Can Alpacas Eat Foxtail Barley & Foxtail Grasses?

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.

Status: Caution
Scientific name: Hordeum jubatum / Setaria spp.
Family: Poaceae
Plant type: Grass
Also known as: foxtail barley
Toxic parts: Mature seed heads with barbed awns
Toxic compound: Mechanical injury (no toxin)

Why it matters

Awns work into gums and cause painful abscesses ('lumpy jaw'). Avoid hay cut after foxtail heads mature.

Signs of foxtail barley & foxtail grasses poisoning in alpacas

Drooling and swelling of the jaw
Mouth ulcers and abscesses
Eye injuries
Seeds embedded in fleece

If your alpaca ate a lot of foxtail barley & foxtail grasses

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

About the plant

Hordeum jubatum, with common names foxtail barley, bobtail barley, squirreltail barley, and intermediate barley, is a perennial plant species in the grass family Poaceae. It occurs wild mainly in northern North America and adjacent northeastern Siberia. However, as it escaped often from gardens it can be found worldwide in areas with temperate to warm climates, and is considered a weed in many countries. The species is a polyploid and originated via hybridization of an East Asian Hordeum species with a close but extinct relative of Californian H. brachyantherum. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive inflorescences and when done flowering for its inflorescence.From Wikipedia — “Hordeum jubatum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 43,882 recorded observations of Hordeum jubatum L. worldwide, including 15,838 in the United States. It belongs to the Poaceae family, together with Johnsongrass, Cheatgrass, Corn Plants & Stalks, Dallisgrass (ergot-infected), Perennial Ryegrass. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is foxtail barley & foxtail grasses poisonous to alpacas?

It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Awns work into gums and cause painful abscesses ('lumpy jaw'). Avoid hay cut after foxtail heads mature.

What part of foxtail barley & foxtail grasses is toxic to alpacas?

Mature seed heads with barbed awns.

What are the symptoms of foxtail barley & foxtail grasses poisoning?

Drooling and swelling of the jaw, mouth ulcers and abscesses, eye injuries and seeds embedded in fleece.

Is dried foxtail barley & foxtail grasses 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 Q161883.