What Alpacas Eat in the UK
Hay-first diets, winter vitamin D, and the daily schedule we use for our ~40-head herd at Itchen Valley, Hampshire — BAS-registered keepers since 2009.
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 the complex compounds found in browse, not simple sugars.
Hensting Daily Feeding Schedule
Trust note: On a January morning walk with an Eastleigh family group, we still topped up hay nets before turnout — UK winter light means vitamin D comes from the bucket, not the sky.
| Time | What we offer | Why |
|---|
| Morning | Fresh hay / haylage + clean water | Fibre first — 85–90% of the diet |
| Midday check | Top up hay; check troughs | Alpacas nibble little and often |
| Afternoon | Measured Camelibra / balancer | Minerals without overfeeding grain |
| Oct–Mar extra | Vitamin D as advised for UK herds | Low winter UV at Hampshire latitude |
| Always | Ad-lib water; avoid sudden rich grass flushes | Prevents choke / digestive upset |
Amounts scale with bodyweight (typically 1.5–2% dry matter). This is how we feed at Hensting — always follow your vet / BAS adviser for your animals.
Hay Quality
UK Hay Requirements
- Best choices: long-fibre 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 for pregnant/lactating females
- Feeding method: use hay racks, never nets (entanglement risk)
- Storage: keep in enclosed barns or under tarps in the UK climate
- Quality control: remove wet or mouldy 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. Mouldy 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 litres 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.
Expert UK Feeding Philosophy
Tim Hey's approach (Inca Alpaca)
- Forage-based feeding over grain or 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.