VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS IN ALPACAS IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMPANY OF SOCIAL INTEREST OF SOLLOCOTA, AZÁNGARO - PUNO 2009

EXECUTOR: LABOSIL SAC.

Person in Charge, Veterinary and Zoology Dr., Waldo Choque Vilca

BACKGROUND

South American Camelids are adapted to areas where the amount of forage is limited and nutrients are scarcely distributed in structural carbohydrates that are difficult to digest. These characteristics are typical of their habitat (high plains), where there are long periods of drought during the year (usually 8 dry months every year) and cycles of dry years are frequent.

Due to these conditions, selective characteristics, reduced consumption, longer retention periods of food in their digestive tracts -apart from being physiologically adapted to survive in extremely high areas-, South American Camelids are the best adapted species to make the most of the scarce and fibrous vegetation of mountain ecosystems (San Martín and Bryant, 1987).

South American Camelids are a classification among ruminants. They present certain digestive, anatomical and functional characteristics that allow them to obtain energy and proteins from food that is unusable by man, so therefore they are a non-competitive species.

In what regards minerals and vitamins, in spite of several studies, no final criteria exist that may allow to conclude any final result. Some studies on the contents of minerals in natural pastures of high Andean regions have shown that there are low contents of phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu), especially during the dry season. Thus, phosphorus during a dry period can fall to values of 0.17% and this is certainly correlated with the amount of serum phosphorus in animals. Serum phosphorus and calcium have also been determined. The lowest serum phosphorus values were obtained from alpacas grazing on native pastures during the dry season, with average experiment values. Other studies reported values such as 6.3 mg and 6.6 mg. In what regards calcium, values of 10.5 mg were found, without showing changes due to seasons or pastures. Other studies found 9.5 mg and 7.5 mg. In studies of copper in alpacas, values of 47 to 50 Cu ppm were found, a figure that is considered low in comparison to other species. By supplementing their diet with copper sulfate it was observed that alpacas present a high sensitivity to intoxication, this suggests that this species has certain particular nutritional characteristics in what regards this mineral and that they differ from other ruminants (Bustinza, V. 2001).

There are few studies on vitamins and, apparently, they are incomplete. Studies on the supply of vitamins A, D and E to pregnant alpacas did not record effects on calf weight at birth, neither on fertility, but it seems to have an effect on the post-natal development of calves. However, no clinical cases of mineral and vitamin deficiencies have been reported in the Andean area, although in other zones, outside their habitat, some of these clinical symptoms seem to indicate vitamin and mineral deficiencies in their diet. Therefore, it is important to study this particular issue and what can be done immediately is to supplement with minerals and vitamins, at least with the most essential ones, by directly including feed for alpacas according to their physiological condition

Source: Bustinza, V. 2001

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the gain of live weight of South American camelids (1-year alpaca calves), after administrating vitamin supplement Vitmic Forte NF.

• To estimate the live weight gain percentage in Alpaca pregnant mothers after the addition of vitamin supplement Vitmic Forte NF.

Vitmic Forte NF.

Energetic and mineralizing vitamin compound that helps in the recovery and convalescence of deficient conditions, general stimulator.

COMPOSITION

Each 100 ml contains:

• Vitamin A …………………..……….5000000UI
• Vitamin D3……………………….….2000000UI
• Vitamin E acetate…………………... ….1000UI
• Calcium borogluconate ……………..……10g
• Magnesium hypophosphite (6H2O)…..….7 g
• Anhydrous sodium selenite …………..….0.15g
• Chlorphenamine maleate ………………..1.50g
• Excipients q.s. …………………………100ml

STUDY PLACE AND LOCATION

• The trial was performed at a SAIS (agricultural company of social interest) company of Sollocota – Azángaro, a company whose partners are exclusively engaged in livestock production, mainly breeding South American camelids, sheep and bovines, located approximately 200 km to the north of the city of Puno, at an altitude of 4300 meters above sea level. With territories of different altitude and a frigid dry climate, two well differentiated seasons can be noticed: one of rains from December to April and a dry season from May to November.

