Zoo database

Lamas/alpacas

Lama spp.

Natural diet Lamas/alpacas

Grasses
Herbs
Leaves

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% of body weight

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, lucerne and other roughages
15% Browse

Proportions (fresh product)

0.15 x 3 kg = 450 g concentrates
0.7 x 3 kg = 2100 g grass, lucerne and other roughages
0.15 x 3 kg = 450 g browse

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Alfalfa hay

Variety of browse

Not recommended

Fruits

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).

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

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Alpaca feed pellets

Camala chunks (bactrian camel, lama, alpaca)

Boskos Grazer

Birch leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Herb mix - 3 kg

Jannicke Kiezebrink

Director Operations