Microbial Community in the Forestomachs of Alpacas (Lama pacos) and Sheep (Ovis aries)

Four 2-yr old alpacas ((48 +/- 2.3) kg) and four 2-yr old sheep ((50 +/- 1.7) kg) were used to study the pH and microbial community of forestomach from alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed fresh alfalfa as the sole forage at low altitude (793 m). The forestomach fluid was taken anaerobically via the esophagus. The electric pH meter and quantitative polymerase chain reaction systems were used to study the the pH and microbial community of forestomach. The results showed that the mean pH of forestomach fluid from alpacas was higher than that from sheep (P<0.01). The percentages of methanogens and Ruminococcus flavefaciens to total bacterial were lower in the forestomach of alpacas than that in the rumen of sheep, while the percentage of fungi and Fibrobacter succinogenes were higher. The percentage Of protozoa was similar in the forestomach of alpacas and sheep. These differences can partly explain the reason that alpacas were lower methane production than sheep.