Why Llamas?

 

Llamas have many uses and markets, and have been very profitable for breeders, but many people raise them simply because they are a delight to be around. We get morning kisses from many of ours, and in apple season they come running when we shake one of the many apple trees in their pastures.

So why this love of llamas?

Llamas are known for their lovely personalities and evoke many human responses. They are often taken into nursing homes to "communicate" with people who have not responded to others.

Llamas are a true joy. Llama crias are fantastically entertaining, bouncing about the pastures engaged in races with other crias. It is impossible not to smile while watching.

Llamas are used as breeding stock, wool producers, pack animals, pets, 4-H and even as sheep guardians, protecting sheep from predators such as coyotes in the western US and foxes in the UK.

Breeding stock: Llama breeding can be a profitable and fun activity that provides tax advantages at the same time. Raising llamas gives you a chance to experience the joy and excitement of crias and it is possible to totally pay for your investment in the dam with her first cria. It has been said that llamas are the easiest livestock to raise, and it is easy to become addicted to them.

Wool producers: North American llama fiber is now on a par with alpaca fiber and is highly prized. Most of our offspring have extremely fine fiber measuring in the range of 17 - 22 microns.

Pack animals: In South America, llamas have always been used as work animals. It has been said that the Incan empire was built on the backs of llamas. Today, particularly in the arid west, llamas are highly prized as pack animals. Their padded feet do not destroy delicate mountain tundra and trails, and everything that a llama carries is for you. Llamas are browsers like deer and eat along the trail nibbling on tree shoots and various grasses. As members of the camelid family, they can go longer and further without water than other pack animals. Today, many dude ranches use llamas for mountain treks and champagne brunches.

Pets: The US llama herd originated with William Randalph Hearst at San Simeon. This multi-billionaire could afford anything he wanted, and had over 300 llamas grazing the grounds of his estate. He loved them for their beauty and tranquility. Today, gelded males are often used as pets. Llamas are easier to train than dogs and often much cheaper, costing less to buy and feed than many purebred dogs. Llamas can be ridden by small children and can also be trained to pull carts.

4-H: Llamas are gentle, smart and easy for children to train. They cost little to maintain and the same animal can be used throughout the child's 4-H years. Llama training can be a worderful learning experience for the child, and a llama is also a friend and companion. Llama shows have pack and obstacle courses where different age groups compete for awards with their llamas.

Sheep guardians: A single gelded male llama will bond with, and protect, sheep, goats, mini horses and even calves by driving off potential predators such as coyotes and dogs. One of our customers reported that he was losing a lamb a night and a ewe once every four nights, reducing his profits to zero. After adding one of our males to his herd, his losses stopped completely. Llamas are often much less expensive than guard dogs, and easier to train. They can easily be slipped into the herd, where they eat what the herd eats, and can guard effectively for over fifteen years.