Ecoferme Élevage d'animaux de ferme et compagnie / d'ornement en France

  Back

 History

 Llamas are members of the Camelid family, which at one time thrived on the plains of North America. With the Ice Age the camelid species migrated to South America and took up residence in the Andean Mountains. The Andean people domesticated llamas and alpacas 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest domesticated animals in the world. The llama was the lifeline of the South American Indians.  The Incas called llamas their "silent brothers”, the llama was worshipped and highly regarded. The llama was their beast of burden and a source of food, clothing, as well as fuel

Llama Wool

Classic llama wool is harvested by shearing or bushing in spring when their wool naturally starts to shed, every second year. Llama wool is very light and warm due to the wools hollow core, giving the fibre outstanding insulating capabilities without bulk. There is only about 10% lanolin in llama wool so you get 90% wool yield after washing unlike sheep wool that yields only 40/50%. Llama wool is hypoallergenic.  Classic and woolly llamas are two-coated animals.  The long outer guard hair repels rain and snow, protecting the soft wool underneath. These guard hairs have to be removed before spinning. Once removed, they can be spun into rope by multiple plying. The soft undercoat is spun or felted into endless variety of garments and blankets.

Suri llamas are single coated llamas and have no or very little guard hairs. Their fine fiber hangs in locks of 30cm or so in length that closly resembles mohair.  Suri llamas fiber is normaly  19 to 26 microns .

We spin our llama wool on a kromski wheels and hand knit the yarn into a verity of unique woollen garments.

Llamas are born with a variety of coat colours: Shades of black , brown, grey, red, white, tricolour and appaloosa,..

Types:

Unlike dogs and horses there is no true llama breeds, but several types have started to develop into breeds. They are divided into 3 groupes: classic, wool and suri.

1.      Classic types (common)

 Classic or Ccara

Classic llamas are no doubt the most common of llama types seen in France.  They are tall, finely boned and with very little wool.  They are very agile and proud. They generally have a straightest conformation making them great packers. The males are highly territorial and generally will not tolerant other studs. Fences of 130-150cm maybe required.

 Half-wool (demi-laine) or Curaca

Is the next type most commonly seen. . They are generally smaller in size, with heavier bone and more wool than the classic llama. They are more laid back then the other type due to their extra bulk.  When conditioned they make great weight carrying trekkers though maybe a bit slower.

Both the Ccara and curaca have no wool on their heads, ears and legs.

2.    The two Tampuli types (Rarer)

 Woolly, Tapada (lama laine)

As you may have guessed by the name, they are heavily woolled llamas. Bred for abundance of fine wool, with fine (or rarer absence of) guard hairs. They tend to be heavier boned and of smaller size then the classic types. Their wool goes down to the knees on the front legs and right down to the floor, on the back of the hind legs. Their head is still relatively free of wool. They are generally calmer than classics and are easier to catch and rarely attempt jumping. They can also make good trekking llamas if sheared and rather for county lane trekking than mountain packing, as they not as energetic as the light classic type.

 Eyebrow woollies Lanuda

 These resemble the woolly type, but have bushy eyebrows hairs and fluffy ears. Which gives them the appearance of a fluffy teddy bear. They are by far the most beautiful of the above types, but sadly the rarest.

3.  Suri llamas (the  world rarest of them all)

These are the rarest, out of all types in France and indeed in Europe. There is little over 100 suri llamas in the whole of Europe put together! 

They are an ancient breed of llamas breed for thier supeSuris stand out from the other types by having tight pencil ringlets or locks that hangs straight down. The fleece lies close to the body, often giving the llama a narrow appearance. The newest genetics have high luster to their fleece which shines in the sunlight. Giving them a breath taking appearance.  They are very laid back , we often joke they are bob Marley llamas, cool man! Studs can generally be house together even in the presence of females. Suri llamas are now classed as a true breed as archeologist's have found remains of suri llamas similar to today's suris  from Inca times, proving that they are in fact a true breed type (and not the resulting of a suri alpaca X llama breeding as once thought.) We

Character

Llamas are naturally docile and curious. Nothing with pass their attention uninvestigated. They are very proud aloof animals, like a cat they like personal space. Llamas have a strong flock instinct and care for each other. When a new baby is born, the whole herd will gather to welcome the new born, they greet the baby by softly blowing air nose to nose, this blowing also helps stimulate the breathing of the baby , as llamas do not lick their young ( llamas tongues can't go more than a couple of cm out their mouth). Llamas will gather around when a couple is mating or then a member of the herd has passed away.  Unlike other livestock llama lay down to mate, very often for 20 to 30 minutes.  Llamas keep themselves clean by dust rolling like a donkey.

