RE: [AlpacaTalk] RE:corn
Hi Lona,
While alpacas may not have a gizzard, they do have teeth with which they chew a cud and grind everything into small particles for the bacteria and fungi to work on. Cracked corn may or may not be a good feed choice for alpacas, but it is hardly the villan that everyone acuses it of being.
I know you know this Lona, but for others who might be interested...The other supposed villain is grain by products. These are the left overs after that starches have been removed from the grain from either making flour or making alcohol. The ratio of proteins, fiber, and starches is actually at an excellent ratio to feed the flora of the first two compartments of the stomach. Ever wonder where alpacas get their protein when their need exceeds the protein present in their diet? The protein actually come from the digestive process where the acid in the last stomach compartment breaks down the bacteria and fungi that have been working so hard in the first compartments digesting hay
So many of these supposed studies and necropsies have never been identified when we have these discussions. I think the best path is to use moderation in all things and when you hear something like corn gets stuck in the stomach wall, ask for verification... and most importantly talk to your vet or ask questions of those vets out there who speak at events about nutrition for they are often misquoted or what they say has been exagerated.
I'll shut up now and return you to your regularly scheduled program.
Laurel
The Shouvlins
Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936
www.bluebirdhills.com
bluebirdhills@voyager.net
> Hi Jess,
>
>
>
> Alpacas do not have a gizzard to grind hard cracked corn so that is
> certainly an understandable outcome.
>
>
>
> While studying nutrition we learned that corn equates to “heat†so use
> steamed rolled corn during very cold weather.
>
>
>
> Lona Nelsen Frank
>
> ALPACAS of Tualatin Valley, llc Since 1988
>
> Beaverton, Oregon 97007
>
> 503-649-2128 or cell 503-936-7722
>
> <http://www.alpacatv.com/> www.AlpacaTV.com
>
> May God Bless America
>
>
>
>
From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Acres of Love
> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 10:11 AM
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE:corn
>
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> Although corn sugars require increased stomach acid production which can
> lead to ulcers when too much corn is consumed, cracked corn (such as
> contained in chicken scratch) is a different matter. Cracked corn is
> hard, with very sharp edges and inflicts lacerations on the alpaca stomach
> lining. There are many documented cases where necropsies revealed death
> related to cracked corn becoming embedded in the stomach lining.
>
>
>
> We do not feed cracked corn or any feedstuff containine cracked corn.
>
>
>
> Jess
>
>
>
> Jess & Cookie Bowers
> Acres of Love Alpaca Ranch
> Acres of Love Alpaca Transport
> 11006 N 92nd East Ave
> Owasso, OK 74055
> 918-829-9987
> www.acresoflove.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
From: Tina Travis <mailto:traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com>
>
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 10:40 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE:corn
>
>
>
> You are right about the corn,there is talk about it having too much
> acidic
> reaction in the gut.Worry of ulcer,poor gut movement.Sorry I can not point
> you toward any study but the research is supposed to be available.I also
> know of many goat farms that have taken corn out of the diet and are
> having less health issues since the change.Maybe if you take the question
> to UA chatsite one of the Dr.'s can be more direct on the issue.Push the
> hay not the grain seems to be the idea and I am doing just that for the
> 2nd year on my farm.More Alfalfa in the cold weather along with the
> regular hay.More body scoring and moving skinnies around.Skinnies and
> crias are the ones getting the grain.I use a pelleted Llama/Alpaca feed
> for the ones that need it.
>
> Tina Hunt 636-459-8930
>
> Elkhorn Alpacas
>
> Warrenton,MO>63383
>
>
> _____
>
>
>
From: "jelizabethfarms1@bellsouth.net" <jelizabethfarms1@bellsouth.net>
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 10:03:24 AM
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] RE: alfalfa hay
>
>
>
> <<< Hi Janice:
> Actually we buy chicken scratch. It is made up of wheat, oats and corn
> in about
> equal amounts, by volume. >>>
>
> Thanks Wayne, easy peasy!
> I would worry tho about the corn for the alpacas; can't say why but I
> seem to recall something somewhere along the way that causes me to be
> concerned about feeding corn to alpacas.
> I am looking at every critter on the farm and trying to determine if I
> can cut costs and/or time required to feed. Both are commodities in
> short supply.
> I can hardly keep my pacas out of the chicken feed - laying pellets.
> It drives me crazy. No matter how I try to keep them out, they always
> manage to find a way in to where the hanging chicken feeder is.
> Recently I decided to take the laying pellets away (figured I was
> wasting money since they are not laying right now anyway, plus the ducks
> and guineas are sucking down those pellets as well). So I thought I
> could just switch them to scratch grains for the winter to save money.
> To my dismay I discovered the scratch grains cost more than the laying
> pellets!! Prices going up weekly at the feed store. They tell me it
> is the corn and that the scratch grains have more corn than the laying
> pellets do. So back to the laying pellets for the chickens.
> Janice
>
>
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>
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posted by Chaddo at 1:55 PM
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