Degradation parameters of amaranth, barley and quinoa in alpacas fed grass hay

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the compartment 1 (C1) characteristics of alpacas (fistulated male, 7 ± 1.5 years old, 61 ± 5 kg BW) fed grass hay (GH) supplemented with amaranth (AM), quinoa (Q) and barley (B) grains. Alpacas were provided water ad libitum while housed in metabolism crates. The GH and GH plus treatments were fed at 0700 every day. Treatment periods were for 14 days in which GH or GH plus one of the grain treatments were randomly allocated. On day 14, volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N) were determined at 1, 3, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 24 h post-feeding. C1 degradation of each feed component was also determined with the alpacas being fed GH only and the samples incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 14, 24, 48 and 72 h. Dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) were determined and were divided into three categories: a = immediately soluble; b = the non-soluble but degradable; and u = non-degradable/unavailable, potential extent of degradation (PE), degradation rate (c) and effective degradation (ED). C1 passage rate was determined using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker and was calculated to be 5.5%∙h-1. Total DM intake was highest (p < 0.05) for B and resulted in a higher (p< 0.05) CP intake. GH and AM were different in mean pH (6.81 and 6.66, respectively). B NH3 -N was greater (p < 0.05) than the other treatments. Total VFA was greatest (p < 0.05) for AM, with the greatest composition differences being a shift form acetate percentage to butyrate. DM, NDF and CP degradation was different across the treatments, where PE and ED were higher (p < 0.05) for the grain treatments. The pseudo-grains AM and Q had similar C1 degradation characteristics to B.

Bacterial Communities in the Alpaca Gastrointestinal Tract Vary With Diet and Body Site

“…The previously reported mean pHs conferred by the different dietary supplements were above the levels associated with detrimental effects (pH 6.81, 6.66, 6.78, 6.78 and 6.65 for MGH-, A-, B-, Q- and S – fed alpacas, respectively). Feed composition, including dry matter, ash, N, and fibre, was also reported previously (Nilsen et al, 2015). Three hours post-feeding on day 14 of each treatment period, C1 samples were collected through the fistula using a rumen sampler tube (#RT Rumen Fluid Sampler Tube, Bar Diamond, Inc., Parma, ID, United States), which filtered large plant debris but permitted retention of particulates in the sample.…”

“…In a previously published experiment with a 4 × 4 latin square design, four C1-fistulated male (7 ± 1.5 years old; 61 ± 5 kg BW) alpacas were fed a series of 5 diet treatments in a random order: mixed grass hay (MGH; orchard, Dactylis glomerata ; meadow bromegrass, Bromopsis biebersteinii ; smooth bromegrass, Bromus inermis ), and MGH supplemented with barley (B), amaranth (A), quinoa (Q), or soybean meal (S) (Supplementary Table S1; see amounts below) (Nilsen et al, 2015; Robinson et al, 2016). Prior to the start of the experiment, the animals were acclimated to a MGH diet, which was fed daily ad libitum at 0700 h for 30 days.…”

“…Average daily dry matter intake was measured as described above and was reported previously at 965 (0), 771 (213), 1029 (227), or 804 (218) g/d total for MGH or MGH supplemented with A, B, or Q respectively (Nilsen et al, 2015) and 887 (333) g/d for S (Robinson et al, 2016) (supplemented amount in parentheses). The supplemented grain amount was varied to normalize the protein intake, as described previously (Nilsen et al, 2015) for AB and Q, while S was fed to approximate 30% of dry matter intake. Supplementation did not significantly alter feed consumption relative to MGH alone (Nilsen et al, 2015; Robinson et al, 2016).…”

“…The supplemented grain amount was varied to normalize the protein intake, as described previously (Nilsen et al, 2015) for AB and Q, while S was fed to approximate 30% of dry matter intake. Supplementation did not significantly alter feed consumption relative to MGH alone (Nilsen et al, 2015; Robinson et al, 2016). At each sampling, the C1 pH was measured to rule out negative health effects from the supplements (e.g., acidosis) using a pH meter (Corning 340, Tewksbury, MA, United States) equipped with a combination probe.…”

Kinetic parameters of in situ degradability of crop residues in alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

“…In the barley residue, the lowest fraction of the water-soluble PC was verified (table1).Vieira et al36 reported 48 % for the peels of the red variety of passion fruit, a similar value that of quinoa in the present study. Nilsen et al39 for NDF in barley…”