Abstract

The effect of nutrition on fibre production varies with species and response to nutrition may also be influenced by season. This study examined the effect of feed allowance and season on fibre growth in alpacas. 14 one- year-old alpacas were pen-fed a pelleted lucerne diet at a maintenance or ad lib intake level for 11 weeks in summer (January - February) and winter (July - September). Intake, liveweight gain and fibre growth rate were measured. Voluntary feed intake was 45% higher in summer than in winter, 68 vs 47 ± 2 g DM/kg0.75/day. Estimated maintenance requirements from this trial were 31.11 g DM/kg0.75/day or 0.276 MJ ME/kg0.75/day. There was a positive relationship between feed intake, liveweight gain and fibre growth rate. Increased feed allowance resulted in higher liveweight gain and increased fibre growth rate. Differences in fibre length growth between maintenance and ad lib feeding levels, 0.36 and 0.33 ± 0.02 mm/day respectively, were not significant (P=0.07). Feeding level had no effect on fibre diameter. Fibre growth rate was greater (0.77 vs 0.62 ± 0.04 mg/cm2/day) and fibre diameter coarser (33.7 vs 31.3 ± 0.9 µ) in summer than winter. The rate of response of fibre growth to increased feed allowance was the same in summer and winter.

S-AN, Newman, and DJ Paterson

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 54, , 147-150, 1994