 Llama are very intelligent animals and can be taught something new in just a few sessions . They can be taught to do anything a dog or horse can do , be it, packing, cart pulling, riding (by children) jumping obstacles, laying down on command, fetch, stay, reverse, tricks like ringing a bell or picking up things (in their mouth) and putting them in a box.  Llamas calm character makes them poplar with children, and they are often use for therapeutic visits in hospitals and for handicapped people.

Noises 

Llamas are very quiet animals,  if you didn't see them you would not know they where there. They can make a large variety of noises, the most common is a soft Mmmmm, this is a general noise used for communicating normally between mum and baby. The male makes a garguling noise while mating and chasing a female. They can click with their tongue, this is usually when they are excited and bouncing around like a deer at dusk. They sometimes click when introduced to a new llama. They snort like a horse usually males in the anticipation of a fight. Less common noises are: screaming (like a rabbit) in both sex's in cases of anger. between two fighting males, Then theres the Alarm call with is a load

 But llamas spit don't they?

This is the first question asked by most people, who quickly back away from the llamas fence then the llama comes to greet them.  Yes llamas can spit like all the other members of the camelides including camels and alpacas,  just like a horse can kick, a dog can bite and a cat can scratch. Llamas in a herd, use spitting as of way of saying go away or dominance, normally to a male that is harassing them or in a squabble over food. They can also spit to protect themselves or their young when they feel threatened. As far as spitting at humans is concerned it is very rare. Most times you get accidentally spit on by being inbetween llamas that are squabbling for their grain, i which case it will not be spit but grain ! (food fight).  Well managed herds that are handled regularly, calmly except their babies being handled and have there injections done with little fuss. On rare occasions an odd llama may spit at a human while anticipating pain of a injection that burns or then treating an injury or they may just be grumpy and having a bad day. Through when all said and done if given the option I'd prefer to be spat on by a llama,  then be kicked by a horse or bit by a dog, a quick brush off or trip to the tap, to remove what looks like a egg cup full of grass cuttings and all is as good as new!

Llama trekking ( Packing )

Like the Inca's, people are using llamas as pack animals. Llamas have dog like padded feet, making less impact on the ground than the boots of the hiker. For this reason llamas are let into nature reserves that are off limits to horses and mules.  A conditioned llama can carry 25-30% its body weight, making them strong if not stronger than a horse.

In France llama trekking or packing is in its beginning state. There is a few people starting with llama walking or trekking, where by the llamas are led without a pack on, just for the sheer enjoyment of walking in the countryside with a calm quite companion. Llama packing involves the llama having a pack girthed in place like a donkey saddle pack. Beast and back strap can also be put on , to stop the pack from sliding back and forth, when packing up and down mountains.

Livestock Guardians

Llamas have a natural dislike for dogs and other carnivorous predators. They are starting to be used all over the world as alternatives to sheep guarding dogs. Being more reliable to stay with the flock: be it cows, sheep, goats, or chickens and protect them in the time of need. At the appearance of a strange dog or fox in their field, the guardian llama will sound an alarm call, bringing the attention of shepherd to the intruder. If the predator decides to approach further the guard llama will make a choice, ether to herd his flock away from the danger or will charge. Usually a charging llama is enough to frighten most predators away. If the dog/fox does not back down, guard llamas will stamp, jump, kick, spit and scream at it, until it runs away. 

The other interesting fact is their ability to recognise dogs, a family dog or the shepherd’s dog that lives all year with the herd is accepted as a friend by the llama and ignored. They also have the agility to recognize a true threat, only attacking a foe when necessary. Although a llama can not protect its self or livestock from a pack of aggressive dogs or wolfs any more than a human could.

Not all llamas have a strong enough instinct to make a good guard llama, so selection of animals is necessarily. The best guardians are castrated males of over 18 months, the llama needs to be raised with other llamas in order to learn to be a ‘llama’ and protect the herd. Castration being done at 15 months before they become sexually mature and at the age of 18months they can be introduced to their new flock of sheep/goat…  If the llama was to be put in the flock as a young weanling or yearly, they adapt the animal their protecting example and flee from the predator like a sheep. Females will also work well but they are usually too valuable to be risked getting injured.  Intact males should not be use to guard animals, as they with often try to mate the female livestock as if they where a llama, often killing the livestock.  Exceptions being older stud llamas that have been with other llamas most of their lives and already know that they are in fact ‘a llama’ and not a sheep/goat. 

