@conference {40586,
	title = {Effect of level of nutrition and season on fibre growth in alpacas},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {147-150},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The effect of nutrition on fibre production varies with species and  
response to nutrition may also be influenced by season.  This study examined  
the effect of feed allowance and season on fibre growth in alpacas.  14 one- 
year-old alpacas were pen-fed a pelleted lucerne diet at a maintenance or ad lib  
intake level for 11 weeks in summer (January - February) and winter (July -  
September).  Intake, liveweight gain and fibre growth rate were measured. 
 
Voluntary feed intake was 45\% higher in summer than in winter, 68 vs 47 {\textpm} 2 g  
DM/kg0.75/day.  Estimated maintenance requirements from this trial were 31.11  
g DM/kg0.75/day or 0.276 MJ ME/kg0.75/day. 
 
There was a positive relationship between feed intake, liveweight gain and  
fibre growth rate.  Increased feed allowance resulted in higher liveweight gain  
and increased fibre growth rate.  Differences in fibre length growth between  
maintenance and ad lib feeding levels, 0.36 and 0.33 {\textpm} 0.02 mm/day  
respectively, were not significant (P=0.07).  Feeding level had no effect on  
fibre diameter.  Fibre growth rate was greater (0.77 vs 0.62 {\textpm} 0.04 mg/cm2/day)  
and fibre diameter coarser (33.7 vs 31.3 {\textpm} 0.9 {\textmu}) in summer than winter.  The  
rate of response of fibre growth to increased feed allowance was the same in  
summer and winter. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Newman S-AN and Paterson DJ}
}
