1.8 grams of fat, 43 milligrams of cholesterol and 93 calories, compared to 8.7 grams of fat, 55 milligrams of cholesterol and 183 calories in the same serving of beef.
Zebra
One of the most easily recognizable animals in the world due to their striking black-and-white
striping, Zebras are close relatives of the horse. There are three species of Zebra in the world
today -- the Plains Zebra, Grevy's Zebra and the Mountain Zebra -- with more than half a dozen
subspecies. In the wild, due to poaching and habitat destruction, all species of Zebra are
threatened, and several subspecies have gone extinct in the last century. Grevy's Zebras come
from the semi-desert of northern Kenya, extending into Ethiopia and Somalia. It is the largest of
the Zebra species, standing up to 57 inches at the shoulder and weighing in close to 900 pounds.
It sports narrow stripes aligned tightly, extending all the way to the hooves. The belly is white,
and the black dorsal stripe is framed in white. They are long-legged and slender, having large
ears, a longish, bristly mane and a distinctive bray. Foals are kept together in small groups
guarded by territorial stallions. They mature early, grazing regularly at six weeks of
age.
The Plains Zebra (pictured above and at left) is the most common of living Zebra species,
ranging throughout the savannahs of southern and eastern Africa.
It is stockier than the Grevy's Zebra, standing 55 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 660
pounds. Plains Zebra make a barking sound that is unlike the neigh of a horse. The stallions
collect mares in a breeding herd, and are very posessive of them. It sports broad vertical stripes
on its sides that curve around to become horizontal across the rump. The stripes on the sides
continue into the short, bristly mane and under the belly. The Grant's Zebra subspecies is the
most common Zebra in captivity. And although Zebra and domestic horses are separate species,
they can crossbreed as horses and donkeys, the offspring being an odd hybrid mule known
as a "Zedonk." Plains Zebra are the most common Zebra involved in the rare cross, and Zedonks
have no real value, other than that of a curiosity. Mountain Zebras are the smallest of the Zebra
species, reaching only 52 inches at the shoulder. Their most distinctive feature, apart from their
stripes, is a dewlap that hangs from their neck. They do not form large herds like other Zebra
species. Exterminated ruthlessly as pests by cattle ranchers for more than a centruy, Mountain
Zebras are the most endangered of the three species. Of the two Mountain Zebra subspecies,
fewer than 7,000 Hartmann's Zebra remain in the wild, and of the other subspecies, the Cape
Mountain Zebra, perhaps only 400 remain.
Llama
Closely related to camels, alpacas and vicuņas, llama are native to the Andes Mountains of South America. Domesticated more than 4,000 years ago as pack animals and a source of wool, they are one of the earliest livestock raised by humans. Like camels, they have a two-toed padded foot which allows them to cross rough terrain with ease. In the wild they browse and graze on a wide variety of plants, but in captivity eat a mixture of hay and grains, requiring little protein due to their efficient three-part stomach. They chew their cud like cattle, and will spit if annoyed of threatened. Llamas are modified ruminants with a three-compartment stomach. Generally docile around people, they mix well with other livestock (especially sheep), and have been successfully used to guard sheep from predators. Unlike other exotic livestock, llamas will stay within 4-5 foot fencing, and do not need 8-foot game-proof containment. Barbed wire is not recommended, however, as it can injure them and snag their wool. Today they are raised mainly for their wool, which can come in a variety of colors (indeed, many llamas are bred for their unique coloration). The wool is composed of hollow fibers, which provides excellent insulation, making it warmer than sheep wool.
Javalina
Ranging from the Southwestern United States to the southernost tip of Argentina, the
Javalina, or Collared Peccary as it is properly known, is one of the most numerous and
widespread peccary species. Closely related to the various pig and wild boar species, this
peccary was given its common name of Javelina (meaning javelin) by Spanish explorers in
reference to its sharp tusks. It prefers forests and scrubland where there is flenty of forage, and is
quite at home in the dry desert regions of south and west Texas. Javelinas form small herds of
15-25 animals, can live for up to 24 years and feed on grass, roots, leaves, acorns and nuts and
just about anything they come across -- Javelinas are not picky eaters. Not anywhere near as
violent and aggressive as their reputations suggest, they are still quite territorial, and like all
swine, can fight viciously when threatened and deliver nasty wounds with its tusks. Javelina are
generally grey to black in color, with their bristly coat
displaying distinctive salt-and-pepper patterning. A significantly lighter band runs from under
its neck up across its shoulders, forming a "collar." Javelina have glands on their back and
preorbital glands on their face which produce a musky-smelling oil. Smaller than most domestic
swine, Javelinas weigh between 30-70 pounds. They may stand up to 20 inches at the shoulder
and grow up to 42 inches long.
Mouflon Sheep
A relatively small sheep, Mouflon are native to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia,
Malta and Cyprus, among others. Overhunting and habitat loss has endangered the Mouflon
in its native range, but the species flourishes in Europe and America where it has been
introduced. Mouflon sheep stand 28 inches at the shoulder on average, and have rusty coats
with white underparts. Mouflon horns have broad, curving horns that point forward with
outward-turning tips.
