6 Best Hay For Llamas And Alpacas That Prevent Common Issues

You’ve just unloaded a few bales of fresh-smelling hay, and your llamas are already stretching their necks over the fence, humming in anticipation. It’s easy to think "hay is hay," a simple feed to keep them happy. But the truth is, the single most important decision you make for your camelids’ long-term health is the type of hay you put in their feeder.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Hay Choice Is Key to Preventing Health Issues

The wrong hay is a slow-motion emergency for llamas and alpacas. Because they are incredibly efficient at extracting nutrients from forage, a hay that’s too rich in protein or sugar can quickly lead to serious problems. We’re not just talking about a little weight gain; we’re talking about metabolic disorders, heat stress, and painful urinary calculi.

Think of their digestive system as a high-efficiency furnace. It’s designed to run on lean, high-fiber fuel. When you feed them overly rich hay like alfalfa, it’s like trying to run that furnace on rocket fuel. The system gets overloaded, leading to a cascade of health issues that are far more expensive and stressful to fix than simply buying the right hay in the first place.

Your goal is to find a grass hay with moderate protein (8-12%), high fiber, and low sugar. The only way to know for sure is to get a hay analysis, which gives you the hard data on protein, fiber, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). This isn’t an unnecessary expense; it’s the foundation of a preventative health plan for your herd.

Orchard Grass Hay for Consistent, Safe Nutrition

Orchard grass is the reliable workhorse of camelid hay. It’s widely available, highly palatable, and typically lands right in that sweet spot for protein and fiber. If you’re new to alpacas or llamas and feeling overwhelmed by choices, starting with a good quality orchard grass is a very safe bet.

Its biggest advantage is consistency. While every cutting and field will vary, orchard grass as a species doesn’t have the wild nutritional swings you can see in other hays. This makes it easier to manage your feeding program year-round without causing digestive upset from sudden changes. It provides steady, reliable energy and nutrients.

The main watch-out with orchard grass is the sugar content, which can sometimes creep up, especially in hay from heavily fertilized fields. It’s still crucial to test it, but it rarely reaches the dangerously high levels of some other grasses. It’s a fantastic baseline diet that keeps most healthy adult animals in perfect condition.

Second-Cut Timothy for a Low-Protein Staple Diet

Many people think first-cut hay is always best, but for adult camelids, second-cut timothy is often superior. First-cut timothy can be coarse and stemmy, with higher fiber but also potentially higher sugar. The second cutting is leafier, softer, and generally lower in protein and calories.

This lower protein content is exactly what you want for mature, non-breeding animals. A lower-protein diet helps prevent the obesity that plagues so many hobby farm camelids. It also reduces the metabolic load on their bodies, which can decrease heat stress during hot summer months. It provides all the fiber they need for healthy digestion without the excess calories.

The tradeoff? Second-cut timothy can be more expensive and sometimes harder to source than first-cut. Because it’s so soft and tasty, you also have to watch that your animals don’t overeat. It’s a premium choice for maintaining a lean, healthy body condition in your adult herd.

Brome Grass: A Soft Hay to Reduce Risk of Choke

Brome is one of the softest, most palatable grass hays you can find. While nutritionally similar to orchard grass, its primary advantage is its texture. If you have an older animal, one with dental problems, or just a particularly picky eater, brome can be a lifesaver.

The risk of choke, while not exclusive to camelids, is a serious concern. It often happens when an animal eats too quickly or can’t properly chew coarse, stemmy material. The soft, pliable nature of brome hay significantly reduces this risk. It’s easy to chew and swallow, making it an excellent choice for any animal you’re concerned about.

Like any hay, its nutritional value can vary based on soil and harvest time, so analysis is still recommended. But when you’re prioritizing safety and palatability, especially for a senior member of the herd, brome grass is an outstanding option. It ensures they get the nutrition they need without the physical struggle.

Teff Hay: The Best Low-Sugar Hay for Metabolism

Teff hay is your secret weapon against metabolic problems. This warm-season grass is naturally very low in sugar and starch, making it the ideal choice for animals that are overweight, insulin resistant, or prone to laminitis.

For an alpaca that seems to gain weight just by looking at lush pasture, Teff allows them to eat freely without the metabolic consequences. Its low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content is its defining feature. This lets you keep hay in front of them 24/7, satisfying their natural grazing instinct without overloading their system with sugar.

Be aware that Teff can be very fine-stemmed, which some animals may need time to adjust to. It’s not always as readily available as timothy or orchard grass and can be more expensive. However, for an animal with specific metabolic needs, the benefits of Teff far outweigh the costs, making it a critical tool for managing their health.

Oat Hay: High Fiber for Healthy Gut Function

Don’t confuse oat hay with oat straw. Oat hay is harvested when the plant is still green and the oat kernel is in its "milky" or "early dough" stage. The result is a highly palatable, high-fiber hay that is fantastic for gut motility.

The long-stem fiber in properly harvested oat hay encourages chewing and saliva production, which buffers stomach acid. It also provides the bulk needed to keep the entire digestive tract functioning smoothly. This can be particularly beneficial for animals that are stressed or need a little extra help maintaining good gut health.

The critical factor with oat hay is the harvest time. If it’s cut too late, after the grain has fully matured, it becomes straw with a high-carb grain head attached—a dangerous combination for a camelid. You must trust your supplier and confirm it was cut at the correct stage. When it’s done right, it’s an excellent, satisfying feed.

Tested Mixed Grass Hay for Dietary Variety

Let’s be realistic: much of the hay available to hobby farmers isn’t a perfect monoculture. It’s often sold as "mixed grass," a blend of whatever grows in the field—timothy, orchard, brome, fescue, and native grasses. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it comes with one non-negotiable rule: you must test it.

Without a hay analysis, a bale of mixed grass is a complete mystery box. It could be a perfectly balanced, low-sugar blend, or it could be full of high-sugar fescue that will cause health problems. Guessing is not an option. A $30 lab test can save you thousands in vet bills.

A good, tested mixed grass hay can actually be ideal. It provides a variety of textures and nutrients that can be more engaging for the animals and offer a more balanced mineral profile. The key is to transform an unknown variable into a known quantity. Once tested, a local mixed grass hay can be a cost-effective and nutritionally excellent choice.

The Risks of Alfalfa Hay for Adult Camelids

Alfalfa is not a suitable staple hay for most adult llamas and alpacas. While it’s an excellent feed for livestock with higher metabolic needs, like dairy goats or beef cattle, it is simply too rich for the efficient digestive systems of camelids.

The two main culprits are protein and calcium. The high protein levels (often 16-20% or more) contribute directly to obesity and can put a strain on the kidneys. The excessive calcium, combined with phosphorus imbalances, is a major contributor to the formation of urinary calculi (stones), a painful and potentially fatal condition, especially for male alpacas and llamas.

Alfalfa does have a place, but it should be used strategically and sparingly.

• Pregnant or lactating females with high energy demands.
• Growing crias that need the extra protein and calcium.
• Geriatric or ill animals that need to gain weight, under a vet’s guidance.

For these specific cases, think of alfalfa as a supplement or a medicine, not a main course. For a healthy, mature, non-breeding camelid, a diet based on alfalfa is a recipe for long-term health problems.

Ultimately, selecting the right hay is about matching the feed to your specific animals’ needs. Don’t just buy what’s available; actively seek out what’s appropriate. By investing a little time in sourcing and testing your hay, you’re making the most powerful move you can to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life for your herd.