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Feeding the Pregnant lpaca
Robert J. Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate, ACT and ACVN
The most desirable outcome from a prenanc! is to ha"e a health!, "iorous cria, no health complications #ith
the dam, and successful rebreedin #ithin $% da!s. Nothin can be more frustratin for an o#ner after the lon
#ait than to ha"e somethin o #ron #ith their ne#born cria, especiall! if the prenanc! #as difficult to
concei"e. &"en more disheartenin is learnin that somethin could ha"e been done to pre"ent the problem
durin prenanc!.
Research #ith cattle and sheep has sho#n that nutrition in prenanc! influences colostrum 'ualit! and 'uantit!,
mil( !ield and composition, neonate "iabilit!, and future fertilit! of the dam. These data re"eal the critical
nutritional issues that need to be addressed durin prenanc!. The critical issues are) ener! and protein balance
relati"e to re'uirements and appropriate supplementation of minerals and fat*soluble "itamins. +rom a
manaement standpoint, issues such as le"el of inta(e, forae 'ualit!, bod! condition monitorin, and
en"ironmental stressors must be considered.
+or an industr! that is dependent upon sound reproduction, #e ha"e little data to uide us in the proper nutrition
of our prenant animals. Data specificall! addressin prenanc! nutrition of alpacas and llamas are scarce at
best. ,ecause there is sufficient functional similarit! of anat*om! and ph!siolo! bet#een camelids and other
ruminants, e-trapolation of basic concepts of prenanc! nutrition from other species can be applied to the
alpaca and llama and #ill be the focus of this discussion.
!nderstanding Pregnancy "e#uirements
Nutrient re'uirements for the prenant, nonlactatin alpaca are onl! slihtl! hiher than maintenance. The
prenant alpaca re'uires a defined amount of ener!, protein .amino acids/, minerals, and "itamins to maintain
normal bod! functions as #ell as support fetal de"elopment. +etal ro#th in all animals is e-ponential #ith
more than 0%1 of total ro#th occurrin in the final 2*to*$ months of estation .3/. As a result of this ro#th
pattern, there is a substantial increase in nutrient re'uirements for the animal in late prenanc! as compared to
the needs re'uired for maintenance or earl! prenanc!.
+ollo#in birthin, initiation of mil( production results in a tremendous nutrient drain on the dam. 4hen one
compares dail! re'uirements for lucose, amino acids, fatt! acids and calcium for either a lactatin or late
prenant co#, lactational re'uirements are 2.5, 2.%, 6.7 and 0.8 times reater than those needed for prenanc!,
respecti"el! .3/. These differences represent chanes in nutrient re'uirements o"er a period of onl! a fe# da!s
and hihliht the tremendous metabolic alterations necessar! to ade'uatel! support lactation. 9f these metabolic
chanes are not effecti"el! enacted, metabolic disease .i.e., fatt! li"er/ and infertilit! problems ma! result.
Maternal feed inta(e is depressed in all animals for a sinificant period of time follo#in birthin. This results
in inade'uate nutrient inta(e to support mil( production and rapid mobili:ation of nutrient reser"es. 9f reser"es
ha"e been depleted durin late prenanc!, mil( production #ill be limited, thus compromisin sur"i"abilit! of
the cria. ;nder most manaement schemes, #e attempt to breed alpacas #ithin $% da!s of birthin to establish
ne-t !ear<s cria. Reproducti"e c!cles and conception rates are hihl! sensiti"e to nutrient status. Depletion of
ener! reser"es results in suppressed reproducti"e function.
$nergy
&ner! 'uantitati"el! is the most important nutrient and is
deri"ed from the metabolism of carboh!drates, fats, and protein.
The fetus re'uires ener!, primaril! in the form of lucose and
amino acids, to support ro#th. These nutrients are deli"ered "ia
the maternal bloodstream to the uterus. The placenta, #hich
encloses the fetus, is a ph!sical barrier separatin the fetus from
maternal circulation. The primar! functions of the placenta are
nutrient upta(e for metabolism and e-cretion of metabolic
#astes. As a result of the number of cellular la!ers in the camelid
placenta, similar to other ruminant animals, fatt! acids and other
lipid*based molecules do not cross the placenta .3, 2/. Pre"entin
fat from crossin the placenta allo#s the dam to shift her
metabolism to utili:in fat as an ener! substrate rather than
lucose. This allo#s more lucose to be a"ailable to support the
fetus.
