Alpaca Farming Techniques and Daily Feeding Management Methods

Feeding Alpacas

According to the different ages in months, sexes, growth stages, seasons, grazing pastures and feeding conditions of alpacas, on the basis of grazing and feeding green roughage, supplementary feeding is carried out with a mixed concentrate of a complete-price daily ration formulated from corn, wheat, soybean meal, bran and other ingredients. For breeding male alpacas, start with 0.5kg of mixed concentrate per animal per day, gradually increasing to the breeding period level of 1.2-1.4kg, plus 2kg of alfalfa hay, 0.5-1.5kg of carrots, 15-20g of salt, and 5-10g of bone meal, with supplementary feeding 1-2 times a day, and drinking water after eating; for breeding female alpacas, good feeding and management conditions must be maintained year-round to ensure that the female alpacas come into heat, mate, conceive and lactate on schedule. Generally, each animal is supplementarily fed 0.4-0.6kg of mixed concentrate, 1.5-2.0kg of green hay, 1kg of silage, 0.5kg of carrots, 10-15g of salt, and 5g of bone meal per day, with supplementary feeding once a day and drinking water after eating; according to specific circumstances, this can be handled flexibly and adjusted appropriately.

Management of Alpacas

Male and female alpacas are managed in separate groups; if they are not separated, male alpacas will chase female alpacas, affecting the alpacas' feed intake and planned selective mating.

Bedding straw for the alpaca bed: when the weather is cold and the ground is damp, soft bedding straw can be placed on the alpaca bed; to prevent dampness, it should be changed and dried frequently, keeping it dry, clean and hygienic.

Pay attention to alertness: alpacas are extremely alert, and because they are timid they often show a state of panic; if there is anything unfamiliar or any strange sound, they will be startled, and generally they will gather together.

Defecating at fixed points

Alpacas are accustomed to defecating at fixed points; for alpacas raised in groups, each group's alpaca shed must have a fixed defecation point.

Sand bath area: alpacas like sand baths, rolling in the sand just like large livestock; to prevent sand baths from damaging the pasture, a separate sand bath area for grass-fed alpacas can be set aside.

Establish a strict disinfection system: personnel entering and leaving must be strictly disinfected, the shed must be cleaned on time, and disinfected regularly.