8/12/2023 0 Comments Alpaca hay feederIn addition to their pasture and commercial feed, alpacas love the occasional treat, and their humans usually love providing them with treats as well! Treats are not only a way to add additional vitamins into your alpaca’s diet, but can also be a great training tool for them. Some farmers also crush up salty chips and add them to their alpaca’s feed – if you choose to do this, make sure that you do so in moderation! Acceptable Treats for Alpacas If you would like to provide a mineral block to your alpaca, you can purchase one that is formulated specifically for sheep. Like sheep, alpacas are prone to copper toxicity and should never be given a salt block. In addition, some commercial feeds will emphasize that they were created in an “Ionophore-free” facility, which means they would be safe for animals that are sensitive to this ingredient. You will need to watch out for any ingredient list that includes Rumensin, Lasalosid, or Salinomycin. Ionophores are a class of antibiotics commonly fed to many livestock but are toxic to alpacas. It is crucial that you avoid any feed that contains Ionophores. Some trusted brands of alpaca feed include (but are not limited to) Mazuri, Nutrena, Blue Seal, and Kent. If you are providing commercial feed to your alpaca, you must make sure that it is safe for alpacas to eat. Not every alpaca farmer supplements with feed, but if you have a pregnant or lactating female, an older animal, or for other health reasons your veterinarian suggests you do so, you may add a commercially available feed to your alpaca’s diet. In addition to hay and pasture, you may wish to supplement your alpaca’s intake with commercial livestock feed, or grain. Endophytes release a neuro-toxin and can cause a health concern in alpacas called staggers, which is a neurological disease that is treatable if caught early, but irreversible once established. These grasses were designed to include endophytes to help control insects. Additionally, alpacas should avoid fescue and perennial rye. Too much alfalfa will cause digestive upset in an alpaca. If you would like to feed clover or annual rye, please do your research and reach out to your veterinarian for advice.Īlfalfa is popular but should be fed sparingly, because of the rich protein content. Clover and annual rye may also be a good choice, and is used by many alpaca farmers, but there is some controversy surrounding these two grasses. The best grasses for alpacas are Bermuda, Bahia, and orchard grasses. There are several different types of hay and pasture, and it is important to know which ones will work best for the alpaca’s digestive system. Which Variety of Hay (or Pasture) to Feed Alpacas Alpacas should eat around 1.5% to 2% of their body weight in fodder every day – this means around two pounds of hay or pasture daily for a 125 pound alpaca. The way that alpacas digest food allows them to be very efficient eaters, with the ability to turn a relatively small amount of feed into sufficient energy. Alpacas are pseudo-ruminants, meaning that they have three stomach chambers (true ruminants like cows have four chambers). Pasture or hay should be the main ingredient in your alpaca’s regular diet. Read on to learn more about what you can, and can’t, feed your alpaca. Alpacas can have many fruits and vegetables, with some notable exceptions. can alpacas eat? The bulk of your alpaca’s food intake should be from hay, pasture, and tree and shrub leaves that they forage for themselves. Knowing what, and how, to feed your livestock is one of the most important aspects to ensuring they are properly cared for. If you are considering adding an alpaca to your homestead, you will need to know what you can and cannot feed them. 1 Shares What Alpacas Can (And Can’t) Eat
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