“A Full Service Alpaca Farm Including Seminars and Consulting”
Alpaca Nutrition – Getting Started
Alpacas have unique nutritional needs. This section of our website will have a variety of pages dealing with perspectives that we have found helpful. Check back as we will be updating these pages on a regular basis.
The most important issue is that alpacas are not cows! Many people mistakenly feel that since alpacas are ruminants that they are like cows. In some aspects, this is true, but in other nutritional ways, they are like sheep and in still other ways like goats. In truth, they have specific nutritional needs and then still more so when in specific life stages such as pregnancy or lactation. These are not difficult concepts, but some understanding is essential.
Nutrition is a confounding subject to many, if not most, livestock owners (not just alpaca owners!). Discussions of cryptic terms like TDN, dry matter intake, % protein, crude proteins, macro-minerals, net energy, etc. can cause one's head to spin. As our heads spin, we tend to stop listening, deciding to “let the experts handle this end of the farm operation.”
Basic alpaca nutrition is not voodoo or rocket science, nor is it something to be afraid of. We firmly believe that every alpaca owner can dramatically improve the nutrition and health of their animals if they take time to learn some nutrition basics. Remember, in order to make good decisions, we need timely, accurate information.
We encourage you to read and then work with nutrition. We are both very impressed with a quote from Dr. Norm Evans: “anyone can feed, but nutrition requires some effort”! That statement may seem trite, but Dr. Evans is a superb observer of the link between nutrition and health. We strongly encourage you to purchase a copy of his superb Alpaca Field Guide.
Here are a few things you can do to become more involved in your farm's nutrition program:
- Become familiar with some of the basic terms used regularly in nutrition (see a list in the following pages).
- Get to know your county agricultural extension agent. These “ag” agents have a wealth of information and services available to the livestock producer. These people can often direct you to other local resources.
- Learn how and what to test: soil, water, forage and hay. The testing procedures are easy and accessible. Do them once and you'll wonder why you ever hesitated. The information you get back will be invaluable in making wise nutrition decisions.
- Attend nutrition seminars regularly. We always learn something new when we go to nutrition lectures. Seminars also offer opportunities to talk with the speaker and other alpaca owners on solutions to common problems.
- Keep regular records on your alpaca's weights, body scores, reproductive efficiency, cria weights, growth rates, etc. This is a direct measure of how well your nutrition program is working.
Quality nutrition is the critical base on which your entire alpaca farm operation is built. With a bit of effort on your part, you can take an active part in putting the best nutrients into your animals, which will result in healthier animals, more crias, fewer problems and more profit for your farm. We invite you to use our website and seminars as resources in your learning process.
The attached pages are outlines of material that are covered in our seminars in greater depth. We wish you the best success in the growing family of alpaca owners and breeders!
Please let us know your thoughts and how this was helpful – or not! We are very appreciative to those that send suggestions, find typos or note that a recent finding has changed one of our recommendations.
Nutrition Pages
Nutrition Overview
Nutrition Terms
Transfer Factor
Problems with Rye
Bermudagrass
Orchardgrass Choices
Nutrition Issues
Copper a Micronutrient
Nutrition Overview
Nutrition Terms
Transfer Factor
Problems with Rye
Bermudagrass
Orchardgrass Choices
Alfalfa Forage
Nutrition Issues
Copper a Micronutrient