Durin periods #hen the dam does not consume sufficient feed to
meet nutrient needs, she #ill dra# from her fat reser"es to ma(e
up the ener! difference. This is #h! the prenant animal needs
to ha"e, at a minimum, moderate bod! condition throuhout
prenanc!= it is an ener! reser"e to dra# upon. ;nfortunatel!,
the fetus has little fle-ibilit! in terms of a"ailable alternati"e
metabolic fuels. There is no fat reser"e in the fetus. +etal lucose concentrations decline as a result of declinin
maternal concentrations durin periods of nutritional deficienc!. >ro#th of fetal sheep, as determined b!
cro#n*to*rump lenth measurements durin prenanc!, #as deterred or completel! stopped durin periods of
induced maternal h!pol!cemia durin late prenanc! .$/. Since fat, #hich is ele"ated in the dam durin ener!
deficienc!, cannot cross the placenta, the fetus must utili:e amino acids for ener!. 9n contrast to lucose, fetal
amino acid upta(e is essentiall! unaffected b! maternal nutrient status. A stud! usin prenant sheep sho#ed
amino acid o-idation to increase from $21 to 0%1 of total fetal o-!en consumption for diets either
maintainin or restrictin maternal nutrient inta(e throuhout estation, respecti"el! .6/. These data clearl!
demonstrate that amino acids are essential fetal ener! substrates, especiall! durin periods of maternal under*
nutrition, #hich places an additional protein utili:ation burden on the dam.
Protein %mino cids&
Dietar! amino acids are used b! the prenant alpaca to build bod! proteins. ?nl! durin periods of ener!
deficienc! #ill amino acids be used b! the dam for eneratin lucose or be used as an ener! substrate. 9n
contrast, amino acids are an important ener! substrate in the fetus irrespecti"e of nutritional status. 9n addition
to their use as a fetal ener! substrate, amino acids are necessar! to support fetal ro#th. Maternal protein
deficienc! in late estation seeminl! has a reater impact on birth #eiht than does ener! deficienc! .7/.
Maternal protein mobili:ation can maintain fairl! normal fetal ro#th patterns durin short periods of under*
nutrition. T#in prenant e#es fed an 81 crude protein diet had an 381 reduction in fetal #eiht compared to
321 and 371 crude protein diets .0/. +etal #eihts #ere not different bet#een the 321 and 371 crude protein
diets .0/. These data suest some capacit! for the placenta to sustain amino acid deli"er! to the fetus, but it is
not unlimited. There is no reser"e storae of protein in the bod!. 4here does this protein come from@ &#es
recei"in either 81 or 321 crude protein diets lost maternal s(eletal protein, #hereas e#es on the 371 crude
protein diet ained carcass protein mass. Mobili:ation of maternal s(eletal protein .Alabile proteinA/ can e-plain
#h! birth #eiht is not dramaticall! affected #ithin reasonable "ariation in maternal nutritional status, at the
e-pense of maternal protein mass. Se"ere or proloned maternal protein under*nutrition can not onl! result in
fetal ro#th retardation, but can also neati"el! impact ne#born "iabilit! throuh decreased thermoenic
capacit! and reduced production of 'ualit! colostrum. Cal"es born to co#s on restricted protein prenanc! diets
had less abilit! to enerate heat to (eep #arm compared to cal"es born to protein*ade'uate co#s .5/. Prepartum
losses in maternal nutrient reser"es or bod! protein ma! ha"e se"ere detrimental impacts on maternal health,
lactation, and reproducti"e performance follo#in parturition since these nutrient pools are critical to support
earl! lactational nutrient losses.
'inerals
Macrominerals .calcium, phosphorus, manesium, potassium, sodium, chloride/ and microminerals .copper,
iron, iodine, mananese, selenium, :inc/ are transported across the placenta to support fetal ro#th and
metabolism. Durin late estation, calcium and phosphorus deposition into de"elopin fetal bone accounts for
an increased re'uirement for these minerals. 9n addition to the functional uses, most of these minerals are
concentrated in the fetal li"er to
be used as a postnatal mineral reser"e .8, B/. Althouh mil( contains hih concentrations of calcium and
phosphorus, it is deficient in most microminerals .3%/. &"en appropriate supplementation of the lactatin dam
does not sinificantl! increase the micromineral content of mil(. The microminerals are not onl! re'uired for
normal ro#th and de"elopment of the cria, but are also essential to normal immune s!stem function. The
ne#born cria relies on mineral storae in the li"er to maintain normal bod! functions #hile on a predominantl!
