Healthy pasture means healthier alpacas and lower hay bills. Alpacas are light, selective grazers — perfect for small acreages when you manage the grass well.
How many alpacas per acre?
A common guideline is 5–10 alpacas per acre (12–25 per hectare) of good pasture. The right number depends on rainfall, soil, grass species and whether you irrigate. Use the stocking-rate calculator and see your county’s grazing season in our local guides.
Good pasture plants
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cool-season grasses | Timothy, orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, brome, meadow fescue |
| Warm-season grasses | Bermudagrass, bahiagrass, teff, crabgrass |
| Legumes (20–30% of sward) | White clover, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil |
| Forbs | Chicory, plantain |
Avoid endophyte-infected tall fescue for pregnant females and check perennial ryegrass for endophyte. See tall fescue and perennial ryegrass.
Rotational grazing
- Divide pasture into at least 3–4 paddocks.
- Graze each paddock until grass is down to about 4 in (10 cm), then move the herd.
- Rest each paddock for 3–6 weeks (longer in dry seasons) so grass regrows.
- Mow or harrow after grazing to even out regrowth.
Benefits: more grass per acre, fewer weeds, and — importantly — fewer worm larvae, because most infective larvae live in the bottom 2 inches of grass.
Dung pile management
Alpacas’ communal latrines are a gift for parasite control:
- Pick up dung piles at least twice a week — this alone can dramatically reduce pasture contamination.
- Avoid spreading fresh alpaca manure on grazing paddocks; compost it first. See alpaca manure.
- Grass around dung piles grows rank and isn’t grazed; mow it.
Soil, weeds and fertilizer
- Test soil every few years and lime or fertilize based on results.
- Walk pastures regularly for toxic plants — check our plant checker.
- Don’t overgraze: hungry alpacas eat plants they normally avoid.
- Keep animals off pastures for the period specified on any herbicide or fertilizer label.
Dry lots and wet seasons
Create a sacrifice area (dry lot) near the shelter where alpacas can stay with hay during very wet, very dry or frozen periods. This protects pasture roots and reduces mud, foot problems and parasites.
Frequently asked questions
Can alpacas graze with horses? Yes — co-grazing with horses helps because horses don’t share most alpaca worms.
Do alpacas damage pasture? Much less than hoofed animals. Their soft pads and nibbling grazing style are gentle on turf.
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.