ALPACA TESTIMONIALS

  NATURAL PIG PRODUCTION

  LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

  LIVESTOCK ARTICLES

  ALPACA NUTRITION NEWS

  PROBIOTICS COMPARISON

  FARM STORE

  PET PRODUCTS

  PET ARTICLES

  PET STORE

  GARDEN PRODUCTS

  GARDEN STORE

  SITE MAP


   
 

 

    Alpaca Nutrition News                                                                           April 2008

The question of grain (cont.)

Last month's newsletter, which discussed feeding minerals separately from grain, caused a stir. Some producers do not believe that grain is connected to the obesity problem, yet others do not believe alpacas will consume enough mineral, if fed alone,  to meet their needs.

There is a compromise to this dilemma.

Grain, or grain/protein may be added to the mineral mix in SMALL amounts to entice alpacas to eat mineral. Small amounts means as little as a handful every few days to 20%. The amount added will be determined by the rate of mineral disappearance.

Just as with body scoring, mineral disappearance should be closely monitored.

  • If the mineral mix disappears too slowly, add more grain and/or decrease the amount of salt

  • If it disappears too quickly, decrease the grain and/or increase the salt

Salt can be increased or decreased to control mineral intake.

There are times of the year, such as when the alpacas are on pasture, that they will not want to eat mineral. At these times, adjust the grain or salt to induce them to eat. And keep the mineral dispenser near the waterer.

Animals that are in dry lot, whatever time of year, tend to eat more mineral. Probably because they are bored or limit-fed. In these cases, the grain needs to be decreased or the salt increased to reduce intake.

Grain and protein supplements without mineral should be fed according to condition and stage of reproduction.. Suggested mineral intake should be listed on the feed tag or on the bag. Please be aware that many minerals have both deficiencies and toxicities, with negative effects on growth and/or reproduction. It is not enough to just provide a mineral mix, it is critical that intake be monitored as well. Although some animals innately know what they need, this is not always the case. Animals that may be on strict regimens to lose excess weight may fill up on mineral instead. Mineral toxicities can be even worse than obesity.

Please send questions or comments to Lark Burnham, ruminant nutrition (lark@naturs-way.com).

       



        FARM STORE                          PET PRODUCTS                              PET STORE


All content of this site is copyright © 1999 Natur's Way, Inc. Horton, KS. unless otherwise stated. Natur's Way logo and MSE is TM of Natur's Ways and may not be used in any way with out the express permission of its owners. Site design by Chontai Studios.