mil( diet. Consumption of solid food, containin minerals and "itamins to aument li"er stores, usuall! does
not occur until t#o months of ae or later. 9f li"er mineral reser"es are e-hausted, immune function #ill be
compromised, resultin in increased disease susceptibilit! as #ell as decreased ro#th rate. Proper
supplementation of all minerals durin prenanc!, more than durin lactation, is essential for the normal
de"elopment and "iabilit! of the fetus and ne#born cria.
(itamins
9n contrast to minerals, fat*soluble "itamins li(e "itamins A, D, and & do not
appreciabl! cross the placenta resultin in minimal li"er reser"es .33/. This
means that the ne#born cria is essentiall! de"oid of these "itamins and
susceptible to deficienc! disease problems. The cria<s primar! source of
"itamins A, D, and & comes "ia colostrum inestion supplied from an
ade'uatel! supplemented dam .33/. Colostrum contains a lare amount of fat
and concentrated fat*soluble "itamins. Mil( also contains a reasonable amount
of fat*soluble "itamins, aain onl! if the dam is ade'uatel! supplemented.
These relationships ma! e-plain #h! fall*born crias are most susceptible to
ric(ets. Maternal "itamin D concentrations decline durin the fall and are
lo#est in #inter #ithout supplementation, thus compromisin the cria<s
"itamin D status durin the critical ro#th period. Colostrum also contains
hih concentrations of microminerals and protein in the form of
immunolobulins. Ci"er micromineral reser"es can be aumented b!
colostrum consumption. Therefore, a"ailable neonatal nutrient reser"es are the
sum of placental transport and colostrum consumption, both of #hich are
hihl! influenced b! maternal nutrient status. These data stronl! underscore
the absolutel! critical manaement practice of ensurin ade'uate colostrum
consumption b! the ne#born to ensure passi"e antibod! protection as #ell as
micromineral and fat*soluble "itamin transfer.
Feeding 'anagement of the Pregnant lpaca
Nutrition of the prenant animal at all staes of prenanc! has been sho#n to influence "iabilit! of the
ne#born. Dietar! recommendations for diestible ener!, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus for the late
prenant e#e are 3.7 to 2.% times reater compared to earl! estation .32/. A similar increase #ould be
appropriate for the late prenant alpaca. >i"en the aruments made for increases in nutrient re'uirements o"er
the course of prenanc!, the 'uestion follo#s= ho# does one accomplish this increase@ There are t#o solutions
to meetin increased nutrient needs * either increase feed inta(e or increase feed nutrient densit!. &-pectin the
late prenant alpaca to consume more food ma! not be practical. Durin late prenanc!, the uterus e-pands and
ma! ph!sicall! limit inta(e. 9n addition, other metabolic or endocrine factors ma! decrease inta(e capacit!.
&n"ironmental stresses also need to be considered, especiall! in liht of the lac( of tolerance to heat stress. Deat
stress reduces feed inta(e and if proloned can result in se"ere neati"e ener! balance #ith e-cessi"e fat
mobili:ation. 9f inta(e does decline, appropriate modifications to nutrient densit! #ill be necessar! to ensure
ade'uate nutrient inta(e. 4ithout adEustin the feedin reimen, the alpaca #ill e-perience neati"e ener! and
protein balance, #hich could lead to rapid mobili:ation of fat reser"es and subse'uent hepatic lipidosis .e..,
fatt! li"er/ and prenanc! to-emia .e.., (etosis/.
+orae 'ualit! is the most important factor to consider in addressin issues of inta(e capacit!. >rass or alfalfa
foraes #ith hih neutral deterent fiber "alues are associated #ith lo# inta(e capacit!. +iber ta(es loner to
ferment and fills the astrointestinal tract pre"entin further feed inta(e. As either rass or alfalfa matures, its
acid and neutral deterent fiber content #ill increase. Con"ersel!, crude protein and ener! content #ill
decrease .Table 3/. At the same maturit!, rass foraes #ill ha"e hiher fiber and lo#er ener! and protein
"alues compared to alfalfa.
