Intake and apparent digestibility of forages in llamas (Lama glama). II. clover hay (Trifolium pratense), riegrass hay (Lolium multiflorum), beans straw (Phaseolus vulgaris) and oat straw (Avena sativa)

Abstract

A 4x4 latin square design was used to run a total collection digestion trial, in which eight llamas were used to study the utilization of four different diets: 1) red clover hay, 2) riegrass hay, 3) beans straw and 4) oat straw. Dry matter intake was affected by diet quality (P<0.05) and reached 38,8; 29,2; 28,8 and 20,9 g/kg^0,75/day, respectively. The apparent digestibility (%) of the main nutrients differed significantly between diets (P<0.05) and were : 55,3; 37,9; 35,0; -1,4; for crude protein; 44,1; 46,9; 54,0; 57,1; for NDF; 36,0; 38,2; 52,2; 51,8; for ADF; 62,8; 65,9; 60,0; 67,6; for hemicellulose and 55,8; 55,7; 66,0; 66,0; for cellulose , respectively. While crude protein digestibility decreased as intake protein decreased, the digestibility of most cell wall constituents increased when the quality of diets decreased as a result of the increased % of these components in diets. These facts confirm the greater ability of these animals to utilize fibrous feeds.