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Optimizing Llama Nutrition
Weigh Facts Against Opinions
By Dr. Norm Evans, DVM.
“Anyone can feed, but nutrition requires some effort.”
Would you like to hear some strong opinions on llama nutrition?
Ask llama owners, university camelid specialists, and representatives
of well-known feed companies.
Among owners, there are concerns about feeding that regularly
surface, including cost per bag, prevention of choking, protein
level, and amounts of copper and selenium. Regardless of the
other career successes suri llama owners have enjoyed, few
possess previous experience in providing balanced nutrition
for birthing healthy herds of animals. For that matter, many
veterinarians have had limited opportunity to be involved
with camelid nutrition.
It is crucial to realize that camelids, like humans and every
other species, have different nutritional needs based upon
their daily activity, size and use. Llamas that are kept relatively
free of parasites and disease can survive nicely on a variety
of diets. Indeed, most camelids can exist and enjoy many different
foods just like humans, but much of what they eat and the
quantity consumed can cause problems over time.
A Miracle of Balance
The camelid body, like that of humans and all other mammals,
is a miracle of nearly 40 vitamins and minerals in unique
balance. Nutrients utilized by the body must be replaced.
Otherwise, imbalances and deficiencies will occur, resulting
in compromised long-term health and productivity.
It is not unusual for someone with a track record of success
in business to seek the “best feed deal” on the
market. But, since lower prices often equate with lower quality,
herd nutrition may suffer. To quote Dr. David Anderson, “Too
often, nutrition is equated with feed alone.” Dr. Anderson
believes one must think carefully about how nutrition is fed,
whether one is using individual feeders, bulk feeders, or
free choice troughs. Then, too, attention must be paid to
how feed is stored, the animals’ access to the feed
through the feeding hierarchy, and the animals’ utilization
of the feed. This last takes into consideration fine-ground
grain versus high-fiber roughage.
Particular Attention to Suris
Suri llamas are particularly susceptible to these factors
because of their social structure, and unfortunately, the
lack of livestock experience of many owners can result in
problems. If we want suris to stay healthy and perform at
maximum efficiency, we need to provide quality nutrition that
specifically addresses their needs.
Owners actively breeding, raising, and showing their suri
llamas must supply the nutrition to replenish the depleted
mineral void in forages. I believe this requires a program
combining forage, hay, vitamin-mineral mixes, and a high quality
supplement. Pasture, hay and fresh water are the major nutritional
factors to be considered for all classes of camelids. This
analysis is necessary before we concern ourselves with the
levels of copper, selenium and zinc present in a bag of supplement.
We must then determine the animal’s use. Males, geldings
and animals that are growing, breeding, gestating and lactating
have different nutritional needs. The ambient temperatures
also affect nutritional needs. Extremes of heat and humidity
as well as extreme cold often necessitate nutritional changes.
Dr. Evans' Recommended Protocol Consists of Six
Main Points
- Know your suri llama’s use and needs.
- Know the source of the nutrients; that is, water, pasture,
hay, vitamins, minerals, supplements.
- Balance the nutrients deficient in the tested forage.
- Frame score and body score all adults and supplement
accordingly.
- Weigh, keep records and be aware of seasonal gains and
losses.
- Always supplement per feed tag directions to avoid toxic
levels of copper, selenium, etc.
The Fine Points of Forage
Forage can be either grass pasture or hay and should make
up at least 80 percent by weight of the camelid diet for maintenance,
and at least 70 percent of the diet for late gestation and
lactation. For breeding suri llamas, this could equate to
3.5 to 4.5 pounds of 10-12 percent crude protein grass hay.
If you have smaller framed animals, use the low end; for larger
framed (not obese) animals, use the higher end.
Grass pasture is one form of forage usually offered free
choice, since that is the way it is done in South America.
Pasture is great because it is usually 60-80 percent water
depending on the region and season. Hay is about 10 percent
moisture; therefore an animal has to eat about five to seven
times more weight in pasture than hay to get the same dry
matter food value. A suri llama may consume 15 to 18 pounds
of pasture daily. I ask all owners to consider the difference
between South American pastures or range and the pastures
of the average North American suri llama farm. Pastures are
more vitamin-rich than hay, likely more tasty, and if allowed
free choice, will often cause obesity.
Many lush pastures are 18-25 percent protein in spring and
early summer, but those same pastures may be only four to
six percent protein in late summer and fall. Other factors
like the stocking rate per acre, fertilization and irrigation
will affect the lushness and abundance of forage available.
