What to plant for alpacas?

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Permalink Reply by Tracey Koehler on October 13, 2008 at 1:02pm

You could talk with other farms and see what mix they are using. We are in Mi and have been using a mixture of Orchard/Brome/Timothy. The Alpacas seem to be doing very well on it and love the mix. I know many say Orchard only but I feel that a variety offers more.
"quote from another site"
"Alpacas need variety as much, if not more so, than other herbivores. Feeding them one type of pasture and single species hays is a recipe for disaster over the long run, in terms of the potential to create nutritional deficiencies. No one forage has everything an alpaca needs."

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Permalink Reply by Heidi Ellefson - Pheasant Ridge Alpacas on October 14, 2008 at 10:43pm

Thanks, Tracey. I agree, it makes sense that variety is important.

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Permalink Reply by John Gennarino and Tacha Trimm on October 13, 2008 at 5:18pm

We have used the Norm Evan's Field Manual. It has the information someone would need to determine the seed to use. We gave the manual to a local farmer and he planted it and was supposed to harvest it for us. Unfortunately, this year our area was hit with a devastating insect (called Armyworm) that wiped out our entire field before we knew what was happening. We will be planting it again next year for hopefully a better outcome.

Good Luck!
Tacha

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Permalink Reply by Heidi Ellefson - Pheasant Ridge Alpacas on October 14, 2008 at 10:44pm

Tacha, thanks. I think I need to order that field manual. Sounds like it is very helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Olson on October 14, 2008 at 9:50pm

Ok I finally found my seed chart. We are in western WI and here is what we plant our pastures with.

40lbs of Baridana Orchard grass
40lbs of Latar Orchard grass
15lbs of Bluegrass Park Kentucky
5lbs of Bluegrass Troy Forage

we have them mix it for us and we love it, We have had great success with it
also if you need to know we order it from Albert lee in MN

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Permalink Reply by Heidi Ellefson - Pheasant Ridge Alpacas on October 14, 2008 at 10:46pm

Carrie, thanks for the info. You're in Western WI? So are we. We're just east of LaCrosse. Where are you located?

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Olson on October 14, 2008 at 11:43pm

We are in Menomonie WI.
let me know if you need any thing else.

Carrie

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