Llamas and alpacas are often grouped with goats and sheep in small-farm feeding discussions, but their nutritional needs are meaningfully different. Camelids are modified ruminants — they have a three-compartment stomach rather than four — and they are significantly more efficient at extracting nutrition from forage. The practical result: they need less hay per pound of body weight than most ruminants, and they are prone to obesity and mineral imbalances when fed inappropriate rations.
Daily Hay Requirements
Llamas and alpacas need approximately 1.5–2% of body weight in dry matter forage daily — similar to a horse on a per-pound basis, but because camelids are highly efficient, they often require less than this ceiling to maintain weight. Monitor body condition closely and adjust downward if animals are gaining excess condition.
| Animal | Typical Weight | Daily Hay (lbs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaca, adult | 100–185 lbs | 1.5–3.5 | Easy keepers; monitor BCS closely |
| Alpaca, pregnant female | 120–200 lbs | 2.5–4 | Increase in last trimester |
| Alpaca, lactating | 110–190 lbs | 3–5 | Peak demand post-cria |
| Llama, adult | 280–450 lbs | 4–8 | Males tend toward obesity; monitor |
| Llama, pregnant female | 300–480 lbs | 5–9 | Increase quality in last 90 days |
| Cria (weaning to 1 year) | 25–100 lbs | 1–2.5 | Free-choice leafy hay; growth stage |
Best Hay Types for Camelids
Grass hays are the foundation of a healthy camelid diet. Orchard grass and timothy are both excellent choices — palatable, nutritionally appropriate, and widely available. Bermudagrass is suitable in the South.
Why to Avoid or Limit Alfalfa
This is the most important camelid-specific hay rule: avoid high-alfalfa hay for most llamas and alpacas most of the time. Camelids are prone to hypervitaminosis D and mineral imbalances when fed high-legume diets. The high calcium in alfalfa can interfere with copper and zinc absorption, contributing to white muscle disease and poor fleece quality. The high protein load from alfalfa can also cause obesity in the efficient camelid digestive system.
Alfalfa is appropriate in limited amounts for crias in their first year, very thin animals being rebuilt, and females in the last 60 days of pregnancy or peak lactation — and even then, mixed grass-alfalfa rather than straight alfalfa is preferable.
Hay Quality Target for Camelids
For adult llamas and alpacas at maintenance, target grass hay with 8–11% crude protein and ADF around 38–42%. This is moderate-quality grass hay — the kind appropriate for easy-keeper horses. Hay at 14%+ CP is generally too rich for maintenance camelids and will cause condition gain over time.
Feeder Considerations
Camelids are browsers and prefer to eat at shoulder height or slightly above. Low ground-level feeders cause neck strain over time. A hay rack positioned at chest to shoulder height is ideal. Camelids do not paw or sort hay the way goats do, making them cleaner feeders — waste rates of 10–15% are typical without any special feeder, lower with a covered manger.
One camelid-specific consideration: they have a tendency to spit at each other during feeding, which can be reduced by ensuring adequate feeder space so animals don't feel crowded. Allow 18–24 inches of linear feeder space per animal.
Mixed Herds With Goats or Sheep
If you keep camelids alongside goats or sheep, be aware that goat and sheep mineral supplements often contain copper at levels toxic to camelids. Never allow llamas or alpacas access to goat mineral blocks or loose minerals formulated for goats. Use camelid-specific mineral supplements separately, or consult your vet about mineral management in mixed herds.
Hay quality requirements overlap reasonably well — a moderate grass hay at 10–12% CP is appropriate for all three species at maintenance, making shared hay practical. The issue arises when you're providing high-quality alfalfa or mixed hay for lactating does, which is too rich for camelids.