Lamas/alpacas
Lama spp.
Natural diet Lamas/alpacas
The group lama are herbivores and their diets mainly consists of food that provides sufficient moisture in dry environments. They feed on grasses, but may also browse on shrubs, herbs and tree leaves.
Feeding advice Lamas/alpacas
Feed quantity per day
1-3%
Sample percentage calculation
If an animal weighs 150 kg and eats 2% of its body weight, it will get
150 x 0,02 = 3 kg feed in total per day
Feed composition
15% Concentrates
70% Grass, alfalfa, roughage
15% Browse
Proportions (fresh product)
0,15 x 3 kg = 450 g concentrates
0,7 x 3 kg = 2.100 g grass, alfalfa, roughage
0,15 x 3 kg = 450 g browse
Feeding advice Lamas/alpacas
Feed quantity per day
1-3%
Sample percentage calculation
If an animal weighs 150 kg and eats 2% of its body weight, it will get
150 x 0,02 = 3 kg feed in total per day
Feed composition
15% Concentrates
70% Grass, alfalfa, roughage
15% Browse
Proportions (fresh product)
0,15 x 3 kg = 450 g concentrates
0,7 x 3 kg = 2.100 g grass, alfalfa, roughage
0,15 x 3 kg = 450 g browse
Diet Suggestions
Recommended
Variety of grass hay (timothy, orchard and fescue)
Pellets
Salt lick
In moderation
Alfalfa hay
Variety of browse
Not recommended
Fruits
Common diseases
An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:
- Copper deficiency
- Hypercalcemia
- Obesity
Additional advice
- Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
- Lamas and alpacas require adequate copper levels, which can be supplemented with concentrates.
- Supplement the diet with ad libitum roughages (read more about browsers and grazers).
- Limit the amount of alfalfa hay, as it can cause excess protein and calcium intake.
- The browse used in the diet can be a mixture between dried and fresh browse.
- In the winter months, either dried, frozen (thawed) branches or leaf silage should be provided.
- Feeding fruits might lead to might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
- Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).
Diet Suggestions
Recommended
Variety of grass hay (timothy, orchard and fescue)
Pellets
Salt lick
In moderation
Alfalfa hay
Variety of browse
Not recommended
Fruits
Common diseases
An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:
- Copper deficiency
- Hypercalcemia
- Obesity
Species within this group
- Llama
- Vicuna
- Guanaco
- Suri alpaca
- Huacaya alpaca
