Test of acceptability and preference of alpacas in high Andean conditions of Peru

Abstract

The acceptability and preference of oat-vetch pellets, cañihua chaff pellets, oat-vetch hay, cañihua chaff residues and quinoa chaff in alpacas was evaluated. Twelve fifteen-month-old male alpacas were selected, which were located in the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation of Quimsachata-Puno, Peru.

The acceptability test consisted of evaluating the following variables: number of bites, time eating, and time spent on other non-nutritional activities. The residues left by the animals were weighed to determine the rate of ingestion and the chewing time by difference. Data collection was performed using three stopwatches to measure each animal. With the first chronometer, the number of bites, time of food consumption; while the second chronometer marked the time dedicated to other non-nutritive activities and
the third recorded the evaluation time limit. The preference test consisted of feeding the animals, for a period of three days, with 300 grams of oat-vetch pellets and oat hay in different feeders for twenty minutes. At the end of the test, the residues left by each animal were weighed, thus allowing the preference between the foods used to be calculated.

Alpacas preferred oat-vetch pellets, while cañihua chaff pellets and oat-vetch hay had a medium preference. Likewise, the residue of oat-vetch hay was above the residues of cañihua brush and quinoa brush; while, the residues of cañihua brush compared to quinoa brush were the least preferred. In conclusion, oat-vetch pellets and oat-vetch hay were of greater acceptability and preference.