My husband and I have kept llamas for many years and have been amazed at their gentle nature and versatility. We originally started with two males that we subsequently trained to carry packs for use in hauling things around the farm. These two served as an indoctrination and we were hooked on llamas. The obvious next step was to get females and raise our own llamas for fiber, packing and possibly carting. Somewhere in that process I became enamored with the llama fiber for spinning, knitting and weaving. Warm and soft, it is useful for items that can be worn next to the skin. Sturdy and strong, it can be woven or tightly knitted into hard wearing items for outer use, such as purses, socks, or gloves.
The llamas themselves are intelligent and gentle, willing to please and easily managed and trained. In fact, I believe many people use harsher training methods than are necessary to the detriment of the llama, not realizing that the llama is quite intelligent and will quickly learn the task if the goal is made clear. Unfortunately, communicating in llama language can be a challenge. Gentleness and patience are the keys to having a well trained and well adjusted llama.
There are many types of llamas (not breeds as of yet, but that may be the direction llama breeding takes in the future) and we have chosen the athletic type llama to raise. The advantages to this type of llama are many, the body type is similar to the wild ancestors, the guanacos, and the mothering and milking abilities are very well developed. Also, this type is tall and conformationally correct leading to good packing and work prospects. Since the llama was a multi-use animal in South America, the native Indians used them for food, packing and fiber along with religious rituals, we wanted to preserve this multi-use ability in our breeding goals. But because I use the fiber for spinning, we wanted to make sure that crimpy soft fiber was also a goal. We have incorporated a tall conformationally correct, exceptionally fibered male into the breeding at this time and are pleased with the resulting crias. Current trends in the llama show world are favoring smaller suri-fibered llamas and this is not what we have. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal impact on the environment, we wanted llamas that needed little additional input from us in terms of grains so needed llamas that were able to live in harsher environments. We feel the athletic type fits this goal admirably. Having said that, we spoil our llamas to a ridiculous level and give grain as a treat, offer deeply bedded stalls in a converted dairy barn and rotate pasture to offer the best grazing during the growing season. It's very difficult to walk amongst the llamas unnoticed here, first they are curious by nature and follow a newcomer everywhere, and second they continually look for the ever popular handout of grain, raisins or alfalfa pellets.
Since we value all our llamas as individuals, we keep a small herd which allows us to train and know each llama. Therefore, we don't have many excess llamas for sale, but do have a few each year that would possibly be for sale to a llama loving person. Some llamas make excellent guards for smaller stock like sheep and goats and produce lovely fiber in the bargain. So please feel free to drop us a line if you are interested in information about llamas, possible llamas for sale, fibers and yarns or just a note to let us know what you think of our farm and llamas. Please contact us for prices and fiber availability.