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YESTERDAY AND TODAY
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Lamas (single "l"), which include the llama (double "l"), alpaca, guanaco and the endangered vicuna, are members of the camel (camelid) family. 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. Its 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 for 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. In the United States and Canada there's an estimated 135,000 llamas, 3,600 alpacas, and 60 known (registered) guanacos. Llamas have international appeal, with countries such as New Zealand and Australia augmenting their fiber industry with llama and alpaca wool. As in ancient times, the llama today is important to the agricultural economy of the remote highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chili, and Peru. In North America the llama and alpaca industry is recognized as a viable agricultural entity.
PHYSICAL FACTS
Life Span: about 20 to 29 years Height: 36" to 47" at the shoulder, 5' to 6'5" at the head
Weight: 250 to 450 pounds Average Gestation: 350 days
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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. Are they intelligent? Yes, which is why llamas can quickly learn to accept a halter, follow on a lead, load in and out of a vehicle, carry a pack, pull a cart, or compete in shows. 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 daily supplementation of recommended vitamins, minerals and salt. A llama costs significantly less to feed than other comparable-sized animals. What is their personality like? Because they are highly sociable herd animals, llamas need the companionship of other llamas or other companion animals. 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. There is a greater human bonding with the llama than perhaps any other large animal. 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. 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!" A llama who has been mishandled, feels abused, or threatened may occasionally spit at humans. Are they registered? Yes. The International Lama Registry issues registration certificates and maintains a current database. Two identification processes gaining prevalence within the llama industry are blood typing and microchipping. These efforts not only help protect the llama gene pool but also assure new buyers that llamas are a wise and pleasurable investment. How much do they cost? Costs vary from region to region throughout the United States and Canada. As a rule of thumb, you should expect pet males to be the lowest priced, sometimes as low as $400. Trained packers can range from $1,000 to $2,500. Young, stud quality males will be higher than pet males, with mature stud quality males generally higher yet. Weanling females are generally (but not always) less expensive than bred females. The price structure for females, as well as that for stud quality males, can vary greatly. The female price range is about $1,500 to $5,000 and up, depending upon quality, conformation, wool, bloodlines and other factors. Contact Timberwind Llamas for advice and pricing as it applies to your budget.
Color: A llama may be solid, spotted, or marked in a wide variety of patterns, with wool colors ranging from white to black and many shades of gray, beige, brown, red, and roan in between
Reproduction, Birth and Babies: Females are first bred at 16 to 24 months 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 ("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 more convenient for the llama owners. Twinning is a rare occurrence. Normal birth weights are between 20 to 35 pounds, and the cria usually stands and nurses within 90 minutes. Depending upon the cria's size and the mother's condition, the baby is weaned at 4 to 6 months.
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 compared to other livestock. The recommended primary care of yearly vaccinations, routine wormings, regular toenail trimming, and a proper diet help llamas remain hardy and healthy.
What are they used for? Contemporary North American llamas are primarily recreational animals. They are bred and raised for packing, wool production, cart pulling, animal facilitated therapy, companion animals, exhibition in shows, parades and fairs, and guardians for 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. There are many llama shows across the country, including National Championship shows, where they compete in halter and performance classes. Llamas are great family fun!
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 its leathery pad gives the llama a low environmental impact equivalent to that of a considerate hiker's athletic shoe. Historically llamas have carried packs for man; however, some llamas have been trained to carry a small child.
