🔓 Logout from Alpaca Access

🌾 Alpaca Feeding & Nutrition Guide

Complete nutrition guide for UK alpacas. Learn proper feeding schedules, hay requirements, vitamin supplementation, and seasonal adjustments based on Tim Hey's expertise and BAS guidelines.

Proper nutrition is fundamental to alpaca health and productivity. Unlike many livestock, alpacas have evolved to thrive on low-quality forage with minimal concentrated feeds. Their unique digestive system is designed for efficiency, requiring careful management to avoid overfeeding while ensuring adequate nutrition, especially in the UK's challenging climate.

🎯 Golden Rule: "Feed for health, not for growth. Alpacas are browsers, not grazers - their digestive systems are designed for complex compounds found in browse, not simple sugars." - Tim Hey, Inca Alpacas

Daily Feeding Requirements

🍽️ Daily Basics

Essential Daily Requirements

  • Total intake: 2-3% of body weight in dry matter daily
  • Fiber requirement: 20% minimum fiber content (85-90% forage-based diet)
  • Protein needs: 10-12% crude protein (adults), 12-14% (growing animals)
  • Example: 100kg alpaca needs 2-3kg hay/pasture per day
  • Feeding frequency: Split supplementary feed into 2+ meals daily
  • Timing: Feed during cooler parts of day (morning/evening)
  • Space requirement: Minimum 4ft trough space per animal

📅 Recommended Daily Schedule

Morning (7-8am): Health check, fresh water, hay provision, vitamin supplement
Midday: Water check, pasture rotation if needed
Evening (5-6pm): Second feed if supplementing, final health check

🌾 Hay Quality

UK Hay Requirements

  • Best choices: Long-fiber grass hay (timothy, orchard grass, brome, fescue)
  • Stem length: More than 2 inches for proper forestomach function
  • Avoid: High-protein legume hays (alfalfa, clover) except pregnant/lactating females
  • Feeding method: Use hay racks, NEVER nets (entanglement risk)
  • Storage: Keep in enclosed barns or under tarps in UK climate
  • Quality control: Remove wet/moldy hay immediately
  • Consumption: Approximately one 100-lb bale per adult per month
  • Replacement: Replace hay annually as nutrients decline
⚠️ UK Storage Critical: Britain's damp climate makes proper hay storage essential. Moldy hay can cause serious respiratory issues and digestive problems in alpacas.
💊 Supplements

UK-Specific Supplementation

Supplement Dosage Frequency Purpose
GWF Camelibra 1-2g per kg body weight Daily Primary vitamin/mineral supplement
Vitamin D3 10ml adults, 5ml crias Every 4-6 weeks (Oct-Mar) UK winter UV deficiency
Alpha-Beet As directed Twice daily Condition improvement
Fibregest As directed Daily Digestive health support
💡 Pro Tip: Increase Camelibra from 1g to 2g per kg body weight during winter months to compensate for reduced vitamin D synthesis.
💧 Water Needs

Critical Water Requirements

  • Normal conditions: 5-8% of body weight daily (approx. 2 liters minimum)
  • Lactating females: 10-18% of body weight (milk is 87% water)
  • Hot weather: Significantly increased needs
  • Quality standard: Alpacas will dehydrate rather than drink poor water
  • Cleanliness: Fresh, clean water at all times
  • Maintenance: Regular cleaning of water sources essential
  • Monitoring: Check water systems daily
⚠️ Water Quality Alert: Alpacas are extremely particular about water quality. Contaminated or stale water can lead to rapid dehydration and serious health issues.
🗓️ Seasonal Adjustments

UK Seasonal Feeding Calendar

❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb)

  • Increase Camelibra to 2g per kg body weight
  • Mandatory vitamin D supplementation
  • Sugar beet feeding for energy
  • Enhanced nutrition for pregnant females
  • Monitor body condition closely

🌸 Spring (Mar-May)

  • Begin reducing vitamin D supplementation
  • Monitor for rich grass diarrhea
  • Limit grazing in early spring
  • Prepare for birthing season nutrition
  • Assess pasture rotation needs

☀️ Summer (Jun-Aug)

  • Restrict rich pasture access
  • Increase water provision
  • Reduce hay when pasture adequate
  • Monitor for heat stress
  • Maintain fiber intake despite grass

🍂 Autumn (Sep-Nov)

  • Begin vitamin D supplementation (late Oct)
  • Pasture naturally provides better fiber
  • Prepare winter feed supplies
  • Assess body condition for winter
  • Increase supplementation gradually
☀️ Vitamin D

UK Vitamin D Management

Why Critical in UK

  • Insufficient winter UV light
  • Dark-skinned animals at higher risk
  • Housed animals need more supplementation
  • Young animals especially vulnerable

Deficiency Symptoms

  • Rickets in young animals
  • Lameness and bone deformities
  • Hunched back appearance
  • Weight loss and poor condition

Supplementation Protocol

  • Timing: October/November through March
  • Injectable: 1000 IU D3/kg body weight
  • Oral: Double the injectable dose
  • Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks

❌ Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid

Overfeeding Errors

  • Too much rich food (alfalfa, fruit, grain)
  • Overfeeding concentrate feeds
  • Unlimited access to lush spring grass
  • Treating alpacas like horses or cattle

Underfeeding Issues

  • Insufficient fiber provision
  • Inadequate winter supplementation
  • Poor quality or moldy hay
  • Insufficient feeding space causing competition

Management Errors

  • Using hay nets instead of racks
  • Not providing daily supplements
  • Inadequate water quality/quantity
  • Not adjusting feed for life stage/condition

🎓 Expert UK Feeding Philosophy

Tim Hey's Approach (Inca Alpacas)

  • Forage-based feeding over grain/sugar-based feeds
  • Soil and pasture analysis for targeted supplementation
  • Spring blood tests to monitor nutritional status
  • Digestive system designed for complex compounds
  • Focus on quality over quantity in supplementation
🌟 Key Principle: Feed for the efficient digestive system alpacas have evolved, while addressing UK-specific challenges like reduced UV light and richer pastures compared to their native environment.
← Back to Caring for Alpacas