Question:
In the last issue of Llama Banner you stated that you run your breeding males together during the winter months. I have always been told that we should not run our adult males together because they would fight and hurt each other. Do you think it is safe to run adult, intact males together?

Answer:
For years we ran our breeding males in separate runs. With four breeding studs it required a lot of room and management. Several years ago one of our studs, Marakesh, spent the summer at Howard Kerstetter’s ranch where he was pastured with five other studs. He returned home in better physical condition than he had ever been. So, yes, since then we run our breeding males together, not only in the winter but all year long. We have found several advantages in this herd management practice.

1. Less stalls, runs, and pastures are required. In general, herd management is easier if the breeding males are run together.

2. The males that are together are in much better physical condition than the males that are in runs and stalls by themselves. These males look better and it appears obvious that the exercise they get keeps them feeling well.

3. They appear to have an increased libido and be more aggressive breeders if run together.

There are a number of suggestions that can be offered to enhance harmony when running breeding males together.

1. The males will fight when run together. They will wrestle, scream, and chase each other to the point where you would think they are hurting each other. If the fighting teeth are removed there is however, little likelihood of injury. We have never had a male injured from running them together.

2. The males need to be run in a field large enough to get away from each other. They need their own territory.

3. Spreading out the feeders so they are not next to each other when being fed also reduces posturing and fighting.

4. Be sure to remove all fighting teeth before running any adult males together. They may need to be rechecked every few years.

5. Although not always possible and not a requirement, there will be more harmony between the studs if the male pasture is out of sight of the females.

In general, it is my opinion that running adult, intact, breeding males together will make herd management easier and enhance the health and vitality of your herd sires.