Aoudad Sheep
Aoudad Sheep, also known as Barbary Sheep, are native to the dry mountain ranges of North
Africa. They adapt readily to the Texas climate, and large wild populations flourish in the
Palo Duro Canyon region. A survey in 1989 estimated a statewide population of more
than 20,000 Aoudad in Texas. A large sheep, both rams and ewes have heavy horns curving
outward, backward, then inward, reaching a length of 19-32 inches--although the ewes' horns are
smaller. The upper part of the coat is generally a grayish brown, with longer hair growing from
the chest, upper front legs and and throat. Rams can weigh up to 320 pounds, and ewes up to 145
pounds. Aoudad are well-adapted to arid conditions, and can go long periods without
fresh water. They climb steep surfaces with ease, and eat a wide variety of grasses and
shrubs.
Black Hawaiian
The Black Hawaiian breed of sheep originated, naturally, on the Hawaiian islands. They have a thick black coat, and are usually black all over although some will occasionally sport a white muzzel. Ewes weigh in at 40 pounds and up while large rams can tip the scales at 125 pounds or more. Only the rams have horns, which are ridged and grow outward in a classic spiral. They stick to shade in the heat of the day and graze in the cooler morning and evening hours.
Ibex
There are several different species of ibex -- Alpine (or European), Nubian (or Arabian), Siberian (or Asiatic) and walia (or Abyssinian). In Texas, the most common "ibex" is the Iranian ibex, which is not a true ibex, although they are closely related enough to allow interbreeding. A cousin species is the Spanish ibex, which, like the Iranian and the "true" ibex species, can interbreed with domestic and wild goats. Hybrids are quite common, and some crosses have become well-enough established to earn the designation of "Texas ibex." Of the true ibex in the United States, the Alpine ibex is the most common. The Alpine ibex is quite plentiful in European mountain ranges, despite centuries of heavy
pressure from hunters, where they feed on grasses and some woody plants. The alpine ibex is
instantly recognizable for its magnificent, sabre-shaped horns, which are found in both sexes.
They curve upward and bend towards the rear, reaching lengths of up to 40 inches in bucks and
14 inches for does. The Alpine ibex's coloring changes from light brown in the summer to a
darker, richer brown over the winter. In general, the Alpine ibex is much darker in color than it's
endangered cousin, the Nubian ibex. The Alpine ibex can grow to a length of nearly 70 inches,
larger specimins stand at just over three feet at the shoulder. They may weight anywhere from 80
to 270 pounds. The coat lenght is seasonally variable, going from a long, thick wool in the
winter to short and fuzzy in the summer. The females congregate in herds of 10-20 animals,
while the males are usually solitary. Significantly smaller than the Alpine Ibex, the Nubian Ibex
claims a historic range spanning the
Atlas mountains of Northern Africa to the Middle East. Nubuian Ibex are considered
endangered, and their numbers have dwindled in their native African range. The largest
populations exist today in preserves and exotic wildlife ranches, with less than 1,200 animals
remaining in the wild. The Nubian Ibex seldom exceeds 50 inches in length and 30 inches at the
shoulder. Their horns are similar to those of the Alpine Ibex, though smaller, growing to 48
inches, and have 24-36 knobs on the outer curve. The females' horns seldom exceed 14 inches.
They weigh between 50 and 160 pounds and are the only ibex adapted to survive in arid, desert
regions. Unlike most desert animals, though, they drink water often, and subsist on a diet of
grasses and leaves. They are generally a light, sandy brown in color with the bucks sporting a
dark stripe on their front legs as well as their back, but the bucks do darken during
rut.
Dromedary Camel
The Dromedary Camel originated in Northern Africa and the Middle East, but are no longer
found in the wild, having been completely domesticated. The Dromedary has a single hump,
which it stores fat in, stands 6-7 feet tall and is 10 feet long. They weigh 1,000-1,500 pounds,
and have long, thin legs that end in twin toes that have tough, broad pads underneath. The coat is
beige and wooly, but is shorter than that of the two-humped Bactrian Camel. Their eyelids are
heavily lashed, their nostrils slitted and ears hairy due to desert adaptations. Able to eat a wide
array of desert plants, Dromedary Camels usually eat hay and grains as livestock. Prior to the
U.S. Civil War, camels were introduced into West Texas as part of Cavalry experiments, and
they established feral populations. After the war, these wild camels were hunted to
exinction.
Bactrian Camel
The Bactrian Camel originates from the Gobi Desert and Mongolia, where it lives in the harsh,
arid hills, steppes and saltpans. Like it's cousin, the Dromedary Camel, Bactrian Camels have
been domesticated for thousands of years for its wool, meat, milk and dung (which is burned as a
fuel source). Unlike the Dromedary, there are still a few wild Bactrian herds in existance,
although their numbers are less than 500 and are classified as endangered -- but there are more
than a million domesticated Bactrians. Highly adapted, the Bactrian has broad, padded feet for
walking on shifting sands, heavily lashed eyes and closeable nostrils for protection during sand
storms, and a shaggy annual coat for the frigid Gobi winters. They can grow to a length of nearly
12 feet, stand taller than seven feet at the shoulder and weigh between 660-1,500 pounds.
Bactrians eat any type of
vegetation, and can drink more than 25 gallons of water in 10 minutes -- be it fresh or salty.
They will gorge themselves when they can, storing excess fat in the distinctive twin humps on
their backs. Although separate species, the Bactrian and Dromedary Camels can interbreed.
The resulting offspring has a single, elongated hump that extends the length of its back.
