The llama diet consists mainly
of grass and hay. Cereals can be given in small quantitites as
treats and as a daily supplement in the winter months. Llamas are
ruminants.
Fresh clean water should be
freely available.
A mineral block or powdered
minerals should be available.
Paddock
The average stocking rate is 2
llamas/acre.
A three sided shelter is
required, providing somewhere dry for them to lay, shelter from
the rain and shade from the sun.
Fencing should be adequate,
bearing in mind that llamas can easily jump a 5ft gate. Generally
speaking a llama would not jump an average height fence, this
would usually only happen with a male trying to reach a
female.
Llamas will browse on trees
and hedges so any young trees should be protected if
necessary.
Care/Disease
Prevention
Toenails will need trimming
from time to time, this can be done using foot shears such as used
for goats and sheep. Their feet have soft pads underneath, covered
by two toenails.
Brushing the fibre with a
plastic curry comb should be carried out reasonably frequently to
prevent the hair from matting. If the fibre becomes too matted,
the llama will require shearing as thick matted fibre prevents
heat loss during the summer months causing the llama to suffer
from hyperthermia.
They should be wormed at least
twice a year as for other livestock. Injectable wormer can be used
or granules can be added to the cereal mix.
They should have a yearly
booster for clostridial diseases.
Breeding
Female llamas are considered
mature between 18 months and 2 years old but should be separated
from males before they reach 7 months old as it is possible for
them to become pregnant from this age.
Male llamas mature between 2
and 3 years, although some males may be capable of breeding prior
to this.
The gestation period is
approximately 11.5 months.
A single calf (cria) is born -
it is very unusual for twins to occur.It is common for llamas to
give birth early in the morning (allowing the cria to dry off in
the sun all day). This of course is essential for existance in the
Peruvian Andes.
Care of the
cria
Young llamas are usually
weaned at about 6 - 7 months of age.
Crias should not be bottle fed
unless absolutely essential. Great care should be taken if bottle
feeding MUST be carried out, as wrong imprinting could occur and
the llama may grow up having no respect for humans and become
difficult to handle as an adult. If a male llama has been bottle
fed, he should be gelded at six months of age.
Young llamas under 6 months
old should not be overhandled and petted otherwise they may become
difficult to handle as an adult. Basic halter training can
commence at 6 months of age.