Eco wood cleaners

Have you ever wished there was an animal that could turn, overgrown woodland into a beautiful grassed parkland. The llama is the ultimate. A llama herd when being put into a forest or abandon wasteland will not only clean all the undergrowth up but also keep them under control. They will eat brambles, nettles, gorse, bracken, leaves, weeds and of course the grass. The will eat the tree leaves to the top of their head height, making the forest easier to walk trough, This cleaning allows air and light into the forest, promoting fresh growth and reduces if not eliminates the risk of forest and wild fires. Llamas almost never strip the bark from trees , like goats will. Llamas are starting to be used for controlling vegetation in nature reserves due to the fact that they will eat a bit of everything rather than eating their favourite plant to extinction.

Manure

Llamas have a unique habit of communal dung piling; the llama herd will have several piles in a large field where all members of the herd will do all their needs. This makes collecting of manure easy. Llama dung is similar to deer/goat pellets but being odourless. It has unique properties being high in nitrogen and naturally balanced for all the plants nutritionally needs. The fresh pellets (also know as llama beans) can be put in direct contact with the roots without risk of burning the plants or can be used as a mulch around the plants. From my personal experience llama pellets is like magic fertilizer. Plants will grow madly with llama mature. A couple of cups around a sickly plant and it will start to grow vigorously with lots of lush leaf growth, making them healthy and parasite resistant. Care must be taken not to over do it with the good stuff, like commercial fertilizers it will make the plants spinally and frail.

Meat, milk & skin

Often cringed upon by llama owners in the northern hemisphere, llamas are culled for meat by the native south Americas. Normally culling out young surplus males of 12-18months old, which are not of breeding quality. The meat is between beef and lamb although having a sweeter flavour than beef. In its native country the meat is often salted or dried into Jerky. Llamas for meat, makes economic sense and is a healthy alternative to modern commercial meats. Llamas can be raised on wasteland, mountains & forests, that are unfit for the raising of more demanding livestock like cows and sheep, which require rich, lush grass. Fed on natural organic plants and meadow hays, makes the meat wholesome and free of hormones, steroids and other industrial nastily. A llama eats about the same quantity, as one sheep but their cria at a year old, will weight 2/3 times that of a lamb.

They are also used in peru for their sweet tasting milk, although from personal experience, it is difficult to get any real quantity of milk, as they appear to let down only small quantity at a time

The Peruvians are well known for their intricate rug designs , made from pieces of different coloured furs, sewn together to make scenes of animals and landscape. Older hides are use for making leather shoes.

Caring for Llamas

Llamas are one of the most hardiest and disease-free domesticated livestock.

They can stand cold, rain and snow but are susceptible to Hypothermia in hot humid climates. Luckily in France summers are hot yet dry. They appreciate a small river or sprinkler put on in the field to cool them down, they will readily come and lay down under the spray of water. Shearing must also be practiced on the heavily woolled llamas which are unable to shed their wool like classic ones, normaly being sheared once every couple of years. Suri llamas are can be sheared every 3rd year.  Their toe nail need trimming 2-4times a year. Their feet being picked up like a horse. The bottom of a llamas foot is a soft pad like a dog with the nail at the end, this nail needs to be flush with the pad, if left untrimmed the nail will grow side ways making it difficult for the llama to walk.

They need deworming 2- 4 times a year ,with Ivomec D  or similar products. Vaccinating against Tetanus is a good idea ( a yearly vaccine) like Miloxan. Llamas are inexpensive to maintain. With their efficient, three-chambered stomachs, llamas eat less per kilo live weight than most other types of livestock.  Generally one llama will eat the same as one big sheep. They browse on many types of forage, grass, weeds, brambles and leafs.  Stocking rate of llamas depends on the type of forage available, mountain ranges typically stocking less animals than a low land pasture. 5- 8 llamas per Hectare.

Apart from natural forage, hay and fresh water should  always be available, they will require a mineral lick, the best is brand is Sodimouton. In winter and at times of the year when there is a lack of forage, you will need to supplement them with sheep pellets or a cereal mix for sheep, around 500g per day. If you have a femal with a cria, she will need up to 1 to 1.5kilos.  

Fencing & shelter

Llamas are respectful to fences and other structures. They will not, kick, head butt or rub themselves against fences and buildings.  A normal sheep netting fence will suffice of 120-150cm. Electric fencing also work well, they can be kept in with just 2 strands of wire but for breeding animals, crias and studs, a more substantial fence is necessary, of 5 strands of 30,60,90,120,150cm spacing.

Llama Facts

 A male Llama can start breeding at 2 years of age

Females can be bred at 18 to 24 months

Adult weight is 125 - 200 kl

Llamas can breed and give birth all year round

Average Birth Weight is: 9 to 15kl

Gestation is around 350 days

Only one Cria is born (twins are rare) usually born in the daytime

Weaned at the age of 6 months

Life Span: 18-25 years