COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF FORESTOMACH DIGESTION IN LLAMAS AND SHEEP

To compare digestion in the forestomach of llamas and sheep, the anima ls were fed four different diets: hay alone (H), low in nitrogen; the same hay with soyabean meal (HS), with barley (HE) and with both soyab ean meal and barley (HSB). The sheep intakes were restricted to obtain about the same intake level in the two species. On average, the diges tibilities of DM, OM and NDF were significantly higher in llamas: resp ectively, + 2.7, 3.6 and 5.3 for the four diets. Added barley impaired hay digestion in the sheep, but very little in the llamas. The llamas retained nitrogen better than the sheep owing to very low urine losse s. For hay alone, the retention time of digesta in the forestomach was higher in the llamas than in the sheep. In contrast, there was no dif ference between species for the other diets. The pH and ammonia levels were higher in llamas. In contrast, the SCFA levels were lower. In al l cases the in-situ rate of digestion was greater in llamas. The low i ntake of llamas generally observed in the literature does not account for their better digestion. The stability of the two first compartment pH levels and an excellent cellulolytic activity are determining fact ors in the better digestion efficiency of plant cell walls in the llam as. However, higher NH3 levels were observed in llamas, although the u rinary N excretion was lower.