Animal Health

Gastric Rumen Transfer, aka Transfaunation, is used for ruminants that quit chewing regurgitated food, better known as “cud.” Ruminants, have multiple stomachs. Most ruminants have four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Alpacas are frequently referred to as pseudo ruminants because they have three compartments: rumen, reticulum, and the abomasum. more »

Alpacas are members of a family that comprise the old and new world camelids. As a group, they all have very similar digestive systems adapted for digesting lower protein plant materials. They have three gut compartments before the intestines. Humans (primates) have one – the simple stomach. Cows, a true ruminant, have four “stomachs”. Like alpacas, cows are classified as ruminants as they chew their cud. Horses are not ruminants as they lack a rumen and do not chew their cud. more »