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Anyone can feed, but nutrition requires some effort.
Would you like to hear some strong opinions on llama nutrition? Ask llama owners, university camelid specialists, and representatives of well-known feed companies.
Among owners, there are concerns about feeding that regularly surface, including cost per bag, prevention of choking, protein level, and amounts of copper and selenium. Regardless of the other career successes suri llama owners have enjoyed, few possess previous experience in providing balanced nutrition for birthing healthy herds of animals. For that matter, many veterinarians have had limited opportunity to be involved with camelid nutrition.
It is crucial to realize that camelids, like humans and every other species, have different nutritional needs based upon their daily activity, size and use. Llamas that are kept relatively free of parasites and disease can survive nicely on a variety of diets. Indeed, most camelids can exist and enjoy many different foods just like humans, but much of what they eat and the quantity consumed can cause problems over time.
A Miracle of Balance
The camelid body, like that of humans and all other mammals, is a miracle of nearly 40 vitamins and minerals in unique balance. Nutrients utilized by the body must be replaced. Otherwise, imbalances and deficiencies will occur, resulting in compromised long-term health and productivity.
It is not unusual for someone with a track record of success in business to seek the best feed deal on the market. But, since lower prices often equate with lower quality, herd nutrition may suffer. To quote Dr. David Anderson, Too often, nutrition is equated with feed alone. Dr. Anderson believes one must think carefully about how nutrition is fed, whether one is using individual feeders, bulk feeders, or free choice troughs. Then, too, attention must be paid to how feed is stored, the animals access to the feed through the feeding hierarchy, and the animals utilization of the feed. This last takes into consideration fine-ground grain versus high-fiber roughage.
Particular Attention to Suris
Suri llamas are particularly susceptible to these factors because of their social structure, and unfortunately, the lack of livestock experience of many owners can result in problems. If we want suris to stay healthy and perform at maximum efficiency, we need to provide quality nutrition that specifically addresses their needs.
Owners actively breeding, raising, and showing their suri llamas must supply the nutrition to replenish the depleted mineral void in forages. I believe this requires a program combining forage, hay, vitamin-mineral mixes, and a high quality supplement. Pasture, hay and fresh water are the major nutritional factors to be considered for all classes of camelids. This analysis is necessary before we concern ourselves with the levels of copper, selenium and zinc present in a bag of supplement. We must then determine the animals use. Males, geldings and animals that are growing, breeding, gestating and lactating have different nutritional needs. The ambient temperatures also affect nutritional needs. Extremes of heat and humidity as well as extreme cold often necessitate nutritional changes.
Dr. Evans' Recommended Protocol Consists of Six Main Points
Know your suri llama's use and needs. Know the source of the nutrients; that is, water, pasture, hay, vitamins, minerals, supplements. Balance the nutrients deficient in the tested forage. Frame score and body score all adults and supplement accordingly. Weigh, keep records and be aware of seasonal gains and losses. Always supplement per feed tag directions to avoid toxic levels of copper, selenium, etc. The Fine Points of Forage
Forage can be either grass pasture or hay and should make up at least 80 percent by weight of the camelid diet for maintenance, and at least 70 percent of the diet for late gestation and lactation. For breeding suri llamas, this could equate to 3.5 to 4.5 pounds of 10-12 percent crude protein grass hay. If you have smaller framed animals, use the low end; for larger framed (not obese) animals, use the higher end.
Grass pasture is one form of forage usually offered free choice, since that is the way it is done in South America. Pasture is great because it is usually 60-80 percent water depending on the region and season. Hay is about 10 percent moisture; therefore an animal has to eat about five to seven times more weight in pasture than hay to get the same dry matter food value. A suri llama may consume 15 to 18 pounds of pasture daily. I ask all owners to consider the difference between South American pastures or range and the pastures of the average North American suri llama farm. Pastures are more vitamin-rich than hay, likely more tasty, and if allowed free choice, will often cause obesity.
Many lush pastures are 18-25 percent protein in spring and early summer, but those same pastures may be only four to six percent protein in late summer and fall. Other factors like the stocking rate per acre, fertilization and irrigation will affect the lushness and abundance of forage available. Llamas gain much more weight from free choice high-quality pasture grass and hay than from a controlled high-fiber chow intake. Camelid owners need to realize that 400-pound beef calves often gain 1.5 to 2.0 pounds per head per day by pasturing good forage. Llamas gain 0.25-0.33 pounds per day, which equals 2.0 pounds per week or 8.0 pounds per month.
