{"id":1051,"date":"2026-07-27T02:57:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T02:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/application\/hay-for-alpacas-and-llamas-what-the-fibre-market-needs\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T02:57:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T02:57:38","slug":"hay-for-alpacas-and-llamas-what-the-fibre-market-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/application\/hay-for-alpacas-and-llamas-what-the-fibre-market-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Hay for Alpacas and Llamas: What the Fibre Market Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Camelids \u00b7 SA & Victoria \u00b7 Fibre Industry<\/div>\n

Hay for Alpacas and Llamas: What the Fibre Market Needs<\/p>\n

Camelids are not small cattle \u2014 their modified rumen and low-NDF tolerance means the hay specification for alpacas and llamas is closer to horse hay than sheep hay, and most general-purpose hay fails the test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Why Standard Farm Hay Is Often Wrong for Alpacas and Llamas<\/h2>\n

Australia’s alpaca industry \u2014 approximately 350,000 to 400,000 registered alpacas, concentrated in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges and Goulburn Valley, SA’s Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale, and NSW’s Tablelands \u2014 is one of the fastest-growing small livestock sectors in Australian agriculture. The fibre from Huacaya alpacas (the more common of the two alpaca breeds in Australia) sells for AUD $15 to $45 per kilogram at current clean fleece prices, depending on micron, staple strength, and colour purity. For properties running 30 to 200 alpacas as a commercial fibre enterprise, feed quality directly affects both fleece weight per animal and fibre fineness \u2014 the primary determinant of price.<\/p>\n

The nutritional management mistake that most new alpaca and llama producers make is feeding their animals like sheep or cattle. This is understandable \u2014 alpacas are ruminant-adjacent animals managed in a pastoral context, and the farm supply store sells hay without alpaca-specific nutritional guidance. The problem is that alpacas and llamas are not true ruminants \u2014 they are pseudo-ruminants (camelids with a three-compartment stomach rather than the four-compartment cattle stomach) with a metabolic efficiency and roughage-processing capability that differs from sheep and cattle in important practical ways.<\/p>\n

The result: standard farm hay that performs acceptably for ewes or dry cows \u2014 mature oaten hay at 60 to 65% NDF, 7% crude protein \u2014 produces poor body condition scores in alpacas fed at ad-lib intake because their smaller, more efficient digestive system extracts nutrients differently from high-NDF fibrous material. This article covers what hay specifications alpacas and llamas actually need, which Australian hay species meet those specifications, and the baling and storage management that maintains those specifications from paddock to feeding rack. For general baling equipment context across the small livestock property scale typical of Australian alpaca operations, our article on round baler solutions for sheep and wool farms<\/a> covers equipment selection at this farm scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"9YG-1.0C<\/p>\n

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Alpaca and Llama Digestive Physiology \u2014 Why It Matters for Hay Selection<\/h2>\n

The Three-Compartment Stomach and Its Implications<\/h3>\n

Camelids (alpacas and llamas) have a three-chambered stomach system (C1, C2, and C3) rather than the four-chambered ruminant system of cattle and sheep (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum). The C1 compartment functions similarly to the rumen \u2014 fermentation occurs here \u2014 but its capacity is smaller relative to body size than the cattle rumen, and the rate of fermentation is slower and more efficient per unit of feed DM. Camelids extract more nutrients per kilogram of DM from high-quality, low-NDF feed than cattle or sheep do, but they are less effective at processing high-NDF, mature roughage.<\/p>\n

In practical terms: an alpaca can maintain good body condition on 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight in DM per day from high-quality hay (NDF below 52%, ME above 9.5 MJ\/kg DM). The same alpaca fed mature oaten hay at 65% NDF needs 2.5 to 3.0% of body weight in DM to maintain condition \u2014 an intake level that exceeds the camelid stomach capacity in most individual animals, resulting in progressive body condition loss even when hay is fed ad-lib.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hay Specification<\/th>\nAlpacas & Llamas<\/th>\nSheep<\/th>\nCattle (dry)<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
NDF<\/td>\n<52% ideal, <58% acceptable<\/td>\n<65%<\/td>\n<70%<\/td>\nCamelids most sensitive to high NDF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crude protein<\/td>\n10\u201316%<\/td>\n8\u201312%<\/td>\n7\u201310%<\/td>\nHigher protein improves fleece weight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ME (MJ\/kg DM)<\/td>\n\u22659.5<\/td>\n\u22658.5<\/td>\n\u22658.0<\/td>\nCamelids need density, not volume<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dust<\/td>\nVery low \u2014 similar to horses<\/td>\nModerate ok<\/td>\nModerate ok<\/td>\nCamelids respiratory sensitive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mould<\/td>\nZero \u2014 absolute<\/td>\nNear-zero<\/td>\nLow<\/td>\nStrict \u2014 similar to equine standards<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Which Australian Hay Species Work for Alpacas<\/h2>\n

