Undegradable dietary protein in alpaca diets affects fibre diameter and time spent urinating
K. E. Lund A , J. T. B. Milton A C , S. K. Maloney B , K. M. M. Glover A , J. L. Vaughan D and D. Blache A EA UWA Institute of Agriculture (Animal Production), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B School of Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Biology (M311), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Independent Lab Services, PO Box 244, Serpentine, WA 6125, Australia.
D Cria Genesis, PO Box 406, Ocean Grove, Vic. 3226, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: Dominique.Blache@uwa.edu.au
Animal Production Science 52(10) 959-963 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11367
Submitted: 22 December 2011 Accepted: 23 April 2012 Published: 16 July 2012
Abstract
There is evidence that alpacas derive most of their glucose for energy from the deamination of amino acids. Consequently, they may have an insufficient supply of amino acids to meet their requirements for fibre growth. To optimise fibre production, it may be necessary to supply alpacas with supplemental protein to meet their requirement for extra amino acids. In this study, we examined if the proportion of rumen-degradable dietary protein (RDP) to undegradable dietary protein (UDP) from canola meal influenced the fibre growth of alpacas. We hypothesised that alpacas fed at maintenance a diet containing canola meal protein high in UDP would produce more fibre and spend less time urinating than peers fed a similar amount of canola meal protein with a low proportion of UDP. Four groups of eight alpacas were fed diets with the following ratios of UDP : RDP: 0 : 100, 30 : 70, 60 : 40 or 100 : 0 from canola meal protein. The fibre growth of the animals was measured over 2 months and the behaviour of the animals in the two extreme groups (0 and 100% UDP) was measured over 5 days. The alpacas fed the 0% UDP diet produced fibre of finer diameter than the alpacas fed diets containing higher levels of UDP (P = 0.039) and the 0% UDP group also spent more time urinating (P = 0.027). This result suggests that alpacas may have a limited ability to recycle nitrogen to the fermentative chambers of their stomach when fed a diet low in UDP. Consequently, microbial protein synthesis in the fermentative chambers may have limited the supply of amino acids available to the alpacas.
References
Bach A, Calsamiglia S, Stern M (2005) Nitrogen metabolism in the rumen. Journal of Dairy Science 88, E9–E21.| Nitrogen metabolism in the rumen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Black J, Reis P (Eds) (1979) ‘Physiological and environmental limitations to wool growth.’ (The University of New England Publishing Unit: Sydney)
Davies HL, Robinson TF, Roeder BL, Sharp ME, Johnston NP, Christensen AC, Schaalje GB (2007) Digestibility, nitrogen balance, and blood metabolites in llama (Lama glama) and alpaca (Lama pacos) fed barley or barley alfalfa diets. Small Ruminant Research 73, 1–7.
| Digestibility, nitrogen balance, and blood metabolites in llama (Lama glama) and alpaca (Lama pacos) fed barley or barley alfalfa diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fysh G (Ed.) (2003) ‘Australian alpaca.’ (Australian Alpaca Association: Mitcham North, Vic.)
Genin D, Tichit M (1997) Degradability of Andean range forages in llamas and sheep. Journal of Range Management 50, 381–385.
| Degradability of Andean range forages in llamas and sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Genin D, Villca Z, Abasto P (1994) Diet selection and utilization by llama and sheep in a high altitude-arid rangeland in Bolivia. Journal of Range Management 47, 245–248.
| Diet selection and utilization by llama and sheep in a high altitude-arid rangeland in Bolivia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaneko J, Harvey J, Bruss M (Eds) (2008) ‘Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals.’ 6th edn. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA)
Licitra G, Hernandez T, Van Soest P (1996) Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds. Animal Feed Science and Technology 57, 347–358.
| Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Masters D, Mata G, Liu S (1999) The influence of type and timing of protein supplementation on wool growth and protein synthesis in the skin of young Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 497–502.
| The influence of type and timing of protein supplementation on wool growth and protein synthesis in the skin of young Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjslyjsLo%3D&md5=7c5456b08a19721e0e77ebd7075ee4fcCAS |
McDonald P, Edwards R, Greenhalgh J, Morgan C (2002) ‘Animal nutrition.’ 6th edn. (Pearson Education Limited: Harlow, England)
McGregor B (2006) Production, attributes and relative value of alpaca fleeces in southern Australia and implications for industry development. Small Ruminant Research 61, 93–111.
| Production, attributes and relative value of alpaca fleeces in southern Australia and implications for industry development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McIntyre K (1970) The effects of increased nitrogen intakes on plasma urea nitrogen and rumen ammonia levels in sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 21, 501–507.
| The effects of increased nitrogen intakes on plasma urea nitrogen and rumen ammonia levels in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Owen E, Smith J, Wright N (1943) Urea as a partial protein substitute in the feeding of dairy cattle. Biochemical Journal 37, 44–53.
Van Saun R (2006) Nutrient requirements of South American camelids: a factorial approach. Small Ruminant Research 61, 165–186.
| Nutrient requirements of South American camelids: a factorial approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Engelhardt W, Schneider W (1977) Energy and nitrogen metabolism in the llama. Animal Research and Development 5, 68–72.
