Alpacas are very efficient at utilizing available feed, making them relatively inexpensive animals to maintain. Water is the most important nutrient and alpacas need access to fresh clean water at all times. They will drink up to 3 pints a day (and more when exercising, lactating or if the temperature is high).

A mature alpaca will eat about 2 pounds of dry matter each day depending on size and activity. The alpaca that is pregnant will need to eat more during the last three months of pregnancy, which is when most of the foetal growth takes place. Lactating animals have greatly increased requirements as they are eating literally for two. Nearly all owners feed a food supplement to ensure their animals receive the correct amounts of minerals and vitamins that are essential for a healthy herd. These supplements are readily available and inexpensive - their exact formulation varies across North America and from farm to farm.

Here at Mulberry we are part of a local group of farms that have a custom feed milled to our own formula. The exact formula was developed with Dr Tara Timpson of Crater Animal Clinic. The formula is created by knowing the intake from other sources such as grass and hay then by doing blood work on the animals to confirm everything we feed is being digested and absorbed as expected.

It can be time consuming and frustrating at times but well worth the effort in the long term. Far better to get nutrients in through diet than with a series of injections.

By Adrian Stewart