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Llamas - how much hay to feed in the winter?

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Post  Waterfield Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:47 pm

I have 4 female llamas and was wondering on average how much hay should I stock per llama for over the winter?

Very Happy

Waterfield

Number of posts : 1
Registration date : 2011-09-06

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Post  REGISTRAR Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:35 am

We have 11 Llamas and used 40 bales last winter. We bought 45 for this winter but due to the lack of grass we are already feeding them hay every 3rd day.

REGISTRAR
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Post  JML Tue Nov 01, 2011 8:12 pm

REGISTRAR wrote:We have 11 Llamas and used 40 bales last winter. We bought 45 for this winter but due to the lack of grass we are already feeding them hay every 3rd day.

How many bales does that equate to per llama per week?

JML

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Post  mlonghurst Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:31 pm

You need to provide more information because there is no definative answer:

1. how old are your llamas
2. what size are they
3, Are they big eaters or pickers
4, are they also being fed hard feed and suplements
5, are they pregnant and if so how far gone
5, are they stables all day or allowed out to graze or out all day
6, how cold will it be where you are

As you can see the list goes on. If you provide a little more info people could help to try and provide a more accurate answer.

Rgds, Mike L

mlonghurst

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Post  Caroline Thu Mar 08, 2012 1:38 pm

Hello

An article on diet appeared in the last edition of Llama Link. One of the things it said is that a normal llama eats 2% of its body weight in "dry matter" (daily I presume, although I can check that if you need since the time period is implied but not stated) if left to its own devices. So, an average 140 kg llama would eat roughly 2.8 kg dry matter a day, left to itself.

Hay is 85% or so dry matter and grass is 20%, so that equates to roughly 3.3 kg hay or 14 kg grass per llama (not on a diet).

(Incidentally, this fits in with what a llama breeder recommends for a llama on a diet, namely feed 1% of its body weight in hay per day.)

If you want to feed ad lib without obesity problems, limit the hay/grass and add plenty of barley straw, which will fill their tummies but not add too much nutrition.
Caroline
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