Premium: Lucerne (Alfalfa) \u2014 The Gold Standard for Camelid Nutrition<\/h3>\n

Lucerne hay cut at the vegetative to early-bud stage is the best-performing hay for alpacas in Australia. At 20 to 24% crude protein, 38 to 46% NDF, and 9.5 to 10.5 MJ ME, it meets every camelid nutritional specification comfortably. The main management consideration is not to over-feed lucerne to alpacas at high protein availability \u2014 males and non-breeding females on pure lucerne ad-lib can become excessively conditioned, and fibre production does not necessarily improve proportionally with condition score above 3.0 on the 1-5 scale. Feed lucerne alongside a lower-protein grass hay (meadow, ryegrass, oaten) at a 30:70 or 40:60 ratio for most production classes.<\/p>\n

Good: Oaten Hay at the Right Stage<\/h3>\n

Oaten hay cut at the flag-leaf to early-head stage \u2014 before the oat seed head is fully formed and the stem has lignified \u2014 produces hay at 48 to 55% NDF and 10 to 12% CP that meets alpaca requirements. The same oaten hay cut at full heading (the common commercial specification for cattle and sheep markets) rises to 58 to 65% NDF and drops to 7 to 9% CP \u2014 adequate for maintenance in dry sheep but genuinely sub-optimal for alpacas at commercial body condition targets.<\/p>\n

Avoid: Mature Cereal Straw and Late-Cut Hay<\/h3>\n

Wheat straw, barley straw, and any cereal hay made from fully-headed crops are nutritionally inadequate for alpacas as a primary roughage. NDF above 68% and ME below 7.5 MJ\/kg DM places these materials below the camelid’s metabolic efficiency threshold \u2014 the animal physically cannot eat enough to meet maintenance requirements without supplementary grain. These materials can be used as ‘filler’ roughage at 15 to 20% of the ration alongside high-quality hay or concentrate, but should not be fed as sole-roughage to alpacas or llamas.<\/p>\n

For alpaca property hay production at small scale (30 to 150 head, 150 to 400 bales per season), the 9YG-1.0 round baler<\/a> produces 1.0 m bales at 180 to 240 kg \u2014 a 2 to 3 day supply for a mob of 30 to 50 alpacas, manageable with a compact tractor or quad-bike-rated bale cart for feeding distribution around the property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"9YG-1.0<\/p>\n

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Baling and Storage for Camelid-Standard Hay<\/h2>\n

Moisture and Dust \u2014 The Equine-Equivalent Standard<\/h3>\n

The dust and mould standards for alpaca hay are closer to horse hay than to sheep or cattle hay. Alpacas are nasal breathers with highly developed olfactory discrimination \u2014 they identify and refuse dusty or mouldy hay before cattle of equivalent size would show any refusal response. Bale at 13 to 16% moisture for camelid hay \u2014 the same target as premium horse hay \u2014 and store in a barn or covered structure to prevent moisture re-uptake from dew cycles and summer humidity. An alpaca that consistently refuses hay from a particular batch is providing reliable quality information; investigate the batch before assuming the animal is off-feed from another cause.<\/p>\n

Bale Size for Alpaca Mob Feeding<\/h3>\n

Alpacas fed from round bales in a mob feeding arrangement show less social competition than horses or cattle because they are less aggressive at the feed source. A mob of 30 Huacaya alpacas consuming 1.8 kg DM per head per day consumes 54 kg DM per day from hay. A 1.0 m bale at 15% moisture and 180 kg DM per bale provides a 3 to 4 day supply \u2014 an acceptable feedout duration in cool conditions (below 15\u00b0C) where mould development on the bale face is slow. In summer conditions above 25\u00b0C, consume each opened bale within 2 days to prevent mould development on the exposed face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Common Alpaca Hay Management Mistakes<\/h2>\n
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\u274c Buying Sheep Hay and Expecting Alpaca Results<\/div>\n

Hay purchased through a rural merchandise store as ‘sheep hay’ or ‘cattle roughage’ is typically made to livestock-market specification \u2014 oaten hay at 60 to 65% NDF, 7 to 9% CP, variable moisture. This specification will maintain condition in dry ewes but will cause progressive body condition loss in commercial-production alpacas within 4 to 8 weeks of exclusive feeding. Always specify camelid-grade hay with NDF below 55% and CP above 10% \u2014 or test purchased hay before committing to a full-season supply contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u26a0 Overfeeding Lucerne to Non-Breeding Males<\/div>\n

