Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Redroot Pigweed?

Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) — a weed. 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.

Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)
Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Photo: Lynk media, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Amaranthus retroflexus
Family
Amaranthaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
wild beet, rough pigweed, redroot amaranth, redroot, Red-root Amaranth, Red Rooted Pigweed
Toxic parts
Leaves and stems, especially on fertilized ground
Toxic compound
Nitrates and oxalates

Why it matters

Pigweed is palatable and often fine in small amounts, but stands on manure piles and heavily fertilized ground can be loaded with nitrate.

Signs of redroot pigweed poisoning in alpacas

  • Brown or chocolate-colored blood and gums
  • Rapid breathing, gasping
  • Weakness, trembling, staggering
  • Kidney damage

If your alpaca ate a lot of redroot pigweed

  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

Amaranthus retroflexus is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae with several common names, including red-root amaranth, redroot pigweed, red-rooted pigweed, common amaranth, pigweed amaranth, and common tumbleweed.From Wikipedia — “Amaranthus retroflexus”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 129,617 recorded observations of Amaranthus retroflexus L. worldwide, including 6,350 in the United States. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, together with Halogeton, Kochia, Lamb's Quarters. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is redroot pigweed poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Pigweed is palatable and often fine in small amounts, but stands on manure piles and heavily fertilized ground can be loaded with nitrate.
What part of redroot pigweed is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and stems, especially on fertilized ground.
What are the symptoms of redroot pigweed poisoning?
Brown or chocolate-colored blood and gums, rapid breathing, gasping, weakness, trembling, staggering and kidney damage.
Is dried redroot pigweed 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 Q157663.