Research Results - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

author found noticeable differences between selection is not quantified, it may lead to apparalpacas
and sheep, with alpacas exhibiting ently higher digestion coefficients in selector
higher digestion coefficients. Others reported animals.
higher digestion coefficients for llamas than
sheep, while another reported no differences Another reason for discrepancies may be
(San Martin and Bryant, 1989). the quality of feed used. Our research shows
that in diets with less than 7.5% crude protein
Discrepancies in digestibility between (Table 1), differences between alpacas and sheep
species might be attributed to animal selectivity were greater than when dietary crude protein
not taken into account in some experiments. A was above 10.5%. Greater digestion coefficients
Texas Tech graduate student reported greater were reported for llamas than sheep on low and
selectivity in sheep than alpacas. Van Soest medium quality diets, but digestion coefficients
(1982) noted that feed portions refused by were similar between llamas and sheep on high
selector animals usually were more lignified. If quality diets (Table 2).
Table 1. Comparative mean digestion coefficients in alpacas and sheep in relation to
protein level in the feed.
Index Dietary crude protein
10.5%
N N
trials Alpaca Sheep trials Alpaca Sheep
Dry matter 7 63.7 56.0 9 60.8 62.0
Crude protein 5 42.1 36.1 9 60.0 61.9
Crude fiber 9 67.7 61.9 9 57.5 58.5
Table 2. Digestibility coefficients (%)in llamas and sheep in relation to dietary quality.
Digestion coefficients Quality Overall mean
Low Medium High Llama Sheep
Llama Sheep Llama Sheep Llama Sheep
Organic matter 51 41 60 52 73 75 62 56
Neutral detergent fiber 43 33 43 32 40 40 42 35
Acid detergent fiber 47 42 40 34 46 41 44 39
Crude protein 24 19 38 37 68 73 43 43
Low: 7% crude protein (CP) and 2.2 Mcal digestible energy/kg dry matter. Medium:
11% CP and 2.8 Mcal DE/kg DM. High: 15% CP and 3.2 Mcal DE/kg DM.
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