Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Perennial Ryegrass?

Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) — 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.

Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Lolium perenne
Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grass
Also known as
perennial rye-grass
Toxic parts
Base of the plant and seed heads in summer/autumn
Toxic compound
Lolitrem B (endophyte), ergovaline

Why it matters

Ryegrass staggers has been documented in alpacas in New Zealand and Australia. Animals usually recover when moved to safe pasture. Endophyte-safe cultivars are available.

Signs of perennial ryegrass poisoning in alpacas

  • Head tremor and nodding
  • Stiff, jerky gait and falling when stressed (ryegrass staggers)
  • Heat stress

If your alpaca ate a lot of perennial ryegrass

  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

Lolium perenne, common name perennial ryegrass, English ryegrass, winter ryegrass, or ray grass, is a grass from the family Poaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but is widely cultivated and naturalised around the world.From Wikipedia — “Lolium perenne”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 1,080,836 recorded observations of Lolium perenne L. worldwide, including 9,450 in the United States. It belongs to the Poaceae family, together with Johnsongrass, Cheatgrass, Corn Plants & Stalks, Dallisgrass (ergot-infected), Foxtail Barley & Foxtail Grasses. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is perennial ryegrass poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Ryegrass staggers has been documented in alpacas in New Zealand and Australia. Animals usually recover when moved to safe pasture. Endophyte-safe cultivars are available.
What part of perennial ryegrass is toxic to alpacas?
Base of the plant and seed heads in summer/autumn.
What are the symptoms of perennial ryegrass poisoning?
Head tremor and nodding, stiff, jerky gait and falling when stressed (ryegrass staggers) and heat stress.
Is dried perennial ryegrass 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 Q161722.