Wet Winters and Winter Feed for Alpacas

Managing wet winters
Remember, things may not always be as they seem. Now is the time to monitor your pasture quality and alpaca condition, even if you're busy enjoying the sight of lush green feed this winter.
During wet and cold weather, pastures may look healthy and green but might struggle to meet the energy needs of your alpacas. You may still need to provide supplementary hay. In wet Autumn/winter, waterlogging can reduce pasture growth and nutrition, and if there's a shortage of dry feed and roughage, your animals can quickly lose their condition.
At this time of year, when winter feed is typically insufficient, it's vital to adhere to a grazing plan and make prompt decisions to safeguard your animals' health - regardless of the size of your alpaca herd. With cooler, shorter winter days, pasture growth slows, and all livestock, particularly young, pregnant, or lactating animals, can rapidly lose condition if their feed doesn't meet their energy needs.
Nothing beats walking around the paddock, checking the type of feed available, assessing how your livestock are coping.
Strive for rotational grazing, supplement feeding, and the provision of vitamins and minerals. Always body score your alpacas and maintain detailed records of their condition and any vital information. These records will be invaluable for future reference.
We will talk more about this at our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley.
Little Valley Farm Alpaca Farm Hunter Valley, NSW