Yep. Here’s some factoids about alpaca poo.
A) they do poo. More or less in communal dung piles – some have better aim and accuracy than others. Many community dung piles I might add. I have 25 alpacas. I probably have twice that many dung piles. Don’t ask me why; it’s apparently a closely held alpaca secret.
B) it’s best for their health to remove the poo from pasture daily, or 3 times a week, at least once a week depending on which alpaca farmer you ask and how many alpacas they have. The reason is that by removing the poo you reduce the chances of them getting a big load of intestinal parasites. Even if you remove your poo 3 times a day though you cannot totally eliminate all worm eggs but cleanliness is good for keeping the load down. Besides, it also reduces the fly population and that’s better for alpacas and people.
C) they poo abundantly and will insist on putting their poo piles where it is convenient for them, not for you. Don’t want a pile right in the gate entrance? Just try and tell them that! Don’t want a poo pile inside their shelter or barn stall? Get over it and clean it up.
D) how much poo per paca? According to my research, an adult alpaca will eat about 10 to 12 pounds of green grass or about 2 pounds of dry hay daily (or a combo of both hay and grass). Plus they will want about 1 pound of pelleted alpaca supplements. Plus they drink roughly 1 gallon of water. Yet – their weight (unless it’s a pregant adult or growing cria) is staying roughly the same so… what goes in must come out. And boy does it!
E) I figure my herd generates about 3 pounds of fresh poo per head per day. That’s 75 pounds of poo my friends!
I used to swap poo with my gardening type neighbors in exchange for fresh leafy green vegetables but now I find with rising prices for hay and feed that what I’d really prefer is the folding kind of green stuff. So I ran an ad in the local paper to sell my poo.
Wow! I should have charged more. These gardeners are like compost junkies and I’ve got Grade A shit! This is fun to see them all excited about what I’ve been viewing as an elimination problem that I’ve got to eliminate. From now on when I see a paca setting her back feet, hiking her tail and letting fly. I’m cheering Atta girl!! Shake that money maker!
March 11, 2008 at 8:40 pm |
I don’t even know how I found this blog, but its great! i had to laugh when i read your blog. i have 22 alpacas now, and thats what i say every day, (MAN can you guys poop!) i had a farm visitor the other day, and he asked me what’s the down side, of owning alpacas? and I said they ” they poop A LOT!” maybe it isn’t a down side, maybe i should start thinking about selling it,too! By the way, I think we have the nicest garden in Utah!
carolyn
March 11, 2008 at 10:35 pm |
Thanks! Ain’t they a hoot?!? I never have any trouble getting samples for fecal tests – just clean the piles and watch them line up to make a deposit.