WABA Alpaca Pellets

WABA alpaca pellets came into being after the members of the Willamette Valley Alpaca Breeders Association began having some problems with hair loss on noses and legs of their alpacas. Dr. Pat Long, DVM was contacted about the problem and he suggested getting our hay tested to see what was in it for nutrients and minerals.
Zinc deficiency was attributed to some of the hair loss. One of the members had a sample of hay sent in and tested. The results of that sample was then taken to Pat Long and he prescribed a formula to be made into a pellet by Kropf Feed Mill in Harrisburg, Oregon. The mill told us that the minimum amount they would make in a batch was 2 tons or 80 bags of pellets.

Our membership at the time was only 5 or 6 and the total animals we were feeding was less than 50. So we were ordering the pellets about every 3 months or so. Pat Long had customers in the neighboring affiliate to the south of us also and recommended that they might benefit from using our pellets. Some of the members from that group got together and contacted us to see if we could combine to make ordering easier. This is still working out very well to this day and with new members and numbers of alpaca increasing in both our groups we are now ordering every other month approximately 5 tons at a time.

Over time we have had more samples taken of our hay and had Pat adjust the formula to compensate for those things that seem to be lacking. We have added DE to the formula after the members learned of some experience done with sheep that proved to be very beneficial in parasite control. The feed mill asked us this last year if they could use our formula for their only alpaca feed as it seemed to be in much larger demand than their own formula.

This money is used for advertising and maintenance of the WABA website and our Heart of the Valley Show & Sale each year. This feed pellet is designed to supplement good quality 11% to 14% protein Eastern Oregon orchard grass hay. It is not recommended to be used in conjunction with alfalfa or other very high protein hay. Use with hay from areas of high selenium or zinc is also not recommended.

We have had excellent results with restoring hair growth and parasite control using this pellet. We have had excellent results concerning choke with this pellet also, it doesn't completely eliminate it but most animals won't have a problem with it. Those that do probably will have problems with any feed from time to time. The only known problem we have noticed is to the humans while feeding, as those pellets when spit can really hit hard, so it is a good idea to wear eye protection if you are going to be in among the animals while they are eating, keep this in mind.

The recommended feeding for lactating females and those in the last stages of pregnancy and working breeding males is 1 cup per day. Males that are not being used for breeding, juveniles, geldings non breeding females or any other animal not listed is 1/2 cup per day.

Ordering of pellets should be done through WABA pellet coordinator Jim Morton at 541-753-9191 or email at jcsalpacas@aol.com. Or direct to the mill in batches over 2 tons at 800-398-0327. WABA orders sometime between the 15th and 20th of odd numbered months with delivery scheduled the first of even numbered months.

Delivery can be arranged or you can pick up at the mill Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM except for Friday which is 3:00PM. The mill delivers up and down the I-5 corridor from Woodland, Washington to Medford, Oregon. They also have dealers scattered all over both Oregon and Washington that can get pellets for you at times.

Remember there are ordering and delivery costs and minimums to contend with. Costs per bag varies month to month due to raw material price changes but have generally held around $9.25 per bag picked up at the mill. Larger batches will be discounted some, or if you are buying through a feed outlet you may have to pay more.

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