What do you
DO
with a llama?
Yesterday and Today
Lamas (single 'L'), which include the Llama (double 'll'), Alpaca,
Guanaco and the endangered Vicuna, are members of the camelid family, and are cousins to
the camel. Originating in the Central Plains of North America about 10 million years ago,
the lama predecessors migrated to South America around 2.5 million years ago. It’s
cousin, the camel, relocated to the Middle East and other regions of the world. The end of
the Ice Age (10,000 to 12,000 years ago) marked the extinction of the camelid in North
America. Llamas were domesticated from the guanacos of the Andean highlands of Peru, 5,000
to 6,000 years ago and are among the world’s oldest domestic animals. While primarily
a beast of burden of the native herdsmen, llamas also provided them with meat, wool, hides
for shelter, manure pellets for fuel, and became sacrificial offerings to their gods.
Today, there are an estimated 7 million llamas and alpacas in South America. Based on
information provided by the International Llama Registry (ILR), in the United States and
Canada there are an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 llamas. Llamas have international appeal,
with countries such as New Zealand augmenting their fiber industry with llama wool.
As in ancient times, the llama today is important to the agricultural economy of the
remote highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. In North America, the llama and
alpaca industry is recognized as a viable agricultural entity.
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Life Span:
about 25 years
Height:
36" to 47" at the shoulder, 5’ to 6’5" at the head
Weight:
250
to 450 pounds
Gestation:
Approximately 350 days
Color
A llama may be solid, spotted, or marked in a wide variety of
patterns, with wool colors ranging from white to black to many shades of gray, beige,
brown red, and roan in between.
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Females are first bred at approximately 2 years of age. Llamas
do not have a heat cycle; they are induced ovulators (ovulation occurring 24 to 36 hours
after breeding). Llamas can be bred at any time of the year. A single baby, called a
"cria," is usually delivered from a standing mother, normally without
assistance. Most births occur during daylight hours, which is better for the cria and most
certainly convenient for the llama owners! Twinning is a rare occurrence. Normal birth
weights are between 20 and 35 pounds, and the cria usually stands and nurses within 90
minutes. Babies are weaned at approximately 6 months.
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Health and
Basic Medical Needs
Because their ancestors evolved in the harsh environment of
the Andean highlands, North American llama owners have found them to be generally easy to
care for. The recommended primary care of yearly vaccinations and routine wormings
help llamas remain hardy and healthy. Llamas do not have fleas.
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What are they
used for?
Contemporary North American llamas are bred and raised for packing,
wool production, cart pulling, animal facilitated therapy, companion animals, exhibition
in shows, parades and fairs, and guardians of other livestock such as sheep. The llama is
becoming increasingly popular as a project animal for 4-H, Scouts, FFA and other youth
activities. For the outdoor enthusiast and athlete, there are numerous activities and
competitive events that team up the llama and his owner. Llamas are great family fun!
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Can you use their wool?
Grease free and lightweight, llama wool is warm and luxurious.
A valuable commodity sought after by fiber artists, such as weavers and spinners, the wool
is a marketable product for llama owners.
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Yes, llamas are curious and intelligent and with proper
training can quickly learn to accept a halter, follow on a lead, load in and out of a
vehicle, or carry a pack.
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Are they good pack
animals?
Sure-footed and agile, most llamas are excellent packers and
can carry an average of 80 pounds or 25% of their body weight. Their two toed foot, with
it’s leathery pad gives the llama a low environmental impact, equivalent to that of a
considerate hiker’s athletic shoe. Their ability to browse lessens their intrusion on
the native vegetation, which is one of the reasons llamas are gaining in popularity with
environmentally conscious users and managers of our public lands. Historically, llamas
have carried packs for man; however, some llamas have been trained to carry a small child.
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What do they eat?
Llamas are a
modified ruminant with a three compartment stomach. Like cattle and sheep, they chew their
cud. Because of a relatively low protein requirement and an efficient digestive system,
they can be kept on a variety of suitable pastures or hay, with the supplementation of
recommended vitamins and minerals. A llama costs significantly less to feed than other
comparably sized animals.
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Because they are highly sociable herd animals, llamas need
companionship of other llamas. Independent, yet shy, llamas are gentle and curious. Their
generally calm nature and common sense make a trained llama easy for anyone to handle, and
an excellent choice for a child’s pet and companion.
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What sounds do they make?
Llamas
communicate by humming. They also express themselves through a series of ear, body, and
tail postures. On rare occasions they will alert their companions and human keepers with a
distinctive alarm call to the presence of unfamiliar dogs or other creatures which they
perceive as threats. During breeding, males make a distinctive orgling sound.
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Do they spit?
Llamas will spit at other llamas in order to establish the pecking
order within the group, to ward off an unwanted suitor, or to say, "Stop it!" to
another llama. A llama who has been mishandled, feels abused or threatened with no
way to escape may occasionally spit at humans. Llamas do not bite.
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Yes. The International Llama Registry (ILR) issues registration
certificates and maintains a current database. These efforts not only help protect
the llama gene pool, but also assure new buyers that llamas are a wise and pleasurable
investment. Only offspring from registered parents may be registered.
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How much do they cost?
The price
of a llama varies greatly. Many factors influence price which are: conformation,
bloodline, age, appearance personality, and proven breeding status. Trained llamas always
fetch a higher price, a very important factor for first-time owners.
| Average Range: |
$750 - $6,000 and up |
| Lowest Price: |
Weanlings, especially
males of pet quality |
| Average Price: |
Trained packers, maidens
at breeding age, or unproven breeding males. |
| Highest Price: |
Breeding quality males /
females, and proven breeders. |
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