This can lead to unpleasant, attention seeking behavior. Even if your alpaca is a pet, you should not spoil it with too many hand fed treats. The main part of your animals’ diet should be fresh grazing and hay. To give your alpacas treats, keep these fruits and veggies on hand:Įven though these are all healthy treats, you should take care not to allow them to make up too much of your alpacas’ daily diet. Large chunks of treats could lead to choking. If you’re keeping your alpacas as pets, you may wonder “What do alpacas eat for treats?” You’ll be happy to know that they aren’t especially picky, but you do have to be careful what you feed them.įirst off, you must understand that anything you give them for a treat must be cut up small because of the configuration of their teeth. You must make certain that their water source does not become frozen during the winter months and does not dry out during the summer. Throughout the year, you must be sure that your alpacas always have plenty of fresh water to drink. Fresh Water Must Be Available 24/7 Year-Round Dry beet pulp is a choking hazard, additionally, when you soak it in warm water you help your animals stay hydrated through the cold, dry winter months.įeeding a warm, beet pulp mash also provides a bit of comfort food during cold weather. This is when soaked beet pulp is especially valuable as a source of fiber.Īlthough some people feed alpacas dry beet pulp, it is actually always preferable to feed it soaked. Sometimes hay can be in short supply too. In the wintertime when grazing is limited, you’ll need to increase the amount of hay you are feeding. What To Feed Alpacas In The Winter When Grazing Is Limited Animals that are in need of extra nutrition, such as lactating and/or pregnant females, can benefit from added vitamin and mineral supplements. Even so, small amounts of alfalfa can be fed. Shredded beet pulp may also be added for extra fiber.įor the most part, less rich, grass hay is preferable to protein rich alfalfa hay. When adding feed to your alpaca’s daily diet, it is wise to choose commercially prepared mixes that are especially formulated for llamas and alpacas. Check with your local agricultural extension to find out which native shrubs and trees in your area are safe for alpaca and general livestock consumption. These hardy little animals may also enjoy being able to nibble on some shrubs and trees. Small stands of Yarrow, dandelions, clover and other wild, native plants are also desirable but should not make up the most part of alpacas grazing. Pasture should consist mostly of good grass, such as Bermuda or Timothy. This means that alpacas are easy on pasture. Alpacas Need Good GrazingĪlpacas have short tongues, so they cannot pull grass up by the roots, as can sheep, goats and cattle. They regurgitate it and chew it with their molars in the form of a cud which is then re-swallowed and digested. Alpacas use these lower front teeth and the gum pad to shear off food and then swallow it whole. The lower front teeth grow continuously and need to be worn down through grazing. They only have one set of front teeth, on the bottom. This allows them to process small amounts of food very efficiently to get the most nourishment from every bite.Īlpacas chew their cud with the molars located at the backs of their jaws. Like full ruminants, they do chew a cud and produce rumen. They have one stomach with three compartments. Unlike goats and cattle, which are full ruminants with four stomachs, alpaca are pseudo-ruminants. Frequently Asked Questions About Feeding Alpacas.Fresh Water Must Be Available 24/7 Year-Round.What To Feed Alpacas In The Winter When Grazing Is Limited.An Alpaca’s Diet Should Not Be Too Rich.
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