Our Background

There are now hundreds of alpaca and llama owners in the UK but, back in the early nineties, one of the first handful of UK owners was beginning to understand how different were the needs of camelids from other livestock in this country. Ann Young is passionate about Alpaca and Llama welfare and husbandry and will not rest while she can see aspects of their care that can be improved.

Ann has worked on developing a feed formula based on years of research and taking into account known mineral deficiencies of forage in the UK. Spurred on by a paper presented at The Camelid Health Conference† in the USA by Dr Norm Evans DVM, Ann continued her research into the specific needs of camelids living in the UK. With the assistance of Veterinary Surgeons specialising in Alpaca care and using the most up to date research available from known Veterinary and Nutritional Specialists from around the world, Ann and her associates finally concluded that one product would not meet the needs on the UK National Herd.

It was apparent that the needs of young, growing alpacas differed from those of mature animals being kept in luxury on good grazing. Owners were faced with the dilemma of wanting to provide their animals with the supplements needed for their health and resistance to disease, but giving them the quantity of concentrate to do this was resulting in, let's face it, a field of fatties!

So, development continued but of two separate formulae, one to provide for the needs of growing youngsters and their lactating dams and the other, to be fed in smaller quantities, for alpacas and llamas not in need of any weight gain. Maintenance Formula a 12% protein feed is most suitable for use from spring through to autumn to balance the intake of protein from grass, which can exceed 20% protein during this time. The Breeding & Rearing Formula is based on a 16% protein formulation, which assists with the requirements of growing Cria and the extra requirements of dams during late pregnancy and lactation.

Both formulations are produced in a pellet size accepted as best for both adults and Cria. As this is complete feed it does not require mixing with other forage products.

If you would like Ann to give a presentation to your local Alpaca Group, please email her.

†Third Annual Camelid Health Conference, Ohio State University, December 2000