Their fiber is classified as a specialty or luxury fiber. It has very high warmth to weight ratio and has characteristics more like that of hair than sheep wool. It is free of lanolin and is reportedly non-allergenic. The quality and color of fleece varies widely.

Llamas are better suited to guarding sheep than any other guard animal. They are initially more expensive than guard dogs but end up costing less over their working lifetime. Llamas also guard goats, cattle and poultry. Generally, gelded males which have never been used for breeding, are used for guard animals. While llamas are better than other species in guarding, not all llamas make good guard animals.

Llamas also make excellent pack animals. Many who have gone packing with llamas will not go back to packing with any other animal, because of their quiet companionship and non-complaining nature. Llamas affect the environment less because they do not have hooves. Their two-toed padded feet make them very sure footed while not tearing up the trail. The best llamas for packing are the lighter wooled animals. Depending upon size and condition, a llama can carry up to 100 pounds.

Llamas make good 4-H projects. They are a good choice for children who want to train and show livestock without having to send the animals to slaughter. Llamas have a predisposition towards children. They will frequently run up and greet a child who enters the pasture.

Llamas also make good companion animals. Their quiet disposition is calming to the soul. Their antics at dusk, pronging across your pasture, will leave you laughing. Whenever we need a little more tranquility in our lives we will go out and sit quietly with our llamas.