Typical test value of alfalfa and grass hays harvested at
verious stages of plant maturity (all values on dry matter
basis)
Type of Hay CP% ADF% DF% TD%
Alfalfa
Pre-bloom >19 <30 <35 >62
Early bloom 17 to 19 30 to 35 35 to 39 57 to 62
Mid-bloom 13 to 16 36 to 41 41 to 47 51 to 56
Late bloom <13 >41 >48 <51
!rass
Pre-head 17 <29 <55 >54
Early head 12 to 17 30 to 35 56 to 61 47 to 54
Head 8 to 12 36 to 44 60 to 65 44 to 46
Pot-head <8 >45 >65 <44
!bbre"iatio#$ %P&'r(de )rotei#* !+, & a'id deter-e#t .iber*
/+, & #e(tral deter-e#t .iber* 0+/ & total di-etible #(trie#t

Table "# $%trapolated minimum total
dietary mineral concentrations (dray
matter basis) for the pregnant alpaca#
&ineral 'nits Concentration
%al'i(m 1 023 to 026
Pho)hor( 1 0216 to 0230
Ma-#ei(m 1 0212 to 0220
Potai(m 1 025 to 028
%obalt ))m
1 o215 to 023
%o))er ))m 13 to 15
3ro# ))m 60 to 75
Ma#-a#ee ))m 45 to 55
4ele#i(m ))m 024 to 026
5i#' ))m 40 to 50
))m & )art )er millio# 6m-78-9
+eedin poorer 'ualit! foraes to late prenant animals is a disaster #aitin to happen. +oraes should be
routinel! tested or at least "isuall! inspected to assess 'ualit!. ;sin hiher 'ualit! foraes or addin some
rain to the diet can help increase dietar! ener! and protein densit! to compensate for reduced inta(e. 9n the
sprin or earl! summer, prenant alpacas ma! not re'uire much additional supplementation because of their
hih 'ualit! foraes. The same is true for those alpacas ra:in on irriated pastures throuhout the !ear.
Prenant alpacas eatin mature rass ha!s #ill re'uire ener! and protein supplementation. This ma! come
from substitutin 271 to 7%1 of the rass ha! #ith alfalfa ha! dependin upon 'ualit!. Cereal rains such as
oats, corn, barle!, or their combination #ill pro"ide additional ener!, but minimal protein. Commercial
supplements can pro"ide both ener! and protein= ho#e"er, the hih fiber products ma! not be appropriate.
Re"ie# the feed ta and nutrient list to ensure that some cereal rains are present for ener!, and protein content
is 361 or hiher. 9n readin the inredient list of a feed ta, a cereal rain li(e corn, barle!, or oats should be
one of the first three inredients listed. The amount of supplement to feed #ill depend upon forae 'ualit! and
ma! rane from %.27 lb to more than 3 lbFda!. To achie"e a dietar! protein content of 321 #hile feedin a 3%1
protein rass ha!, 3.2 lb of a 361 protein supplement or %.0 lb of an 381 protein supplement #ould be
re'uired.
+oraes contain some minerals, but in most areas of the countr! foraes are deficient in one or more minerals.
>i"en the storae of minerals in the fetal li"er durin prenanc!, it #ould be ood manaement practice to
ensure that the prenant dam is consumin ade'uate amounts of minerals. Specific mineral re'uirements for
alpacas are not a"ailable, but suested minimal dietar! concentrations are presented in Table 2. Rel!in on free
choice inta(e of trace mineral salt products is not a ood method because of their "ariable inta(e. ?fferin a
fi-ed amount of an appropriatel! formulated mineral supplement #ould be the preferred method and #ould
complement the use of a supplement to address ener! and protein needs. ?ne needs to re"ie# the mineral
complement of commercial supplements to assess ade'uac! especiall! relati"e to microminerals .3$/.
