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Article: Measurement of Milk Intake in Suckling Llamas (Lama glama) Using Deuterium Oxide Dilution
- Article from:
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Article date:
- February 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Dairy Science Association Feb 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to estimate daily milk intake in llama crias and relate nutrient intakes at peak lactation to growth data. Milk intake in 11 suckling llamas was estimated from water kinetics using deuterium oxide (D^sub 2^O) at d 17, 66, and 128 postpartum. Daily milk intakes averaged 2.6, 2.3, and 2.0 kg at 17, 66, and 128 d postpartum, respectively. Milk intake decreased with age when expressed as daily amount, percentage of body weight (BW), or per kilogram of metabolic size, but the influence of age was eliminated when expressed per gram of daily gain. Because llamas only have one young per parturition, milk intake was equivalent to the daily milk output of the ...