Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Sudangrass?

Sudangrass (Sorghum × drummondii) — 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.

Status
Caution
Scientific name
Sorghum × drummondii
Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grass
Toxic parts
Young regrowth, frost-damaged or stressed plants
Toxic compound
Cyanogenic glycosides and nitrates

Why it matters

Lower in cyanide potential than other sorghums, but the same grazing precautions apply. Test hay for nitrates.

Signs of sudangrass poisoning in alpacas

  • Rapid, labored breathing within minutes
  • Bright cherry-red gums and blood
  • Anxiety, trembling, staggering

If your alpaca ate a lot of sudangrass

  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.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 2,300 recorded observations of Sorghum × drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase worldwide, including 424 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 sudangrass poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Lower in cyanide potential than other sorghums, but the same grazing precautions apply. Test hay for nitrates.
What part of sudangrass is toxic to alpacas?
Young regrowth, frost-damaged or stressed plants.
What are the symptoms of sudangrass poisoning?
Rapid, labored breathing within minutes, bright cherry-red gums and blood and anxiety, trembling, staggering.
Is dried sudangrass 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.