Zoo database

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.

Grasses
Grasses
Herbs
Herbs
Leaves
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

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).

Species within this group

  • Llama
  • Vicuna
  • Guanaco
  • Suri alpaca
  • Huacaya alpaca