Daniel R. Linden1, David E. Anderson, Jeff Lakritz, D. Michael Rings,Pauil M. Ramsey2 and Norman Evans
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine1
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences2
The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon L. Tharp St. Columbus, Oh 43210;
Llama Wellness Service, Madisonville, Kentucky (Evans), USA
ABSTRACT
There is little information available regarding nutrient digestibility in llamas and alpacas. This study compared the apparent digestibility of organic and inorganic zinc in the diets of llamas and alpacas by comparing an inorganic form of zinc, zinc sulfate (ZnSulf), with 2 organic forms, zinc methionine (ZnMeth) and zinc proteinate (ZnProt). This study hypothesised that organic, or chelated, zinc forms would have greater apparent digestibility than the inorganic zinc form. Nineteen camelids which included llamas (10) and alpacas (9) were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups. Group 1 consisted of llamas (3) and alpacas (3) and were fed ZnSulf feed. Group 2 consisted of llamas (3) and alpacas (3) and were fed ZnProt feed. Group 3 consisted of llamas (4) and alpacas (3) and were fed ZnMeth feed. Apparent digestibilities were obtained during two sampling periods. Mean apparent digestibility of ZnSulf, ZnProt and ZnMeth was 0.675, 0.567 and 0.868, respectively. ZnMeth had a greater apparent digestibility than ZnSulf (P=0.027). Apparent digestibilities for ZnProt were statistically similar to that of ZnSulf (P=0.25). Differences between ZnProt and ZnMeth were statistically significant (P=0.03). It was concluded that zinc methionine is more efficiently assimilated by llamas and alpacas than either zinc sulfate or zinc proteinate.
Keywords: Alpacas, camelids, digestibility, llamas, supplementation, zinc
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