Vitamin D doses for alpacas (Lama pacos)

Objective To assess the effectiveness of cholecalciferol (D-3) doses for ma intaining adequate vitamin D status in crias and adult female alpacas at pa sture. Design A field experiment during winter and early spring in a herd on a far m in South Australia. Animals and procedure Crias, usually less than 6 months of age and female a lpacas, aged 2 to 6 years, were given a single subcutaneous dose of 0, 1000 or 2000 IU D-3/kg body weight. Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecal ciferol (25-OH D-3), phosphorus, calcium and vitamins A and E and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured at intervals over a period of 16 weeks a fter treatment. Results Crias not given a vitamin D supplement had reduced growth rate duri ng winter and one animal showed clinical signs of rickets. Vitamin D treatm ent had no effect on the body weight of mature females. Vitamin D supplemen ts increased the 25-OH D-3 and phosphorus concentrations in plasma of both crias and adult females; alkaline phosphatase activity was not affected by treatment. Conclusion It is suggested that for alpacas in southern Australia a subcuta neous dose of 1000 IU D-3/kg body weight to crias in late autumn and again in mid winter and to adult females in mid winter should prevent vitamin D i nadequacy.