By Karen Nicholson
We've all experienced it at some
point - some major stress in our life or we've altered our diet less than
gradually or taken medication or something as simple as drinking different
water while on vacation and it results in serious digestive upset! Well,
camelids are just as susceptible or more so to gastrointestinal upset than we
are. While discussing camelid digestion can be quite involved, I'll attempt to
offer a few simple ways to ward off potential problems. Digestive Flora
Scientists estimate that we
humans have trillions of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi and assorted
parasites) living on the outside of our body and hundreds of millions in our
digestive tract. Our bodies coexist with these living microscopic organisms,
keeping us healthy most of the time and helping us digest and absorb vitamins
and minerals from our food and water. These microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa,
fungi, etc) are also teaming within the camelid.
The population
dynamics of the different species found in the forestomach will depend on the
camelid's diet. This brings me to my first Tip: Avoid abruptly changing the
diet for exactly this reason — the microorganisms are specific to the diet. If
you change the diet abruptly, the camelid now has a population that is designed
to serve a different diet and they can wreak havoc while simultaneously the
forestomach has no population of the microorganisms to work with the new diet.
This results in stress and a gastrointestinal challenge for the animal.
Stress
Stress impacts all the
physiological systems including gastrointestinal function and health. Stresses
such as: too much heat or cold; too much, too little or the wrong kind of food;
aggressive companions or crowded conditions or transport and shows can lead to
digestive tract problems such as colic, constipation, urinary tract problems,
parasite problems, ulcers and so on. These range in seriousness from mild to
life threatening. Tips: As their keepers, this is one of our tasks — stress
management. We can also breed for this trait choosing camelids that are not
compromised under stressful conditions. Always be alert for signs of digestive
tract upset such as reluctance to eat, reluctance to stand, diarrhea,
constipation, gut ache, self-isolation, change in eating habits, and food
preference.
Parasites and Deworming
Parasites are one of the most
important considerations in the digestive and overall health of the camelid.
We'd need an entire article to address this completely. But here are a few tips
that can keep parasites in check. Tips: Keep stocking density low per pen;
pasture rotation is a must; when necessary, use dry lot feeding to help control
a parasite problem; quarantine animals coming onto the farm; keep animals in
good condition; and run fecal exams on a regular basis. For deworming - Tips:
It is best to treat the individual animal, not the herd. Giving dewormers to
animals that don't need them only upsets their digestive flora unnecessarily
and encourages parasite resistance to the drug. Also consider giving probiotics
after any medical treatment to encourage the reestablishment of gut flora.
Water
Water is one, if not the most
essential, nutrient critical to proper digestion. Fresh, clean, high-quality
water should be available for free choice at all times. Tips: Abrupt changes in
water can lead to digestive troubles. Consider bringing your own water to
shows, in transport and when relocating an animal to a new farm. It could make
all the difference in your animal's health during this stressful time.
Feed
It's worth the time it takes to
learn how to determine if feed is of good quality. While there are so many
factors, there is one simple thing to know that can make a world of difference
for your camelid. Tip: Have you ever eaten a lettuce from a plant that has
bolted (gone to seed)? It tastes horrible, it's difficult to digest, and has
poorer nutritional content than an immature plant. The same holds true for your
hay and pasture grasses. Always try and put animals on immature pasture (mow if
necessary) and the same for hay.
Crias and Weaning
The newborn cria is a non-ruminant
animal. Milk is digested in the third compartment whereas in an adult, about
50%+ of digestion takes place in the forestomach or first compartment. It takes
the cria about 12 weeks to ruminate as an adult and even then, only at about
80-90% of adult function. Tip: Before weaning, make sure you have observed
healthy ruminant activity, then gradually wean the cria from the dam (together
at night but not daytime). If transitioning to a new farm, consider weaning at
5-6 months and observe healthy behavior and digestive function before the cria
leaves the farm. Also, the temperament of the camelid and the situation it will
be going to will greatly impact their success at weaning and the impact it will
have on their digestive upset.
Other Tips
- At changes of season, gradually put on pasture and take off. It takes the rumen two weeks to adjust to new feed.
- Consider having hay from the same source available at all times so that the camelid can use this as its base of food at all times while taking in new food (different pastures or moving to a new farm).
- Avoid forced grazing where the selection of food is limited and scarce. They will eat things that upset them before starving.
- Be very careful to not let camelids get into grain bins causing potential forestomach acidosis. Use bungee cords to secure them closed.
- Gradually change grain products or hay.
- Consider bringing all your own hay, water and grain to shows/events or to send along with an animal relocating to it's new farm.
- Sit and watch your herd for 5-10 minutes a day to make sure they are eating, ruminating and pooping/peeing normally.
Summary
High quality feed and water —
gradual changes — manage stress — breed for hardiness.
Karen Nicholson, of Stepping Stone Farm Alpacas in Stowe, VT, has a
herd of nine colorful alpacas bred and managed for valued traits including: fiber
excellence, conformation, reproductive vigor, hardiness and temperament. Also
on the farm are: two French Alpine dairy goats, Indian Runner ducks, broiler
chickens and several laying hens all integrated into their farm management
program. While the information shared is not meant to replace the protocol set
up by your veterinarian, these methods are being successfully used with many
different types of livestock including camelids. Any comments or questions can
be directed to: Nicholson@websticker.com.
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