Nutrition for Pregnant Alpacas

Alpacas get pregnant easier on a rising plane of nutrition, For many alpacas, getting pregnant is also when they are feeding a young cria.

Once the pregnancy has become established, usually within a month of giving birth, the dam needs to be on a high quality diet, - 13 % crude protein, because she is feeding a cria, as well as maintaning a new pregnancy.

When the cria at foot is weaned, (usually at around 6 months of age), her crude protein intake can drop back to 10%, through until late gestation, when we need to increase her food quality again to 12% crude protein.

In the last two or three weeks before due birth date, it is advisable to supplementary feed a lactating chaff mix which has been specially designed to meet the dams intake of crude protein, energy, fibre and minerals, thus ensuring your dam is well nourished.  It is critical to the health and longer term production capability of the cria.

Late gestation (when the cria is maximixing growth and developing its secondary fibre follicles) and the first four weeks of lactation (when the dam reaches peak lactation), are critical for nutrition.

Fed properly during this period you achieve:

• A better secondary to primary follicle ratio - something that will effect the fibe production of the cria throughout its life
• A healthier birthed cria.
• A cria that grows well in early weeks (which affects later growth, and potential mating ages)
• A dam on a rising plane of nutrition for her next mating.

We would suggest you consider feeding the lactating chaff for three to four weeks after birth as a supplement to good quality grass.

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