Stocking Rates

Alpaca are very efficient converters of pasture and from the point of view of nutrition, can be farmed quite intensively. Five to seven animals/acre is generally accepted as a guideline for alpacas. These stocking rates assume good quality pasture that contains sufficient minerals and a variety of grasses and shrubs to maintain alpaca health.

Alpaca can be farmed more intensively (increasing the stocking rate), however this requires more attention to internal parasites, communicable diseases and possible mineral and vitamin deficiency, and may require a more secure level of fencing.

Smaller herds, and smaller blocks (of less than 5 acres) can reduce the stocking rates, to allow for separation of animals (e.g. females separated from herd sires) and rotation of stock.