Serum and urine analyte comparison between llamas and alpacas fed three forages
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Animal Science - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 11
Abstract
Serum and urine analytes were measured in 4 healthy adult llama and alpaca geldings housed in metabolism crates and fed three diets consisting of alfalfa (AH), barley (BH) or grass (GH) hay and water ad libitum. This comparative study was conducted to determine if differences exist in serum metabolites and urinary indices in llamas and alpacas consuming the same forages of differing protein and carbohydrate quality. Daily feed intake was determined and concurrent serum and urine samples were obtained at 4-hr intervals on d13 and d14 for analysis of electrolytes, urea N, and creatinine. AH was consumed more than BH or GH by both species, but llamas consumed more forage on both a body weight (BW) and metabolic BW (MBW, kg.75) basis. Serum electrolytes were similarly affected by diet between species, indicating that renal homeostatic mechanisms were functional and analogous in llamas and alpacas. Serum and urine urea N were affected by forage (P<0.05). Urine volume was highest for both camelid species when consuming AH (P<0.05). Mean urine electrolyte excretion only differed by diet. Dissimilarities between these species was evidenced by differences in renal excretion of urea N and differences in urine volume on a MBW (kg.75) basis.
Authors and Affiliations
T. F. Robinson*| Brigham Young University, USA., B. L. Roeder| Brigham Young University, USA.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP705
- DOI 10.14196/sjas.v3i11.1752
- Views 471
- Downloads 21
Nutrient and cell wall fraction digestibility of growing WAD ewe fed Mexican sunflower leaf meal (MSLM) based diets
After a previous 84-d performance phase on growing WAD ewe, Studies was conducted using sixteen West African dwarf (WAD) ewe-lambs weighing between 17.50 and 17.88kg on a basal diet of Panicum maximum were allotted int...
Effect of supplementing graded level of poultry litter and wheat bran on performance of Abergelle bucks
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the appropriate level of poultry litter and wheat bran ration supplementation on feed intake, body weight gain and cost benefit analysis of Abergelle bucks fed on a grass hay...
Effects of Goldfish (Carassius auratus) and Roach (Rutilus rutilus) extracts on the growth indexes and survival rate of
In order to investigate the effect of extracts of Goldfish and Roachextracts on the food acceptability of giant sturgeon fingerlings (Huso huso),an experiment for about a month was carried out in the Aquaculture Resear...
Comparative production per formance evaluation of exotic and indigenous chickens under farmers management practice in Tigray, Northen Ethiopia
Potchefstroom koekoek chickens were introduced with the objective to evaluate production performance and compare with indigenous chickens and to evaluate their egg production cost under farmers management practice. A to...
Influence of stage of lactation on quantitative and qualitative milk production parameters in goats
Goat lactation is synonymous to an agricultural production function with three distinct production regions namely: early, mid and late lactation. It is characterised by an increase in milk yield in early lactation to a...