Llamas are Used for Fleece and as Pack Animals

Sexual Behaviour, Breeding and Guarding of the Lama glana

Oct 13, 2009 Roberta Goli

Related to alpacas, Llamas are bred for their fleece and used as pack animals. But did you know they make excellent guards against coyotes and other carnivorous mammals?

Llamas belong to the same family as camels do, family Camelidae and are closely related to alpacas. Traditionally llamas have been used as pack animals and meat, but they are also bred for their fleece. Llamas are sturdy, strong animals with long necks and curved, banana shaped ears.

Species under the genus of Lama (one ‘L) are Alpaca, Guanaco, Llama and Vicuna. Llamas were domesticated from wild guanacos around 5-6 million years ago. Current taxonomy of the llama:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genes: Lama
Species: L. glana

Llama Sexual Behaviour and Breeding

Llamas reach sexual maturity at around 3 years of age; however, females can be bred at around 15 months. Gestation time is approximately 350 days and usually a single baby (cria) is born. Offspring will be able to walk within an hour of birth and nurse within 2 hours of being born. The mother can become pregnant again within 2-4 weeks after giving birth. A mature llama can weigh up to 100kg.

Like alpacas, when a female llama is already pregnant, she will refuse the advances of a male and spit at him. This is called spitting-off and it allows ranchers a clue as to which of the females of the herd are pregnant. Spitting is also a way for llamas to establish hierarchy within a herd and often happens around feeding times. Humans aren’t generally the targets of spitting unless a llama feels threatened.

Llamas are Used as Pack Animals and for Their Fleece

Llamas have been used as pack animals because they are strong and sturdy and the soft leather of their two-toed feet allow them to tread softly with little impact on the ground. They are able to travel great distances carrying a load, and this makes them ideal for hikers or any walker that wants a walking companion.

Llamas also produce a strong, soft, warm fleece that is available in numerous natural colors. Llamas come in black, white, fawn, cream, gray, brown, red as well as roan, appaloosa and pied. They also come in combinations of any of these colors. Fleece type is short, medium or heavy wooled, and knitters and spinners favor their low micron wool.

Garments made from llama fleece may include hats, jackets, cardigans and scarves and is extremely warm; llama fleece is obtained by either shearing or brushing.

Llamas Make Great Guards Against Coyotes

Ranchers often use llamas as guard animals to protect livestock from coyotes and other canids (wolves, foxes, jackals). Many ranchers have noticed decreases in stock loss since using llamas as llamas defend the herd against predators.

Upon seeing coyotes or other carnivorous mammals threatening the herd, llamas will display an alarm posture so the rest of the herd is aware, then they will sound an alert call and run towards the threat. They have been known to chase and kick predators and coyotes and dogs have been seriously and even fatally injured from the attack of a llama.

For more information visit the Llama Association of Australasia or Guard Llamas Keep Sheep Safe From Coyotes