They are not true ruminants and are more closely related to camels than other breeds of domestic livestock. They can thrive on poor quality grazing and will eat most vegetation, including saplings, nettles, bushes, etc. They are therefore suitable for grazing marginal areas and holding the landscape open. They have a good respect for fences and require minimal investment in housing a simple three sided shelter with roof is adequate.
You just need to give them food, water and proper shelter. Here is what you need to know about llamas and alpacas before you add one to your small farm or homestead. Llamas and alpacas are usually grouped together because they are both camelids a member of the camel family but there are some key differences between the two animals as well as differences in the uses they can have on your homestead.
However, he explained that alpacas were originally domesticated as a producer of wool, while llamas were domesticated for backpacking in the High Andes.
As a result, there are some physiological differences between the two. While alpacas are known for their soft fleece, llamas have a thick double coat with a coarse outer layer.
Llamas are also significantly larger than alpacas, almost double the weight and nearly a foot taller on average. The main difference between llamas and alpacas, though, is how you would use them around your homestead. Franklin said there are some llamas who have been bred for finer wool, but given their ancient history as a fiber animal, alpaca wool reigns supreme.
Foss owns 83 llamas on his breeding farm in West Newfield, Maine. Llamas, meanwhile, are used primarily as guard animals, especially against large predators like bobcats and coyotes. Sheridan has raised llamas for about two decades and has had great success with them as guard animals. For the most part, guard llamas can peacefully coexist with other animals after they have bonded to them.
Franklin also said llamas make better pets, if that is why you are looking to have a camelid on your homestead. There are some commonalities between the two camelids, though. Both llama and alpaca manure can be used as a rich fertilizer for your garden. As grazing animals, the two camelids are also both effective for pasture maintenance. There is very little mess and very little smell. Different breeds of llamas and alpacas will mostly vary by length and color of wool. When it comes to buying llamas and alpacas, the experts agree that breed matters less than personality.
They are naturals, taking little training, and their agility and calm nature make them excellent companions on even the wildest terrain.
An added bonus, their feet have soft, leathery pads which aid in their footing but also does little damage to vegetation on the trail. As an extension of their natural packing ability, gentle nature, and soft treads, llamas are even used as golf caddies! Given how much they are able to pack, a couple of golf bags isn't much to a llama. Carting is a bit more of a challenge, but with the right equipment, it is apparently not difficult to teach a llama to pull a cart. Pony carts do not work well physically with llamas, so getting a cart designed specifically for llamas will make carting successful and enjoyable.
Cart racing is becoming a popular activity. They can fend off a lone dog or coyote, and their alarm calls will alert owners to problems. It is very important to remember, though, a llama can't do much to protect against a pack of dogs or larger predators like bears or cougars. Another great use for llamas, they produce lots of fiber which can be made into yarn.
It comes in a variety of grades, varying in quality fineness between animals and between different areas of the animal. Llamas do well with kids and are becoming increasingly common as 4-H projects - not only are they gentle and easy to handle, they don't end up at the slaughterhouse. Their calm nature makes them great in parades and public appearances, not to mention they are attractive crowd pleasers. The llama show circuit is growing as well, with many different classes, as well as trials based on athletic abilities.
The merits of llamas as companions has already been discussed - given socialization and attention, they are friendly and responsive.
Many say they generally seem to relate well to children. One farmer who thinks so is Jamie Freeman, from Headcorn in Kent. He had a terrible problem with foxes - one year he lost between 30 and 40 lambs. Then he read an article extolling the virtues of llamas as guards. So Jamie bought a llama called Lawrence from the Roses two years ago.
Llamas mark their territories with their dung and then stake out the field. If a fox comes into a field the llama will scare him away by walking up and staring him out. They can use their back legs, and will spit, but that's a last resort. Another use for llamas, andtheir cousins alpacas, is the fibre from their coats.
It is much softer and finer than wool and because each strand is hollow, garments made from it are very warm. Retired jeweller Peter Knowles-Brown, who farms 1, acres near Moffat in Scotland, keeps llamas and is convinced they offer a commercial future for him.
I have to find alternative farming. I have 35 llamas and from them I reckon I could get the same income as I can out of odd sheep. Members of the British Camelids association pool their fibre together in 50 kilo loads. They are turned into yarn then into sweaters and cloth. So far the use of llama fibre to make garments in Britain has been very small scale.
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