Vol. 22, No. 12December 2000
Refereed Peer Review
FOCAL POINTKEY FACTS
#
Weight loss, a commonpresenting sign in adult alpacaswith protein–energy malnutrition,can be caused by many diseases;definitive diagnosis is difficultbut can often be achieved bythorough clinical examination,laboratory tests, and feedanalysis.
Protein–Energy Malnutrition in Alpacas
University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, Canada
James L. Carmalt, MA, VetMB
ABSTRACT:
Alpacas commonly present with clinical signs of weight loss and illthrift but oftenhave no other abnormalities on physical examination, making diagnosis difficult and frustrat-ing for veterinarians. Protein–energy malnutrition is a diagnosis of exclusion supported by ba-sic protein–energy calculations, body condition scoring, and feed analysis. Although protein–energy malnutrition has been described in domestic ruminants, this syndrome has not beenstudied in camelids.
P
rotein–energy malnutrition (PEM) has been defined as insufficient provi-sion of feed (quality and/or quantity) to ruminant livestock.
1–3
This syn-drome has not been described in camelids, in which clinical signs differfrom those seen in domestic ruminants. In camelidae weight loss, illthrift andfailure to exhibit normal grazing and/or browsing behavior are common present-ing signs.The number of camelids seen by veterinary practitioners has been steadily in-creasing. Most commercial camelid owners weigh and determine the body con-dition score (BCS) of their animals on a regular basis and are thus aware of changes in their animals’ weight, BCS, and demeanor; however, this is often un-true for noncommercial camelid owners.The exact nutritional requirements of lamoids are unknown.
4
The values pre-sented in current literature are based on extrapolations from studies in sheep,
4
goats,
5,6
and cattle.
7
The digestive system of lamoids—especially those on low-quality diets—is considered to be superior to that of other ruminants
8
; therefore,the extrapolation of nutrient values may not be wholly accurate. Because bothllamas and alpacas are lamoids, values presented for one are often assumed to beapplicable to the other.In the alpaca’s natural habitat (i.e., the South American Andes), the tempera-ture rarely falls below –10˚C.
4
The average daily temperature in North Americaand Canada during winter often falls below –15˚C and can be as low as –35˚C,excluding wind chill. Published nutritional guidelines
4,9
for camelids do not ac-count for these extremes. Nutrition has a significant effect on fiber growth in al-
CE
I
Regular weighing and bodycondition scoring by owners areintegral components of a historyof weight loss or failure to gainweight in alpacas.
I
Failure to exhibit normal grazingand browsing behavior arecommon presenting signs ofalpacas with weight loss andillthrift.
I
Feed analysis and accurateknowledge of each rationcomponent enable veterinariansto calculate protein and energyintake in alpacas.
I
Maximum third-compartmentcapacity of 2% body weight drymatter is a significant limitingfactor in meeting protein–energyrequirements during times ofnutritional stress.
pacas.
10,11
Because fiber insulates these animals againstheat loss, poor nutrition compounds the thermoregula-tory stress experienced in these extreme climates andthus predisposes alpacas to PEM.The need for high-quality, nutritious, palatable feedalong with regular body condition scoring and weigh-ing in these climates cannot be overemphasized. In ani-mals with suspected malnutrition, feed analysis is asimple and cost-effective way for practitioners to calcu-late the nutritional needs of each animal and comparethose needs with what is being provided by the currentdiet.
ENERGY AND PROTEIN CALCULATIONS
Initially, daily maintenance metabolizable energy (ME)should be calculated using the following equation
9
:ME (Mcal) = (84.5
×
Body weight
0.75
[BW; kg])
÷
1000[Equation 1]Digestible energy (DE), a relatively constant propor-tion of ME,
12
is calculated as follows:DE (Mcal) = ME
×
1.22[Equation 1a] Additional factors
4–7
important to the DE equation areoften overlooked during calculation (see Essential Fac-tors in the Digestible Energy Equation). Omission of these factors can lead to inadequate feeding of energy and protein and the development of PEM.Maintenance crude protein (CP) or total protein lev-els are directly related to the DE value calculated inEquation 1a; CP is calculated as
13
:CP (g) = 31 g
×
DE (Mcal)[Equation 2]Maximum dry matter (DM) intake or third-compart-ment limitation is calculated as:DM (kg) = BW (kg)
×
0.02[Equation 3]During free-choice feeding, llamas will not eat morethan 2% BW (DM) over 24 hours, even during periodsof growth.
14
Sheep, however, can increase DM intake to3.0% BW DM.
13
The camelid diet has to be sufficient-ly energy- and protein-dense to satisfy their nutritionalrequirements within the limitations of DM intake.
BODY CONDITION SCORING
Determining the BCS of alpacas is essential and re-quires handling of the animal for accurate measure-ment. It is simple, cost-effective, and can easily be per-formed on a regular basis. This assessment is subjective,however, and thus consistency of scoring is important. Alpacas are assigned a numeric value ranging from 1(emaciated) to 9 (very obese) based on their body con-dition. Although 5 represents optimal condition, scoresfrom 4 to 6 are acceptable (Table I).The chest, front legs, lumbar area, ribs, and dorsalhindlimbs should be assessed. Contrary to the condi-tion scoring of sheep and cattle, assessment of the pel-vis is not performed in alpacas because the musculatureand adipose tissue distribution is such that even anoverconditioned animal will appear thin.In thin alpacas, the lumbar musculature between thedorsal and transverse spinous processes of the lumbarvertebrae appears concave because of a lack of coveringadipose tissue. In obese animals, however, the tissue isconvex between the spinous processes and may pro-trude above the vertical processes of the spine in thelumbar area.In alpacas with optimal BCSs, the verticalprocesses of the spine can be felt using gentle pressureand the cross-sectional shape of the epaxial musclesover the vertebra is flat.Ribs should be palpated in the fiberless area directly behind the elbow of the forelimb and over the middleand widest part of the ribcage. The fiber must not in-
Compendium
December 2000Small Animal/Exotics
FEED ANALYSIS
I
METABOLIZABLE ENERGY
I
CRUDE PROTEIN
a.Pregnancy
—During the last 4 months of gestation,0.093 Mcal DE
×
BW
0.75
should be added.
