Alpacas eat grass, preferably short grass. It is normal to give youngsters and pregnant and lactating females a protein supplement of a handful hard feed per day, protein content 14-16% or less Alpacas are extremely efficient grazers and will get fat on concrete, one must be careful not to overfeed. Alpacas are well used to a Spartan diet and obesity can cause problems especially in females with regard to mating and birthing. Apart from the daily protein supplement we make hay available at all times to supplement their diet. To an alpaca even our worst pasture would be considered lush. At Toft we monitor the weights of all our alpacas on a monthly basis and we body score at every opportunity. There is clear evidence that overfeeding can coarsen their fleece and that underfeeding can weaken it to make it useless for spinning.