Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Raspberry?

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) — a shrub. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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Yes — raspberry is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Rubus idaeus
Family
Rosaceae
Plant type
Shrub

Feeding notes

Leaves are safe and commonly fed.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

Rubus idaeus is a red-fruited species of Rubus native to Eurasia and commonly cultivated in other temperate regions.From Wikipedia — “Rubus idaeus”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 819,256 recorded observations of Rubus idaeus L. worldwide, including 14,284 in the United States. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, together with Cherry Laurel, Chokecherry, Wild Black Cherry, Cherry Tree (sweet & sour cherry), Peach & Nectarine Tree (leaves, pits). See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat raspberry?
Yes. Leaves are safe and commonly fed.
How much raspberry can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

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 Q12252383.