Similar to the minerals, supplementation of the fat*soluble "itamins, especiall! "itamin D, is necessar! durin
prenanc! to ensure ade'uate colostral transfer. Vitamins A and & are more than ade'uate in pasture, but ma! be
limited in stored ha!. Vitamin D is minimal in pasture and "ariable in ha!. Most of the alpaca<s "itamin D inta(e
is dependent upon sunshine. ?ur research sho#s considerable seasonal "ariation in "itamin D status #ith
hihest "alues in the summer and "er! lo# "alues durin the #inter. Dar( colored alpacas seem to ha"e lo#
"itamin D e"en durin the summer. Vitamin D should be supplemented bet#een 2,%%% and $,%%% 9; F da! usin
a commercial mineral*"itamin product. Vitamins A .6,%%%*0,%%% 9; F da!/ and & .$%*3%% 9; F da!/ need to be
supplemented if dried ha! is bein fed, but there is no need to supplement if there is ood 'ualit! pasture.
ssessing )utritional Status of the Pregnant lpaca
The sinle most important assessment of nutritional status in the prenant alpaca is accomplished b! bod!
condition scorin. ,od! condition scorin is a method that subEecti"el! rades alpacas b! the amount of
subcutaneous fat stores palpated o"er the lumbar "ertebrae, shoulder, and loin into cateories co"erin ph!sical
states ranin from emaciated to obese .36/. Alpacas should ha"e moderate bod! condition throuhout
prenanc!. Remember that the prenant alpaca should ain bet#een 2% and $% pounds durin prenanc! to
account for fetal ro#th. This ener! reser"e can then be mobili:ed in support of earl! lactation #hen inta(e is
depressed. ?"erl! fat alpacas ha"e reduced inta(e and are more prone to fatt! li"er problems i"en their lare,
readil! mobili:ed fat reser"e. &-cessi"el! thin animals ha"e minimal reser"es from #hich to dra# to support
earl! lactation or reproduction. ,ased on bod! condition, the nutritional proram can be tailored to either
increase or decrease supplements or forae 'ualit! to achie"e the desired bod! condition. 9t #ould not be
desirable to reduce ener! inta(e too dramaticall! in an o"erl! fat animal as this ma! lead to e-cessi"e fat
mobili:ation and subse'uent fatt! li"er problems. 9deall!, one should continuall! monitor the bod! condition of
their alpacas throuhout the !ear and modif! the nutritional proram prior to mid or late prenanc! to achie"e
the desired bod! condition.
9n addition to bod! condition monitorin, nutritional status can be
e"aluated usin a number of laborator! tests of the blood. 4ith specific
metabolite anal!ses, one can e"aluate nutritional status relati"e to
ener! balance, li"er function, and protein, mineral, and "itamin status.
Do#e"er, blood anal!ses need to be carefull! interpreted in liht of the
diet bein consumed and underl!in ph!sioloic processes. Most
macro*mineral blood concentrations are "er! tihtl! controlled b!
reulator! processes resultin in minimal concentration chanes o"er a
#ide dietar! input rane. This minimi:es their usefulness in dianostic
e"aluations. ,oth microminerals and fat*soluble "itamins are stored in
the li"er, #hich helps to buffer nutritional insults and minimi:e chanes
in blood mineral or "itamin content. This storae ho#e"er, confounds
interpretation of the measured nutrient<s concentration. Gour
"eterinarian should be consulted relati"e to the usefulness and
interpretation of blood nutrient anal!ses. Remember that blood anal!ses
are onl! part of the dianostic process and should not be the sole basis
for nutritional manaement decisions.
Summary
9nformation pertainin to maternal and fetal metabolism and nutrient
re'uirements durin prenanc! has been presented. Althouh this
information is not deri"ed from alpaca research, it supports the
contention that nutritional manaement of the prenant alpaca can ha"e
tremendous impact on cria sur"i"abilit! and the reproducti"e
capabilities of the dam. Clearl!, more information specific to alpacas,
especiall! a better understandin of nutrient re'uirements durin
prenanc!, is needed. There are man! different #a!s to ade'uatel! feed
the prenant alpaca to minimi:e potential problems. Proper
manaement includes implementin the follo#in actions)
Monitor bod! condition to maintain moderate condition.
Assess forae 'ualit! and supplement appropriatel!.
9ncrease protein to 321 of the total diet.
Ade'uatel! supplement all minerals #ith a palatable supplement.
Supplement "itamin D and "itamins A and & if not on pasture.
The 'ualit! of !our a"ailable forae is primaril! oin to dictate the necessit! and t!pe of supplementation
proram needed. +eedin hiher 'ualit! forae, addin some rain, or both, ma! be necessar! to maintain
ade'uate ener! inta(e b! the prenant alpaca. Properl! addressin the nutrient needs of the prenant alpaca
increases the probabilit! of a successful outcome for the cria, dam and o#ner.