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The Third of the Eight Essentials, of Alpaca Survival:
Feed
by Laurel Shouvlin
One of the wonderful things about alpacas is that they do not require large quantities of food and their dietary requirements are fairly simple. However, that doesn’t mean you can just throw them into a fenced-in space and expect them to thrive. First and foremost, they require forage, either in the form of grass pasture on which to graze, or good grass hay, ideally both. It would be nice if I could give you a specific formula for how to feed your alpacas, but the reality is that different parts of the country offer different climates and soils, so you need to grow what will be sustainable in your area, and provide feed and minerals in quantities suitable to the demands placed on your animals. I recommend that you contact your agricultural extension office to find out what would work best in your area.
Alpacas are similar to ruminants such as cows, deer, goats, and sheep. This means that they chew a cud and rely almost entirely on grass (or hay) for food. This is a very efficient type of digestion, utilizing bacteria and other organisms kept in the stomach to help them break down their food. Because their digestive system is so efficient, you have to be careful not to overfeed.
Pasture and/or hay are not enough by themselves. All animals require minerals and so alpaca owners buy minerals mixed specifically for alpacas. Since alpacas have different requirements from other ruminants, it's important to get minerals designed for them and these always come in a powdered form.
Some alpaca enthusiasts will also provide a feed supplement either daily or twice a day. This probably isn’t necessary for males or geldings on decent pasture, but it is a good way to be certain that they are receiving essential minerals and vitamins. These supplements come as pellets, crushed pellet, or a mix of pellets and grain. Many feed stores can order bags for you if they do not have them in stock. The feed is usually found in a 50 pound bag and costs between $15.00 and $25.00.
Last, it is easy to forget that water is an important part of the equation. Alpacas need fresh water and plenty of it due to the fact that they are ruminants. Typically an alpaca will consume a few gallons a day. It is important that the water be fresh and the buckets kept clean so that they do not spread parasites or bacteria to one another. Some alpacas in the heat will dip their feet in the bucket, so elevating them a bit can help prevent this.
Remember, the key to keeping any animal alive and healthy is good quality food and properly balanced nutrition. Alpacas are no different, and if you feed them well, they will very likely live long and happy lives.
Author: Laurel Shouvlin of Bluebird Hills Farm, Ohio
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Helpful Links with Additional Information:
So -- if you're thinking about buying some alpacas, you're going to need to figure out what to feed them. John Merrell of Gateway Farm Alpacas uses common sense to his approach concerning Feed.
You'll notice that most long-time breeders have developed a nutrition plan based on what works best for them, given their situation. Here is yet another take on Nutrition, written by Boyd & Kelly Cumming of Kelowna Alpaca Farm. And just to clarify things, understand that the term Lama, includes both Alpacas AND Llamas. Llamas, which are also in the camelid family, are basically pack animals and are about 3x larger than alpacas. And to confuse things even further -- Lama is pronounced identically to Llama. Would have been nice if someone had come up with a totally different word -- but no one asked my opinion!
If you excel in science, know what the acronym ppm stands for, and are ready to delve into the alpaca's gastrointestinal tract -- this article, written by Dr Nancy A. Irlbeck, will be right up your alley! This link, which includes her paper on Basics of Alpaca Nutrition, is compliments of the Alpaca Research Foundation.
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