4,6
b.Growth
—An additional 0.00892 Mcal DE/gramincrease in BW should be added for juvenileanimals that are still gaining in height and weight.The figure is often 1.78 Mcal DE/day.
4
c.Lactation
—1.533 Mcal DE should be added foreach kilogram of milk produced (crias should beconsuming 10% BW/day
4,6
).
d.Pack Animals
—An increase in energy as muchas 75% above normal adult maintenancerequirements may be needed.
4
e.Temperature
—0.04 Mcal DE should be added forevery degree below +15˚C. Although not specific tocamelids, this has been evaluated in Canadiancattle.
7
Note: Because literature on camelid nutrition is scarce, thesevalues have been extrapolated from studies in sheep, goats,
4–6
and cattle.
7
BW
= body weight;
DE
= digestible energy.
Essential Factors in theDigestible Energy Equation
terfere with the measurement in this area. When lightly palpated, the brisket area should feel firm.The chest of thin alpacas is
V
shaped; in obese ani-mals, the forelimbs appear to be closer together becauseof the excess adipose tissue on the thorax. When an al-paca is in optimal condition, the muscles of the innerthigh in the hindlimbs have visible definition andshould come close together withouttouching. The caudal abdomen is eas-ily seen between the hindlimbs.Nonlactating females and those inearly to mid-pregnancy should bemaintained at a BCS of 5+ becausemaximum fetal growth and udder de-velopment occur in the last trimesterof gestation. To compound this nutri-tional stress, voluntary intake will alsobe reduced at this time because theuterus commands more space in theabdomen, thus reducing the effectiveforestomach size. Birthing should oc-cur at a BCS of 6 because the stress of lactation and early rebreeding willcause a reduction in BCS. If BCS de-creases excessively (i.e., below 4), ear-ly weaning of the cria may be pru-dent. Growing animals should bemaintained at a BCS of 4 to 6.
15
CASE SCENARIO
Four female alpacas were presentedas representatives of a herd of 150mature alpacas in which 4 had died.Two of the animals were in mid- tolate-gestation, and two were in early lactation. BCSs ranged from 2 to 2.5(on a scale of 1 to 9), and the animals weighed from 54 to 67 kg (119 to147 lb). The males in the herd werealso thin but, according to the owner,had an average BCS of 3.0 to 4.0.The average daily temperature insidethe animals’ enclosure was –15˚C.Other than low BCSs, no abnor-malities were found on physical ex-amination. Differential diagnosis in-cluded gastrointestinal parasitism,mineral deficiencies, PEM, and ep-erythrozoonosis. Other causes of weightloss (Table II) were excluded becausethis was a herd problem.No significant abnormalities werefound on hematologic and biochemi-cal examination or fecal flotation and culture. Based onthe results of diagnostic testing and feed analysis, a di-agnosis of PEM was made.The alpacas were being fed 0.14 kg (0.3 lb) per headof oats/grain per day and allowed hay
ad libitum
. Anal-ysis of the grain revealed 91.8% DM, 10.7% CP DM,and a DE of 3.3 Mcal/kg DM. The grass hay contained
Small Animal/Exotics
Compendium
December 2000
ADIPOSE TISSUE
I
NUTRITIONAL STRESS
I
FORESTOMACH SIZE
TABLE IBody Condition Score and Interpretation in Alpacas
Body Score Description
1
Severely emaciated Ribs easily viewed and palpated
V
-shaped thorax as viewed from the frontHindlimb musculature does not oppose dorsally Epaxial muscles appear concave between the dorsaland transverse spinous processes
2
Emaciated Ribs are easily felt
V
-shaped thoraxHindlimb musculature does not oppose dorsally Overall loss of muscle
3
Very thin Ribs can be easily feltSlight
V
shape to thoraxDecreased space between hindlimb musculature
4
Thin Ribs can be felt
U
shape to thoraxLittle loss of muscleDefined adductor musculature on hindlimbs
5
Optimal Ribs can be felt with gentle pressureSlight space between hindlimbs Well-defined adductor musculature on hindlimbsEpaxial muscles appear flat between the dorsal andtransverse spinous processes
6
Slightly overweight Ribs can be felt with some pressureDorsal adductor musculature touches betweenhindlimbsLess-defined adductor muscle groups
7
Somewhat overweight Ribs can be felt with moderate pressureLess-defined adductor muscle groups
8
Obese Ribs can be felt with firm pressureThorax appears “barrel shaped” Adductor musculature has little definition
9
Very obese Ribs cannot be felt, even with firm pressureSignificant contact between hindlimbsNo definition of hindlimb musculatureNormal ambulation impededEpaxial muscles appear convex between the dorsaland transverse spinous processes
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