Developing probiotic and prebiotic treatments for low body condition in alpacas

Principal investigator:

Todd F. Robinson
Brigham Young University

The objectives of the proposed work are to determine if microbial populations in the alpaca compartment 1 (C1) can be manipulated to improve the health of low body condition (LBC) alpacas. Alpaca LBC is characterized by the animal constantly appearing skinny despite being treated (feed, deworming, vaccinations) as cohorts in the same group. Our preliminary findings reveal that in healthy animals different feeds influence the alpaca microbiome. We proposed that LBC can be remedied by altering the microbial population through feeding specific feeds to improve energy production needed for a healthy GBC alpaca. To determine if microbial population was a factor in LBC we first needed to determine if there is a difference between the microbial populations of GBC and LBC alpacas. We collected C1 samples via an esophageal tube from 6 GBC and 11 LBC alpacas fed the same grass hay to determine if there are differences in the microbial populations of GBC and LBC alpacas. Microbial DNA was harvested from the C1 samples and analyzed for population composition. We did not find a difference between the two body conditions and have concluded that though the C1 microbial population does play a role in body condition, it is not the cause. Further work is needed to determine what causes LBC in otherwise healthy alpacas.