| 1. |
How much do llamas cost? Males are $250 to $10000 and females are $500
to $10000 at our ranch. |
| 2. |
Do they spit? Very rarely at people, but they use this as a warning in
food and breeding disputes within the herd. It is much safer than biting and
kicking. |
| 3. |
How long do they live? 15 years is average in South America, but they
sometimes live 20-30 years in the U.S., because of better nutrition and health
care. If you count on fifteen and consider anything over that as gravy you
won't be disappointed. |
| 4. |
What is their gestation? 11 1/2 months |
| 5. |
Do they twin? Very rarely |
| 6. |
When do you wean crias (baby llamas)? 5-6 months |
| 7. |
Do llamas need assistance when giving birth? Very rarely |
| 8. |
How soon can you rebreed after delivery? 14 days. Llamas do not come
into heat. They are induced ovulators. Female llamas spend much of their adult
lives pregnant. |
| 9. |
What do you do with a llama? They make excellent pet, wool producing,
pack, cart, sheep guardian, animal assisted therapy, and show animals. They are
also classified as livestock and help maintain an agricultural rating for
property for taxing purposes. |
| 10. |
How much weight can they carry? Between 80-120 lbs. |
| 11. |
How much do they weigh? 25-30 lbs at birth. 250-500 lbs at maturity.
|
| 12. |
How much do they eat? You can dry lot a llama on less than a bale of hay
a week. |
| 13. |
What do you feed them? Grass hay and mineral salts and we have fresh
water available at all times. |
| 14. |
What health procedures do they need? A clostridial vaccination once
yearly, worming (twice yearly in Colorado, more often in humid climates),
toenail trimming, and one time fighting teeth removal. I perform all of these
procedures myself. I call my vet for emergencies. |
| 15. |
Are they easy to train? Yes. They have been domesticated for thousands
of years and they aim to please. They walk comfortably on a lead rope. They key
is to make them free from fear and to make your signals clear. (For advice on
training, feel free to call). |
| 16. |
What are some of the unique characteristics of llamas? They have their
babies during daylight hours (usually between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.), they dung
pile (go in only one or two spots in the pasture), they have an elliptical red
blood cell which can hold more oxygen, so that they are automatically adapted
to working at high altitudes, and they have wide set eyes which can see almost
360 degrees . This makes them very kinetically aware and they rarely trip or
knock things over in tight spaces. |
| 17. |
What is their fiber like? It is hollow, so it is lighter and warmer than
wool. It does not contain lanolin so many people who are allergic to wool can
wear llama. It also has less scales when viewed under a microscope, so does not
irritate sensitive skin. |
| 18. |
What sounds do they make? They hum, orgle (this sounds like gurgling)
when breeding, and have a high pitched alarm call. |
| 19. |
What do you look for in a llama? Size, good bone, a high tail set, a
flat back, banana shaped ears, fluid movement, balance, legs with correct
angulation and placement and a calm disposition. Quality wool to meet your end
use goals. My breeding goals are prioritized as follows: sound conformation,
reproductive and milking ability, good disposition, pleasing head and ears,
fine quality wool. Size, bone and color are other factors we consider.
|
| 20. |
Are your llamas registered? Yes We study bloodlines and search for
particular bloodlines that have proven excellent in the past. We believe in
buying only registered animals and are proud of the pedigrees we have
represented on our ranch. We are members of the International Llama Registry,
because we feel that a strong Registry is the backbone of our industry.
|
| 21. |
When are llamas fully grown? 3 1/2 years |
| 22. |
Do you have to geld males in order to use them for pets and pack
animals? No, generally not. It is recommended for llamas used as guard animals
so they won't be tempted to mount the sheep. All of my 4H students work with
intact males. One advantage of gelding is it prevents unwanted pregnancies.
Males, behavior may warrant gelding if they are in the presence of open
females. |
| 23. |
How long does it take for their coat to grow back after shearing? Two
years. |
| 24. |
Are they good travelers? Yes. They usually lie down when moving and can
be transported in the back of a van. They require very little room when
traveling. |
| 25. |
Is their manure good fertilizer? It is exceptional. It is rich, but not
hot. It does not have to be composted in order to be used. |
