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Signal Hollow Farm Where the Animals Rule the Roost
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About Llamas
I'm not a llama expert, but I've worked with llamas for about eight years. There are more and more llamas and alpacas around and there are more people who become bitten by the llama/alpaca bug. Many first-time llama owners have never spent much time around livestock. It is important to understand that these animals, while furry and oh-so-cute, are large prey animals. They are not like dogs, and their behavior and training is different. Llamas have not been domesticated as long as other livestock, and this presents some challenges. I've listed a few facts about llamas below. Origin: The ancestor of modern South American camelids evolved about 10 million years ago in the Great Plains of western North America. Llamas were domesticated from guanacos in the Andean highlands of Peru about 5,000 years ago Relatives: Camels, vicunas, guanacos, alpacas Diet: Herbivorous, with a 3 chambered stomach used to digest grass and leaves Lifespan: 15-25 years Size: 32-48" tall at the shoulder, 4-7' at the head; 200 - 450 lbs. Uses: Wool, packing, driving carts, guardians, pets There are three basic types of llamas. The first two types have been widely crossed, primarily following colonization of South America by Europeans. Wool llamas (Lanuda) produce a fine-haired fleece, which must be shorn yearly. Classic llamas (Ccara) have shorter coats with an outter coat of coarse guard hair and and undercoat of soft wool which sheds. Classic llamas are often used for packing or pulling carts. Suri llamas are the rarest variety, having fiber that grows in long locks. There has also been the development in recent years of Miniature llamas through selective breeding. Care: Llamas require shelter, hay or grass, llama-specific loose minerals (they cannot lick well enough to get adequate minerals from blocks), and fresh water. They require llama grain when pregnant, nursing, breeding, or seasonally. There are a number of plants that are toxic to llamas, including but not limited to wild cherry, azalea, laurel, jimsonweed, pokeweed, dogbane, nightshade, and many more. Your local agricultural extension service should be able to help provide information about toxic plants in your area. It is important to remove any toxic plants (or toxic yard clippings) from your llama's area. Llamas need to have their toenails trimmed according to how fast the nails grow. Many llamas do not like to have their feet handled, and llama/alpaca owners need to find information about the best way to do these tasks. There are a number of books and llama/alpaca organizations that can help. Because their native environment is different from North America llamas & alpacas must be dewormed on a regular basis to prevent infection by meningeal worm, a parasite carried by deer and transferred to llamas through deer scat, snails or slugs. Meningeal worm infections can cause paralysis or death in llamas. Other parasites can present health problems in llamas, and llama owners should consult their veterinarian about the best approach to managing parasites. Llamas, especially wool type, are not adapted to heat and humidity, and extra precautions must be taken to help them tolerate summer heat. Access to shade, fans, and minerals or electrolytes are a must. Shearing must be done in the spring or early summer. Llamas which become too hot may develop heat stress, and must receive immediate care. Normal body temperature: 99-101 degrees Farenheit Behavior: Llamas live in herds, and maintain a pecking order of dominance. Dominance is established and maintained by posturing, spitting, charging, biting and chest-butting. Llamas that have been properly socialized from birth with other llamas rarely if ever use these behaviors on humans. However, llamas, particularly males, that have been over-handled during their formative years (0-3 years) may lose their fear of humans and try to establish dominance over humans with any or all of these behaviors. This phenomenon is also documented in hand-raised deer and horses, and may be called imprinting. Often these dominant behaviors are prefaced by "friendly" behavior, such as following humans closely, walking into the human's space (within 3-6 feet), rubbing head or neck on human, or chewing shoes. Imprinted llamas may be re-trained to learn to refrain from the unwanted behaviors with specific techniques that mimic llama behavior. Castrating males early (12-16 months) has been suggested to reduce aggression. Imprinted llamas can be dangerous, especially to inexperienced humans. Sometimes llamas who are not used to humans or who have been mishandled will react to humans with fear and can also be dangerous. Llamas are prey animals, and their behavior differs from dogs and cats, which are predators. In llama society, only a dominant animal is permitted to approach or touch another llama. Thus, most llamas actually do not like to be petted. Breeding: Females are capable of breeding as young as 12-18 months, but it is recommended to wait until 24 months old or older. Llamas are induced ovulators, and are capable of breeding any time of the year. It is recommended to time breeding so that birth occurs in the spring or fall. Average gestation is 350 days. A baby llama is called a cria, and weighs 18-35 lbs at birth. Males may be capable of breeding as young as 6 months, but do not fully mature until 2-3 years of age. Male llamas, whether castrated or intact, will grow fighting teeth around the age of 2-3 years. These fighting teeth are very sharp and the llamas can injure other llamas or humans with them. Fighting teeth should be removed by a veterinarian or experienced llama owner. Llamas are relatively new to North America, unlike cattle, sheep, and other livestock, and therefore may be considered exotic animals. Often people may become enthralled by the novelty of something different, and jump into purchase or breeding without considering all the consequences. Many people have jumped on the llama breeding "bandwagon" over the last decade, and the llama population in the U.S. has grown to the extent that many llamas are now unwanted, and are left to be taken in by rescue organizations, sanctuaries, or are sold as slaughter animals. For more information, I recommend the following websites:
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