Guard or Sentry Llamas

Llamas have excellent vision, an extremely inquisitive nature, and they approach anything that is interesting. This means that a coyote attempting to sneak up on a sheep herd protected by a llama may find itself being approached at a good rate of speed by a 300 - 400 enthusiastic llama. No wonder they leave -- rapidly.

Llamas make excellent guards because they do not need training - they are just doing what comes naturally, most of them are good at guarding, and they are inexpensive to keep.

Iowa State University has made an in-depth study of the use of llamas as guards that is really fascinating. This document has been posted in its entirety in PDF format at Iowa State's site.

The International Llama Association produced an excellent short brochure based on this study. You can read the ILA's short brochure in its entirety here.

Information on how to get the following three free brochures on the subject of Guard Llamas and sheep can be found here.

  • "Guarding Llamas" by William L. Franklin, professor at Iowa State University
  • "Llamas: Take Charge Sheep Guards", by Doyle Markham
  • "Llamas, Effective Sheep Guards", by Doyle Markham

While at our farm we don't have a problem with coyotes, we have had intelligent, aggressive dogs used for herding cattle and pigs (Australian Cattle Dogs). And we have llamas that will move these dogs right out of their pastures. Some of these llamas are less than a year old, too. In fact, no one has found any dog breed capable of moving a llama.... at least, the dog can start out moving the llama(s) and then the llamas whirl around and (metaphorically speaking) say "Now it's my turn!" and charge the dog... end of herding. While (unfortunately) some of my llamas have permanent "dings" due to minor run-ins with my dogs, they are as unherdable as ever.

Our veterinarian uses this behavior to "entice" rather than herd the llamas. She sends out a Border Collie into the field and then, when the llamas start toward the dog, she directs the dog to go where she wants the llamas to go! The llamas charge off after the dog... Works like a charm.

One note of caution: Llamas, while very effective in controlling damage due to coyotes or the occasional dog, are not able to withstand attacks by mountain lions or packs of dogs. In such a case they are extremely vunerable, as they have no real defenses other than speed and intelligence. Also, a single dog of the type historically used for "bull baiting" can kill a llama merely by grabbing onto its nose and holding on until the llama is suffocated.

Unusual uses of guard llamas

  • Protect very young livestock from predation by black vultures, without endangering these protected raptor species.
  • Encourage Canada Geese (which can be kind of messy) to "graze" somewhere else. The llama doesn't hurt the geese - it just annoys the geese into moving on.