The llama, a potential socioeconomic resource in the Bolivian highlands, faces serious nutritional deficiencies during the gestational and postpartum stages that negatively affect production. This study was conducted at the Tika Huta Experimental Center in the Llachu community of the Oruro prefecture. Our objectives were to determine metabolite concentration in blood plasma as well as live weight performance of pregnant and postpartum female llamas. Adult and juvenile llamas were fed diets of either plain natural grass or natural grass combined with 0.4 kg of barley hay. In addition, we determined metabolite concentrations in blood plasma and live weight performance of newborns until three months of age. Ten newborn llamas and nine pregnant adult llamas were used. We collected 133 blood plasma samples from mothers and 57 blood plasma samples from newborns. The samples were sent to laboratories at Brigham Young University for analysis. Results showed the following metabolite concentrations in pregnant llamas: 7.23 ± 1.80 g/dl total proteins, 36.31 ± 1.32 mg/dl urea, 84.72 ± 3.58 mg/dl triglycerides, 55.89 ± 2.32 mg/dl cholesterol, and 7.11 ± 1.34 mg/dl creatinine. In newborn llamas, blood plasma metabolite concentrations were as follows: 7.20 ± 1.54 g/dl total proteins, 48.41 ± 1.30 mg/dl urea, 103.25 ± 2.60 mg/dl triglycerides, 89.09 ± 3.30 mg/dl cholesterol, and 2.39 ± 0.33 mg/dl creatinine. The average live weights were 76.82 ± 8.57 kg and 15.95 ± 2.47 kg for mothers and newborns, respectively. Animals fed diets of natural grass and barley hay yielded results with significant differences. It is recommended that llama diets be supplemented with barley hay during the first two months of gestation, the last third of gestation, and postpartum.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-6437 |
| Date | 01 January 2009 |
| Creators | Ticona Benique, Eduardo |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Coverage | Oruro (Bolivia), La Paz (Bolivia) |
| Rights | http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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