Re: [Alpacasite] Cracked corn and whole oats.

On Sat Nov 26, 2005, Christine Fox wrote:

> Is cracked corn and whole oats OK to give to alpacas
> in small amounts?

In "Feeding Camelids", Dr. LaRue W. Johnson wrote:

"Forage (pasture and hay or browse) should be a major contributor of
energy to the diet. For certain circumstances, cereal grains (corn,
oats, barley, etc) may be used as supplemental high energy sources."

My question would be WHY you want to feed them grains? Is it as a
supplement, or rather, as many people do, to make YOU feel good?
(You don't need to answer, just to consider the question.)

To diverge from this for a moment, with regard to the thread
"Getting More People into the Alpaca Industry", I'd like to repeat
something that I've said several times in the past. Anyone who has
ever been to Peru, and watched alpacas spend all day walking and
browsing knows how important this is to their contentment. I have
sat and watched them in large paddocks, and they are constantly in
motion, moving from one end to the other. I believe that keeping
them in feedlot conditions for their entire life borders on animal
cruelty, and people considering purchasing them should be aware of
ALL their needs. If this hurts some people's feelings, then that's
too bad.

Back to corn and other grains ...

As a supplement, corn has value during harsh winter conditions, but
there is a danger. Here is what a couple of other expert vets had
to say.

Ken Madl
Aviana Farms

-----------------------------

In "Winter Care for Alpacas and Llamas", by Dr. Stephen R. Purdy,
published in the Winter 2002 issue of "New England Journal of Large
Animal Health", he wrote:

"Cracked corn is easily digested, readily available at any feed
store, and the animals like to eat it. It makes an excellent quality
calorie supplement in the winter."

-----------------------------

"Practical Llama and Alpaca Nutrition", by Stephen R. Purdy, DVM

http://www.purdyvet.com/pracnut.html

simple grains-
• excellent sources of supplementation
• readily available at any feed store
• excellent palatability
cracked corn- 9 -10% protein and good digestibility = calories
crimped oats- same
barley- same
soy bean meal- 46-48% protein and good digestibility
50:50 by volume mixture of cracked corn and soy bean meal has 23%
protein and makes the ideal protein and calorie supplement for
lactation, growth, and weight gain

-----------------------------

"Hypothermia--Are you ready for the winter?", by David E Anderson,
DVM

http://www.alpacabreeders.org/htmls/vetscorner.html

"During extremes of cold, camelids have a vital need for energy. ...
Corn is the "hottest" grain in that it provides the most readily
fermentable carbohydrates of the cereal grains, but this also makes
corn the most risky for causing acidosis. I prefer to add oats to a
winter ration because this feed provides more fiber than corn and is
less prone to acidosis."

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