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Alpaca Nutrition News                                                                 September 2007

Fall Stress alert!

While some parts of the U. S. are experiencing cooler temperatures and colorful fall foliage, others cope with very summer-like weather, or worse, see-sawing temperatures. Both unseasonably warm weather and alternating temperatures are stressful on alpacas in late gestation. Fetus hypertrophy is greatest during the last four months, and therefore so is nutritional demand. Uncomfortably warm temperatures may discourage feed intake either directly (by reducing appetite) or indirectly (by stressing the animal). Normal rumen microbial fermentation generates heat, a bonus in the winter, but a problem in the summer. Heat production during hot weather can discourage feed intake. Reduced feed intake disrupts rumen activity, which increases vulnerability to infection. Protective microorganisms in the digestive tract are usually attached or non-motile, they depend on food to come to them. When the flow of nutrients is interrupted, these protective microflora starve and die. Rumen disruption can also cause diarrhea or constipation.

Females and maidens that are heat-stressed during late gestation can abort or die. Alternations in temperature such as those experienced in many areas of the U. S. during the fall are as stressful and as dangerous as unseasonably warm weather. The struggle to adapt is complicated by the re-growth of fleece.

To insure the healthy delivery of fall crias under these conditions, feed either MSE paste or drench to females in late gestation.  MSE will help prevent rumen disruption, infection, diarrhea, and constipation.  Even if a untreated stressed female manages to give birth to a live cria, her own condition may be too debilitated to support lactation. Reduce the risk of disaster by feeding MSE during late summer heat and see-sawing temperatures.

MSE is available at www.natur's-way.com or by calling 800-615-0299, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, M - F. Please send questions or comments to Lark Burnham, Ph.D., ruminant nutrition, at: lark@carsoncomm.com.

 

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