Hay is the foundation of the alpaca diet for much of the year. The right hay keeps alpacas lean, healthy and well-fleeced; the wrong hay causes weight loss, obesity or worse.
Best hay types for alpacas
| Hay | Typical protein | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy | 7–11% | Maintenance, fiber males |
| Orchardgrass | 9–13% | Most adults, seniors |
| Brome | 9–12% | Maintenance |
| Bermudagrass | 8–12% | Southern U.S. |
| Teff | 9–12% | Easy keepers (low sugar) |
| Alfalfa-grass mix | 12–16% | Mixed herds, pregnancy, lactation |
| Alfalfa | 15–22% | 10–30% of forage for breeding females and crias |
Avoid using straw as feed (too low in nutrients), be careful with oat and ryegrass hays (often high in sugar), and test sorghum/sudangrass for nitrate.
Judging hay by eye, nose and hand
- Color: green to light green-gold. Brown or bleached hay has lost nutrients.
- Leafiness: lots of fine leaves, thin stems. Stemmy, coarse hay is less digestible.
- Smell: sweet and fresh. Musty, moldy or sour smells mean mold — reject it.
- Feel: soft, not prickly. Check for foxtail or barley awns, which injure mouths and eyes.
- Weeds: look for toxic weeds such as ragwort, hemlock, nightshade and horsetail. See toxic plants.
- Dust: dusty hay irritates lungs.
- Heat: bales that are warm inside may be fermenting — a mold and fire risk.
Reading a hay analysis
A forage test costs about $25–$40 and tells you exactly what you’re feeding. Look at:
- Crude protein (CP): 8–10% for idle adults; 12–14% for late pregnancy and lactation.
- ADF: under ~35% means digestible hay.
- NDF: under ~60% means alpacas can eat enough.
- NSC (sugar + starch): under ~12% for easy keepers and seniors.
- Calcium : phosphorus: about 1.2–2:1 in the whole diet.
- Nitrate for cereal or sorghum hays.
Our hay & feed database explains each number.
First, second and third cutting
- First cutting: often coarser and stemmier, may contain weeds; good for idle adults.
- Second and later cuttings: leafier, softer and richer; great for crias, seniors and breeding females, but can fatten idle animals.
How much to buy
Plan about 3 lb of hay per adult per day when there’s no grass, plus 10–15% waste. Use the winter hay calculator — and see how many grazing months your area has in the local guides.
Storage
- Store off the ground on pallets, under cover, with airflow.
- Keep away from animal housing to reduce fire risk.
- Use older hay first; vitamin E declines with storage time.
Frequently asked questions
Is alfalfa good for alpacas? In moderation. It’s excellent for breeding females and crias but too rich as the only hay for idle adults.
What hay is lowest in sugar? Teff and mature grass hays are usually lowest; test to be sure.
Keep reading
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.