Llamas gain much more weight from free choice high-quality
pasture grass and hay than from a controlled high-fiber chow
intake. Camelid owners need to realize that 400-pound beef
calves often gain 1.5 to 2.0 pounds per head per day by pasturing
good forage. Llamas gain 0.25-0.33 pounds per day, which equals
2.0 pounds per week or 8.0 pounds per month.
Llama pasture should be built from mixed grasses suited to
the region. All llama pastures should be well drained to avoid
wet areas, which encourage parasite infestation. Pastures
should be well fenced to provide protection from predators
and arranged to provide stress-free access to a work area.
Camelids do well on orchard grass, brome grass, and endophyte-resistant
fescues.
About Those Supplements
While choice of supplementation is sometimes based on appearance,
price and convenience, serious breeders will choose supplements
that address their primary goals of fertility, milking ability,
and healthy cria.
Unfortunately, I have found that some owners and veterinarians
believe that weight gain comes only out of a bag and that
obesity can be addressed by cutting back on supplementation
to take weight off. A few owners, with the “help”
of a cattle nutritionist utilize their local feed mill to
make up a 500-1,000 pound mix of corn, oats, and barley plus
a cattle pack of vitamins A, D, E and selenium. Most cattle
are fed for gain, and although these owners are well intentioned,
in reality they are guilty of promoting harmful weight gain
and ulcers.
Corn, oats and barley (COB) are a ready source of total daily
nutrition (TDN) and energy, but readily turn to fat if not
needed by the body. COB contains little fiber and can be a
factor in stomach acidosis and ulceration when not supplied
in a high fiber vehicle.
Other species, such as cattle, consume more poundage of less
dense supplement because their main mission is weight gain.
But ideal camelid nutrition must address the llama’s
depleted minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and
zinc. Without proper supplementation, there will be nutrient
starvation and liver failure because of lack of energy, vitamins
and minerals in the hay.
A professionally formulated llama or alpaca supplement, fed
according to tag directions, contains less than 10 percent
corn, oats and barley and will address most voids in the forage
without causing weight gain. Feed made in small, soft pellets
or crumbles will reduce choking concerns.
The Value of Vitamin-Mineral Mixes
Vitamin-mineral mixes (often called supplements, salts, or
blends) are a good nutritional management tool, especially
for those llamas lower in the social hierarchy. But regardless
of what they are called, they are worthless if not consumed.
They must be freshly available, replenished twice a week,
and palatable. Suri llamas consume an average 0.40 ounces
per head per day. Even if consumed at the maximum, the mixes
can only supply about 20 - 30 percent of the daily needs or
voids in the forages.
I strongly advise using mixes specifically formulated for
camelids rather than sheep or cattle preparations. These camelid
mixes are formulated to provide the maximum density of vitamin
E, selenium, zinc and other minerals necessary to fine-tune
their needs. A camelid vitamin-mineral blend containing 70
parts per million of selenium and consumed at a level of at
least 0.40 ounces per day is mandatory to complement most
professional camelid supplements manufactured after May, 2005.
Avoiding Problems
Breeders with 10-15 years experience are losing animals due
to malnutrition. Most of my practice is now spent attempting
to correct liver problems, leg problems, reproductive problems
and neonatal problems due to poor nutrition. In many cases
these problems can be avoided. Our depleted soils are void
of several minerals while toxic in others. By implementing
a program of testing early in your suri llama venture, you
can eliminate excesses and supplement voids in the forage.
Special nutritional consideration must be given to imported
animals and new purchases. Social structures associated with
the constant changing of paddocks and commingling often result
in some timid animals not getting the feed they need. Not
eating creates a negative energy imbalance resulting in fatty
liver disease, ulcers and death. There is a key factor in
all of this: attentive, sensitive care and good management
keep all new animals eating and drinking.
Have You Done Your Homework?
Are all these suggestions absolutely necessary? No. Camelids
can adapt and survive under many conditions. My primary mission
is to produce and maintain the healthiest camelid possible
based on the environment, forage deficiencies and stresses
that my clients’ animal endure. Know the facts by testing
the forage and supplements. Know your llamas and how they
feed and factor in their size, need and use. Some feed companies
are producing supplements that will provide for your suri
llama’s needs. Some companies are just producing pretty
feeds. Don’t settle for opinion when it comes to nutrition.
Do your homework and get the facts!
Norm Evans, DVM, has worked with camelids for twenty
years. With a previous background in large animal medicine,
he brought to the industry an interest in health, nutrition,
and reproductive problems. Observations of the available
forages, feeds and vitamin-mineral products used by owners
have been his primary focus. These observations have formed
his opinions regarding llama health and fiber production.
Stresses encountered and the resulting effect on blood values,
as they relate to herd health and management, has been a
major interest. His present focus is the improvement of
fiber through genetics.
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