Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Cheatgrass?

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) — a grass. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Photo: AnRo0002, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Bromus tectorum
Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grass
Also known as
Downy brome, Drooping Brome
Toxic parts
Mature, dry seed heads
Toxic compound
Mechanical injury
Region
Western North America

Why it matters

Palatable when green in early spring; dangerous once the awns dry.

Signs of cheatgrass poisoning in alpacas

  • Mouth sores
  • Eye and ear injuries
  • Fleece contamination

If your alpaca ate a lot of cheatgrass

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Bromus tectorum, known as downy brome, drooping brome, or cheatgrass, is a winter annual grass native to Europe, southwestern Asia, and northern Africa, but has become invasive in many other areas. It now is present in most of Europe, southern Russia, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, North America, and western Central Asia. In the eastern US, B. tectorum is common along roadsides and as a crop weed, but usually does not dominate an ecosystem. It has become a dominant species in the Intermountain West and parts of Canada, and displays especially invasive behavior in the sagebrush steppe ecosystems, where it has been listed as noxious weed. B. tectorum often enters the site in an area that has been disturbed, and then quickly expands into the surrounding area through its rapid growth and prolific seed production.From Wikipedia — “Bromus tectorum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

Main range of concern: Western North America. GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 107,738 recorded observations of Bromus tectorum L. worldwide, including 25,947 in the United States. It belongs to the Poaceae family, together with Johnsongrass, Corn Plants & Stalks, Dallisgrass (ergot-infected), Foxtail Barley & Foxtail Grasses, Perennial Ryegrass. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is cheatgrass poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Palatable when green in early spring; dangerous once the awns dry.
What part of cheatgrass is toxic to alpacas?
Mature, dry seed heads.
What are the symptoms of cheatgrass poisoning?
Mouth sores, eye and ear injuries and fleece contamination.
Is dried cheatgrass safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

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.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q164128.