Llamas (Lama glama) take advantage of poor natural forage (grasses and others) due to their efficient digestive physiology that is adapted for this type of forage. The problem now faced is the gradual exhaustion of the native grassland (low phytomass production). The vegetation does not cover the dry matter consumption requirements, and less so the nutrient requirements, of these animals. Because of this there is the necessity of determining the botanical composition, pasture selection by plant parts, and chemical composition of what llamas ingest in order to improve these animals' nutrition in the pasture. This study occurred at the Larqa Uma ranch, located on Cachaca hill, north of the community of Pujrata, Santiago de Callapa municipality, Pacajes province, department of La Paz. It is located between 4390 and 4530 meters above sea level, at 17° 14' South latitude by 68° 18' West longitude. The botanical composition, plant parts, and chemical composition (organic matter content, raw protein, and neutral detergent fiber) of pastured llama ingestions were determined on the reserved pasture and the pasture with native grasses during February, March, and April in the rainy season. Three male q'ara-variety llamas of three ages were used. They were fistulated at the esophagus to collect ingestion samples. Determination of botanical composition of the ingestions was done by the point stereoscopic technique (Heady and Torrel 1959), and the chemical composition by Proximal Weende analysis (organic matter and raw protein) and the Van Soest method (neutral detergent fiber). The variance analysis showed highly significant differences for the botanical composition of llama ingestions by pasture groups (p0.05). The llamas selected 80.13% grasses, higher than the other pasture groups: 8.64% for grassoids and 8.63% herbs, which were selected in similar proportions (p>0.05). Statistically, there are no differences between these pasture groups found in llama ingestions. Shrubs contributed a very low proportion of ingestion (2.86%). Selection for grasses (84.95%) during February was higher than the month of April and similar to March. In contrast, the March average of 80.62% is similar to the first month and higher than in April (74.83%). Shrub consumption of 4.36% during April was higher than in February and similar to in March. March's average of 3.92% is similar to the last month and higher than in February (0.20%). During February, March, and April, grass consumption by llamas (84.95%, 80.62%, and 74.83%, respectively) was higher than the average consumption of the other pasture groups. Grassoids, herbs, and shrubs were selected in similar proportions (p>0.05). The variance analysis showed highly significant differences for selection for parts of the plants, interaction between the evaluation month with parts of the plant, and interaction of pasturing site with plant parts (p<0.05).

The following investigation was carried out in the Agricultural Experimental Center Condoriri (CEAC), dependent on the Faculty of Agricultural Livestock Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, located to the North of the Province border of the Department of Oruro, a distance of 12 km from the town of Caracollo and 49 km from the city of Oruro. The production of llamas and alpacas in our country is an activity of ecological, social, and especially ecological importance for Andean inhabitants. In nutrition, the fundamental factor is the power of absorption; this is because the yield of animal production depends on the quantity and quality of forage consumed. Digestibility in animals is established based on basic consumption comparison and the values of digestibility of the food. For this reason, as previously expressed, we propose in the following research "Living digestibility of alfalfa and barley in llamas in the CEAC" to establish parameters of digestibility, with the following objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of production: consumption of food, consumption of water, excretion of wastes, elimination of urine and gain of living weight. To determine the digestibility of the nutrients: dry matter, raw protein, ash, air intake, raw fiber, nitrogen free extract, and total digestible nutrients. For this purpose 4 male llamas (sarijos) were utilized, taking into account the live weight, age, and breed. The investigation had two evaluation groups: the first group with a supply of alfalfa and the second group with a diet of barley. The investigation's duration was a total of 30 days, considering the following variables: characteristics of production (consumption of food, consumption of water, wastes excreted, volume of urine, and behavior of body weight); digestibility of nutrients (raw protein, ash, raw fiber, air intake, nitrogen free extract, and total digestible nutrients); leading to the following conclusions: > The average consumption of alfalfa by the llama is 6.49 kg/MF per day, of which 1344.5 g is MS, superior and distinct in respect to the fodder barley with 4.92 kg of MF/day and 1328.4 g of MS/day. Water consumption by the llama with the supply of alfalfa is of 0.77 liters; with barley it is 0.35 liters. The llamas with the supply of alfalfa excreted an average of 1.44 kg of waste, of which is 365.9 g of MS and the group with barley registered an average of 1.27 kg and 359.9 g of MS. With regard to the elimination of the volume of urine was between 2.80 and 1.22 liters per day respectively. Live weight at the start of the study was of 116.25 kg per llama and subsequent to the experimental stage of live digestibility the weight averaged 117.69 kg. Therefore, the increase of live weight during the experimental phase was equal to 1.44 kg. The daily increase of living weight in the llamas submitted to the consumption of alfalfa came to an average of 142.9 g/day/animal with a conversion allowance of 9.4. In contrast, the animals fed with barley registered a greater gain of 257 g/day/animal and a conversion allowance of 5.2. > The ratio of digestibility demonstrated by the Coefficients of Digestibility (%) of the alfalfa: MS = 72.85, C = 57.30, PC = 81.49, EE= 85.52, FC = 58.61, ELN = 77.96 and NDT = 69.17. In contrast, the coefficients of digestibility with the barley they were of 72.88% of MS, 33.13% of Ash, 74.62% PC, 84.19% of EE, 65.29% of FC, 77.08% of ELN and 68.74% of NDT.