Alpaca males on unrestricted lucerne hay ad-lib can reach body condition scores of 4.0 to 4.5 on the 1-5 scale \u2014 excessively fat by commercial fibre production standards. Excessive body condition in males reduces libido, increases heat stress risk in summer, and is associated with urinary calculi formation from the high calcium content of pure lucerne. Restrict lucerne to 30 to 40% of total hay DM for males and non-breeding females; use oaten or meadow hay as the balance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Not Testing Hay Before Committing to a New Supplier<\/div>\n

Alpaca breeders and fibre producers who purchase hay without a NIR forage test and rely on verbal descriptions of crop and cutting date regularly find that purchased hay underperforms expectations. A $50 forage test from a NIR laboratory on a representative core sample from the delivery is the cheapest insurance against a season of sub-optimal nutrition. Require a forage test result from any new hay supplier before accepting a volume delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\nHow much hay does an alpaca need per day?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
A 60 to 70 kg Huacaya alpaca in maintenance condition requires approximately 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight in DM per day \u2014 900 g to 1.4 kg DM per day. At 85% DM (15% moisture hay), this equates to 1.05 to 1.65 kg fresh hay per head per day. Pregnant and lactating females require 20 to 35% more: 1.2 to 2.0 kg DM per head per day. Weanlings from 6 to 12 months require 1.8 to 2.5% of body weight DM per day to support growth to adult frame.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nCan alpacas be fed silage baleage as a roughage?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Small amounts of high-quality grass silage (pH below 4.5, ammonia-N below 8%) can be introduced to alpacas at up to 20 to 25% of DMI as a roughage supplement \u2014 particularly useful in wet seasons where quality hay is expensive or unavailable. However, camelids are more sensitive to butyric silage than cattle or sheep, and the introduction of silage requires a longer adjustment period (10 to 14 days) than for other species. Do not feed silage as the primary roughage to alpacas \u2014 their digestive system is optimised for dry hay, and high-moisture fermented feed creates a different fermentation environment in the C1 compartment that some individual animals manage poorly.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat cutting stage produces the best alpaca hay from oaten hay?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cut oaten hay for alpaca production at the flag-leaf to 10% heading stage \u2014 earlier than the 30 to 50% heading specification typical of commercial sheep hay. At this stage, NDF is 48 to 54%, CP is 11 to 13%, and ME is 9.8 to 10.5 MJ\/kg DM \u2014 meeting camelid specification comfortably. Waiting until 40 to 50% heading (the commercial livestock standard) produces hay at 60 to 65% NDF and 7 to 9% CP \u2014 below the alpaca threshold.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat is the impact of hay quality on alpaca fleece weight?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Australian Alpaca Association data from commercial fibre operations consistently shows 10 to 25% variation in annual fleece weight between alpacas of similar breed and age managed on different hay quality regimes. Alpacas fed early-cut lucerne or quality oaten hay (NDF below 55%, CP above 12%) produce measurably heavier fleece per animal than those fed mature hay at equivalent DM intake. The economic impact at AUD $20 to $35 per kg clean fleece is 200 to 500 g additional fleece weight = AUD $4 to $17 per animal per year \u2014 a return that compounds across a commercial herd of 100+ animals.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nShould I buy a baler for a 100-alpaca fibre property, or contract baling?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
At 100 alpacas and an annual hay requirement of 150 to 250 bales per season, the economics are borderline. Contractor baling at AUD $10 to $15 per bale produces an annual cost of AUD $1,500 to $3,750. A new 9YG-1.0 round baler costs AUD $22,000 to $32,000 \u2014 payback at 200 bales per year and AUD $12 per bale contractor saving runs 9 to 13 years without accounting for timing benefits. Most 100-alpaca operations are better off using a contractor for silage baling and investing in hay quality testing and correct species selection rather than equipment ownership. Equipment ownership becomes financially justifiable above 400 to 500 bales per season.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

\"9GS-5.0<\/p>\n

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EverPower Baling Machinery \u00b7 Condell Park NSW 2200<\/div>\n

Discuss Your Alpaca or Llama Hay Programme<\/h2>\n

Tell us your herd size, current hay source, and target fleece production \u2014 we’ll advise on the hay specification and baling equipment that suits your camelid fibre operation.<\/p>\n

Request a Quote<\/a> About EverPower<\/a><\/div>\n
+61 2 9708 3322<\/a>  |  \u2709 sales@silage-baler.com<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Camelids \u00b7 SA & Victoria \u00b7 Fibre Industry Hay for Alpacas and Llamas: What the Fibre Market Needs Camelids are not small cattle \u2014 their modified rumen and low-NDF tolerance means the hay specification for alpacas and llamas is closer to horse hay than sheep hay, and most general-purpose hay fails the test. Why Standard […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-applications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/da\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}