Llama pasture should be built from mixed grasses suited to the region. All llama pastures should be well drained to avoid wet areas, which encourage parasite infestation. Pastures should be well fenced to provide protection from predators and arranged to provide stress-free access to a work area. Camelids do well on orchard grass, brome grass, and endophyte-resistant fescues.
About Those Supplements
While choice of supplementation is sometimes based on appearance, price and convenience, serious breeders will choose supplements that address their primary goals of fertility, milking ability, and healthy cria.
Unfortunately, I have found that some owners and veterinarians believe that weight gain comes only out of a bag and that obesity can be addressed by cutting back on supplementation to take weight off. A few owners, with the help of a cattle nutritionist utilize their local feed mill to make up a 500-1,000 pound mix of corn, oats, and barley plus a cattle pack of vitamins A, D, E and selenium. Most cattle are fed for gain, and although these owners are well intentioned, in reality they are guilty of promoting harmful weight gain and ulcers.
Corn, oats and barley (COB) are a ready source of total daily nutrition (TDN) and energy, but readily turn to fat if not needed by the body. COB contains little fiber and can be a factor in stomach acidosis and ulceration when not supplied in a high fiber vehicle.
Other species, such as cattle, consume more poundage of less dense supplement because their main mission is weight gain. But ideal camelid nutrition must address the llamas depleted minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Without proper supplementation, there will be nutrient starvation and liver failure because of lack of energy, vitamins and minerals in the hay.
A professionally formulated llama or alpaca supplement, fed according to tag directions, contains less than 10 percent corn, oats and barley and will address most voids in the forage without causing weight gain. Feed made in small, soft pellets or crumbles will reduce choking concerns.
The Value of Vitamin-Mineral Mixes
Vitamin-mineral mixes (often called supplements, salts, or blends) are a good nutritional management tool, especially for those llamas lower in the social hierarchy. But regardless of what they are called, they are worthless if not consumed. They must be freshly available, replenished twice a week, and palatable. Suri llamas consume an average 0.40 ounces per head per day. Even if consumed at the maximum, the mixes can only supply about 20 - 30 percent of the daily needs or voids in the forages.
I strongly advise using mixes specifically formulated for camelids rather than sheep or cattle preparations. These camelid mixes are formulated to provide the maximum density of vitamin E, selenium, zinc and other minerals necessary to fine-tune their needs. A camelid vitamin-mineral blend containing 70 parts per million of selenium and consumed at a level of at least 0.40 ounces per day is mandatory to complement most professional camelid supplements manufactured after May, 2005.
Avoiding Problems
Breeders with 10-15 years experience are losing animals due to malnutrition. Most of my practice is now spent attempting to correct liver problems, leg problems, reproductive problems and neonatal problems due to poor nutrition. In many cases these problems can be avoided. Our depleted soils are void of several minerals while toxic in others. By implementing a program of testing early in your suri llama venture, you can eliminate excesses and supplement voids in the forage.
Special nutritional consideration must be given to imported animals and new purchases. Social structures associated with the constant changing of paddocks and commingling often result in some timid animals not getting the feed they need. Not eating creates a negative energy imbalance resulting in fatty liver disease, ulcers and death. There is a key factor in all of this: attentive, sensitive care and good management keep all new animals eating and drinking.
Have You Done Your Homework?
Are all these suggestions absolutely necessary? No. Camelids can adapt and survive under many conditions. My primary mission is to produce and maintain the healthiest camelid possible based on the environment, forage deficiencies and stresses that my clients animal endure. Know the facts by testing the forage and supplements. Know your llamas and how they feed and factor in their size, need and use. Some feed companies are producing supplements that will provide for your suri llamas needs. Some companies are just producing pretty feeds. Dont settle for opinion when it comes to nutrition. Do your homework and get the facts!
Norm Evans, DVM, has worked with camelids for twenty years. With a previous background in large animal medicine, he brought to the industry an interest in health, nutrition, and reproductive problems. Observations of the available forages, feeds and vitamin-mineral products used by owners have been his primary focus. These observations have formed his opinions regarding llama health and fiber production. Stresses encountered and the resulting effect on blood values, as they relate to herd health and management, has been a major interest. His present focus is the improvement of fiber through genetics.
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