Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Tall Fescue (endophyte-infected)?

Tall Fescue (endophyte-infected) (Lolium arundinaceum) — 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.

Tall Fescue (endophyte-infected) (Lolium arundinaceum)
Tall Fescue (endophyte-infected) (Lolium arundinaceum). Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Lolium arundinaceum
Family
Poaceae
Plant type
Grass
Also known as
Kentucky 31 fescue, Festuca arundinacea, Tall fescue, tall fescue
Toxic parts
Infected seed heads, stems and hay
Toxic compound
Ergot alkaloids (ergovaline) from the fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala

Why it matters

Most pasture fescue in the U.S. 'fescue belt' carries the endophyte. Novel-endophyte and endophyte-free varieties are safe. Dilute fescue with other grasses and keep late-pregnant females off infected stands.

Signs of tall fescue (endophyte-infected) poisoning in alpacas

  • Heat intolerance and rough fleece
  • Reduced weight gain
  • Prolonged pregnancy, thick placenta, poor milk production
  • Dry gangrene of extremities (rare)

If your alpaca ate a lot of tall fescue (endophyte-infected)

  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 arundinaceum, commonly known as tall fescue, is a cool-season, perennial C3 grass species native to Europe and introduced to North America and other parts of the world. It naturally occurs in grasslands and coastal marshes. Tall fescue is grown in a range of cultivars, widely used for livestock forage, in lawns and recreational areas as turf, and occasionally for managing soil erosion.From Wikipedia — “Lolium arundinaceum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 444,747 recorded observations of Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh. worldwide, including 8,669 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 tall fescue (endophyte-infected) poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Most pasture fescue in the U.S. 'fescue belt' carries the endophyte. Novel-endophyte and endophyte-free varieties are safe. Dilute fescue with other grasses and keep late-pregnant females off infected stands.
What part of tall fescue (endophyte-infected) is toxic to alpacas?
Infected seed heads, stems and hay.
What are the symptoms of tall fescue (endophyte-infected) poisoning?
Heat intolerance and rough fleece, reduced weight gain, prolonged pregnancy, thick placenta, poor milk production and dry gangrene of extremities (rare).
Is dried tall fescue (endophyte-infected) 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 Q50346809.