Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2017
There is a scarcity of information in the scientific literature on the effects of seasonal and nutritional factors on fibre production in the South American camelids. Without such information it is difficult to develop systems of management incorporating nutritional regimes and fibre harvesting strategies which will optimise the efficiency of fibre production. This paper presents preliminary results from an experiment designed to provide basic information on the effects of season and nutrition on fibre growth in llamas.
The experiment was conducted on 12 adult entire male llamas which were individually penned indoors under conditions of natural photoperiod and ambient temperature in north-east Scotland.
Two levels of nutrition were applied: the lower level (L) was calculated to supply approximately maintenance energy requirements (calculated as 0.44 MJ/kg0.75) and the higher level (H) to supply twice maintenance. The feeding comprised only hay for the L level and hay plus a proprietary cattle concentrate for the H level.