What do you do with a llama???
Trekking/Hiking with llamas
Llamas represent the pre-eminent pack animal; they are exceptionally strong, willing and calm. Llamas were bred for packing as early as 3,000 - 4,000 BC. The structure of their feet gives them enormous agility, while preventing damage to trails -- or golf greens. Llamas are immensely strong for their size and a blast to drive! Read more about it on the Trekking page.
Llamas as golf caddies
One specialized use of llamas as pack animals is as golf caddies.
Carting/Driving with llamas
"The most fun you can have with your clothes on!" is how one enthusiast has described this experience.
Guarding livestock
- Sheep
- Goats
- Calves
- Poultry (!!)
The majority of llamas instinctively make great guard
animals for livestock. They are excellent guards in
situations where there is predation by coyotes or single
dogs. (They cannot control a wild dog pack situation,
however.)
See the Guard Llama page for more
information about this and about other related guard-like
activities of llamas.
Llamas in the show ring
- Conformation
- Showmanship
- Youth
- Performance
- Pack competitions
There is a strong nationwide show circuit for showing
llamas, including Championship shows and a point system for
establishing ROMs in performance, conformation, and
Championships. There are a wide variety of classes for both
adults and youngsters.
See the Events section for a list
of some events.
Fiber production
- Shearing or hand combing
- Sell raw to fiber coops
- Pay to have returned
as roving or yarn
There is a range of quality in llama fibers, with some
llamas having fiber quality approaching that of high
quality alpaca fiber. It is not unusual anymore to find
llamas with fiber fineness of 17 - 18 microns... the
vicuna, with the world's finest fiber, has an average of 12
microns.
See the Fiber page for more
information.