YESTERDAY
AND TODAY
History of camlids.
PHYSICAL FACTS
Life span, color, reproduction, birthing, and babies,
health and basic medical needs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Uses, intelligence, packs, food, sound, personality, and
spitting; also registration and
cost.
Lama (single "l"),
which include the llama ("ll"), Alpaca, Guanaco and the endangered Vicuna are
members of the camel (camlid) family. Origin in the Central Plains of
North America about 40 million years ago, the lama predecessors migrated to
South American around 2.5 million year ago. Its cousin to 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 camlid in
North American.
Llamas were domesticated from the Guanacos in the Andeans
Highlands of Peru 5,000 to 6,000 years ago and are among the worlds oldest
domestic animals. While primarily beast of burden for the native herdsmen,
llamas also provided them with meat, wool, hides for shelters, manure pellets
for fuel, and become 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 Lama
Registry, in the United States and Canada there's an estimated 86,000 Llamas,
6,500 to 7,000 Alpacas and 300 to 350 Guanacos.
Llamas have international appeal with counties such as New Zealand augmenting their fiber industry with Llama and Alpaca Wool. As in ancient times, the Llama today is important to agricultural economy of the Highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. In North America the Llama and Alpaca industry is recognized as a available agricultural entity.
Color. A Llama may be solid, spotted, or marked in a wide variety of patterns with wool colors ranging from white and black and many shapes of gray, beige, brownish red and roan in between.
Life Span: about 15 to 29 years.
Weight: 250 to 350 pounds.
Height: 36" to 47" at the shoulders, 5' to 6'5" at the head.
Average Gestation: 350 days.
Health and Basic Medical Needs
Because their ancestors evolve in harsh environment of the
Andean Highlands, North America Llama owners have found them to be generally
easy to care for. The recommended primary care is yearly vaccinations,
routine worming, and regular toenail trimming helps llamas remain hardly and health.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, fairs, and
guarding other livestock such as sheep. The Llamas in becoming
increasingly popular as a project for 4-H, scouts, FFA and other youth
activities. For the outdoor enthusiast and athlete, there are numerous
activities and competitive events to team up the Llama and his owner.
Llamas are great family fun!
Can Your Use Their Wool?
Grease-Free and
lightweight, Llama Wool is warm and luxurious. A valuable commodity sought
after by fiber artists, such as Weavers, 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, followed on a lead, load in and out of a
vehicle, or carry a pack......
Are They Good Pack Animals?
Sure-footed and agile, most llamas
are excellent packers, and can carry 80 pounds or 25% of their body weight.
their two-toe foot with its leathery pad gives the the Llamas a low
environmental impact equivalent to that of considered hiker's shoe. Their
ability to browse lesson their intrusion on the native vegetation which is one
of reasons Llamas are gaining popularity with environmentally conscious
users of our public lands. Historically Llamas have carried packs for man;
however, some Llamas have been trained to carry a small child.
What Do They Eat?
Llamas are modified ruminant with
three-compartment stomach. Like cattle and sheep, they chew their cud.
Because of a relatively low protein requirement and efficient digestive system,
they can be kept on a variety of suitable pasture or hay, with supplementation
of receded vitamins, minerals, and salt. A llama cost significantly less
to feed than other comparable-sized animal.
What Is Their Personality Like?
Because they are highly sociable
herd animals, Llamas need the companionship of other Llamas. Independent
yet shy Llamas are gentle and curious. Their generally calm nature and
common sense makes a trained Llama easy for anyone to handle and excellent
choice for a child's pet and companion.
What Sounds Do They Make?
Llamas communicate by humming.
They also express themselves though a serious of ear, body, and tail posture.
On rare occasions they will alert their companions and humans keepers with a
distinctive alarm call presence of unfamiliar dogs, or other creatures which
they perceive as threats. During breeding males make a distinctive ogling
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 threaten may occasionally spit at a human.
Are They Registered?
Yes, The International Lama Registry
issues registrations and certificates and maintains a current database.
Two identification process gaining prevalence within the Llama industry are
blood typing and micro chipping. These efforts not only helps protect the
Llama gene pool but, also assures new buyers that Llamas are a wise and
pleasurable investment.
How Much Do They Cost?
Cost vary from region to region
though out the United States and Canada. As a rule of thumb, you should
expect pet males to be the lowest priced, some times as low as $500.00.
Trained packers can range from 1,000 to 2500.00. 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 prices and structure for females, as well as
that for stud quality males, can vary greatly. The bottom end of the
female price range is about $2,500.00 to $3,000.00 and up, depending upon
quality, bloodlines, and other factors.
International Lama Association
2755 S. Locust Street
Suite 114
Denver CO 80222
1-800-WHY-LAMA
OR
(303) 756-9004