Acquiring Your First Llama - Part 2

Lynd and Jeanne Blatchford
Greenbriar Llama Karma Farm

This Article is excerpted from Volume 98-2 of our Quarterly Newsletter

In our first newsletter we discussed the physical requirements, e.g., shelter, that should be considered when you are planning to acquire your first llamas. In this issue we are addressing the goals you may have in mind when considering the acquisition of llamas.

·         Are you acquiring companion animals?

·         Will you be going packing with your llamas?

·         Will you be breeding your llamas?

·         Do you intend to use your llama as a guard animal?

·         Is fiber important?

Geldings are frequently used as pack animals, but females and intact males also can make good packers. You, of course, would not want to take an intact male and an open female on the same trek. Good leg conformation is especially important. Avoid llamas who are knock-kneed, sickle-hocked or cow-hocked (visit farms and ask about appropriate leg conformation). These llamas will have a reduced ability to pack under load.

If you will be going into areas with heavy underbrush, you will want to avoid heavy-wooled llamas.

Other qualities you should look at are the llama’s temperament and condition. Is the llama easily caught and haltered? Does the llama enjoy working? Does the llama respond well to strangers?

Llamas do not normally assume guard behavior until they are about two years of age. If you do not have a current predator problem but just want to avoid one developing, a younger llama may be suitable.

Both male and female llamas will guard against predators. Male llamas that will be guarding sheep must be gelded, otherwise they may try to breed with the ewes with potentially fatal outcomes for the ewes. Llamas that have been gelded after having been used in a breeding program are not suitable for use as guard llamas.

Conformation is not as important as it is with pack llamas, unless the llama will have to run for long distances. Similarly, disposition is not as important as it is with pack llamas.

Conformation becomes quite important if you intend to breed your llamas. The assessment of the quality of a llama takes a practiced eye and you should seek out help. Farm visits are most helpful.

Faults may not appear until the llama starts to mature and some apparent early faults may work themselves out as a cria develops. There is no such thing as a perfect llama. When selecting a stud for your female(s) you will want to balance out any of their weaknesses with strengths on the part of the stud.

You need to determine what you consider to be your ‘ideal’ llama. Do you like heavy, medium or light wooled llamas? Do you prefer large, medium or small llamas? What should the neck size be in proportion to the rest of the body?