SUPREME-Project: Feeding behaviour and energy metabolism of alpaca in central Italy during late pregnancy and early lactation

摘要

The objective of this work was to investigate the feeding and selecting behaviour of alpacas grazing a Central Italy natural pasture during late pregnancy (20 d to parturition, LP) and early lactation (20 d post partum -EL20; 40 d post partum -EL40). Dry matter intake (DMI), chemical/botanical composition of the diet, and blood parameters were evaluated. Herbage DMI during LP, EL20, and EL40 was 69 ± 20, 103 ± 32, and 92 ± 43 g/kg metabolic weight, respectively. Species selected were mostly Graminaceae, such as Dactylis glomerata, Cynodon dactylon and Bromus racemosus, Leguminosae (Medicago sativa), and Compositae (Cichorium intybus). In both EL20 and EL40, alpacas were able to select a diet characterised by an higher nutritive value than the forage on offer. Refusals showed higher contents of NDF (+4% to +14%) and lower contents of CP (-14% and -39%) when compared with the pasture before grazing. Significant differences among LP, EL20, and EL40 were observed for total protein (6.6 ± 0.3, 5.5± 0.4, and 6.1 ± 0.4 g/dl, P<0.05), (3OH-Butirrate (0.8 ± 0.1, 0.5 ± 0.1, and 0.6 ± 0.1 mg/dl, P<0.05), triglycerides (40.0 ± 7.1, 9.0 ± 10.8, and 8.3 ± 10.8 mg/dl, P<0.05), cholesterol (49.0 ± 3.5, 27.0 ± 5.3, and 28.3 ± 5.3 mg/dl, PO.01) and BUN (43.0 ± 2.2, 22.7 ± 3.4, and 29.9 ± 3.4 mg/dl, PO.001). The degree of feed selection and intake was shown to be affected by forage availability and quality. A negative energy balance was observed in LP. Further research is needed to determine standard values for blood parameters in different physiological conditions.