METHODOLOGY:

1. South American camelids were weighed: Alpaca calves and pregnant mothers, and their body condition assessed according to a qualification scale from 1 to 5, during one week.

2. Adult animals were divided into 2 groups of 20 each, to which 5 ml of vitamin supplement Vitmic Forte NF was injected by the subcutaneous route. Calves were injected 3 ml of Vitmic Forte NF, by the subcutaneous route and likewise, they were divided into two groups of 20.

3. These South American camelids were fed under an extensive grazing system for a 45-day period.

4. For the second control group feed was based on natural pastures, also for a 45-day period.

5. In order to determine weight gain, animals were weighed on a weekly basis on an electronic scale duly adjusted to these effects.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Stages and Duration:

Animal Assessment Stage

Animals were assessed on June 24th, 2009, through a clinical test, weight recording and assessment of body condition according to a scale of to 5.

Preparation Stage

During this stage, animals were prepared, forming groups of 20 mothers and 20 calves in each group at SAIS of Sollocota – Azángaro.

Results Stage

Animals were weighed on the mentioned scales in July and August.

V.- RESULTS:

Table No. 01 - Table of results with mother alpaca weights; initial, post-treatment at SAIS Sollocota – Puno 2009.

Results after the administration of vitamin supplement Vitmic Forte NF in mother alpacas were higher in comparison to initial weights, probably because of the vitamin and mineral concentration administered. This progressed as days went by, as may be appreciated in Table 01. Animals were weighed on days 15, 30 and finally 45 post-treatment, which means that there was a progression throughout the days. Some animals showed stable weights but in most cases there was an increase. Weights are not remarkably high because this season is completely dry and grass is scarce. Likewise, these animals were kept under an extensive grazing system.

Table No. 02 – Table of results with control group weights in mother alpacas at SAIS Sollocota – Puno 2009.

The homogeneity in the weights of mother alpacas of the control group is probably due to nutritional factors, as during this season there are no abundant pastures for consumption. The table also shows negative figures.

Table No. 03 – Table of results of initial and post-treatment weights in alpaca calves at SAIS Sollocota - Puno 2009.

Table 03 shows a progressive increase of weights in alpaca calves born this year. This is due to the fact that calves are mainly lactating and consuming forage or natural pastures at the same time and to which vitamin supplement Vitmic Forte NF was administered. As expected, they showed an accelerated weight increase. The most remarkable fact is that as the study progressed, live weights of the group kept increasing, probably because this supplement contains calcium and vitamins that help in all the metabolic processes of alpaca calves.

Table 04 – Table of results of the control group of alpaca calves at SAIS Sollocota - Puno 2009.

As in the previous example, this group of alpaca calves shows stable weights throughout the trial and, in some cases, some weight losses are evidenced. This is probably due to the fact that their mothers are poorly fed and, therefore, they do not have milk, it is weaning time for calves and the fibrous grass of this time of year is not sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements for the growth of alpaca calves.

VI.- CONCLUSIONS
There are no doubts about the great significance of knowing the interactions of nutrition with vitamin supplements in alpaca mothers and calves, therefore, we hereby recommend:
The use of the said supplement for a better nutrition of South American camelids in times of drought or during dry seasons where pastures are not sufficient.
The fact that alpaca calves reach reasonable weight levels at the beginning of the year implies that the nutritional factor is highly important. On the other hand, although it is clear that reproductive efficacy is influenced by environmental factors, where the nutritional factor is included, studies in this field are very limited so henceforth, it must be one of the most important issues in research on South American Camelids.

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Bryant, C., 2002 Nutrient Requirements and Deficiency Symptoms of Small Ruminants
Requerimientos Nutricionales y Síntomas de Deficiencia en Rumiantes Menores. First edition, Editorial La Molina - Lima, Perú.
Bustinza, V., 2001 La Alpaca, first edition, Editorial UNA Puno. Perú.

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